Remembering Dr. George Lazarus: A Compassionate Advocate and Supporter

Sanctuary for Families

Sanctuary for Families mourns the passing of Dr. George M. Lazarus, a longtime supporter, former Sanctuary Board member, and compassionate advocate who dedicated his life to caring for others.

Sanctuary for Families mourns the passing of Dr. George M. Lazarus, a longtime supporter, former Sanctuary Board member, and compassionate advocate who dedicated his life to caring for others. George passed away on January 20, 2025, at the age of 78, leaving behind a legacy of service to both the medical field and the community, particularly for survivors of domestic violence and their children.

A renowned pediatrician, George spent over 40 years in private practice and as an attending physician at New York Presbyterian Hospital. His commitment to children’s health was mirrored in his advocacy for the vulnerable children affected by domestic violence, a cause that deeply resonated with him. His understanding of the trauma domestic violence inflicts on children—disrupting their safety, emotional stability, and long-term development—drove his deep involvement with Sanctuary for Families.

After being introduced to Sanctuary through a friend, George and his wife, Shelly, were immediately moved by our mission to support those left without adequate resources or protection.

As George noted in a conversation we had with him in 2022,

“So many of the ills affecting society are caused by domestic violence. The scope of the problem is underestimated and underappreciated.”

This recognition of the far-reaching impact of gender-based violence spurred George and Shelly to support Sanctuary in numerous ways.

George and his wife Shelly, long-time Sanctuary supporters.

George was a dedicated and active contributor to Sanctuary’s mission. As a Board member, he served on several committees, always approaching discussions with thoughtfulness and a unique ability to frame the key issues at hand. George could always be relied upon to ask the questions everyone was thinking—or the ones no one had considered—challenging us to think deeper and act more effectively. His insight and passion enriched our work and strengthened our commitment to the families we serve.

Outside of his work with Sanctuary, George was a devoted teacher, mentor, and philanthropist, with a lifelong commitment to his family and his patients. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife, Shelly, his brother Robert, his children Ted (Lara), Samantha (Duncan), Ben (Jessie), and his grandchildren.

As we remember George, we honor his profound contributions to the field of pediatrics, his generosity and leadership at Sanctuary, and his lasting impact on countless lives. His legacy will continue to inspire us in our mission to support survivors of domestic violence and their children.

Remembering Gilman Burke: Indispensable Founding Supporter of Sanctuary for Families

Sanctuary for Families

Sanctuary for Families honors the life and legacy of Gilman Sessions Burke, accomplished attorney, member of Sanctuary’s President’s Council, and one of Sanctuary’s most pivotal early supporters.

Sanctuary for Families honors the life and legacy of Gilman Sessions Burke, accomplished attorney, member of Sanctuary’s President’s Council, and one of Sanctuary’s most pivotal early supporters. Gil passed away peacefully on Christmas night at the age of 92.

A man of remarkable kindness, integrity, and vision, Gil played a foundational role in shaping Sanctuary’s mission and impact, ensuring its growth from the very beginning. His law firm, Satterlee Stevens Burke & Burke, became Sanctuary’s first operations hub, providing critical legal services, hosting Board meetings, managing filings and audits, and connecting Sanctuary to vital resources.

Gil was married to his first wife, Sarah Burke, who was a founding Board member and early Board Chair of Sanctuary. Sarah dedicated 24 years to advocating passionately for survivors of domestic violence and their children until her passing in 2006. Together, Gil and Sarah embodied our mission by opening their home to Sanctuary’s first family in need, a profound act of compassion and commitment. In honor of Sarah’s extraordinary contributions, Sanctuary named its 58-family transitional shelter in the Bronx the “Sarah Burke House.”

Mary Ann Mailman, former Sanctuary Board President and close friend, recalled,

“We were all so fortunate to have had Gil in our corner. Without Gil’s unfailing support, Sanctuary would never have survived.”

Beyond Sanctuary, Gil’s contributions extended to numerous causes, from environmental preservation to education. His leadership and kindness left an indelible mark on every community he touched.

Gil with his sister Kate Burke Wood in October 2024.
Gil with his sister Kate Burke Wood on October 2024.

Gil is survived by his wife Sarah Bayne and by his own children Molly and Dana Burke, and preceded in death by his youngest son, Nathaniel. He is also survived by his stepsons Nick and Peter Bayne, Nick’s wife, Sunshine Bayne, as well as Gil’s five beloved grandchildren and his dear sister Kate.

As we reflect on Gil’s extraordinary life, we honor his legacy by continuing the work he made possible. His dedication to creating a better world will inspire us for generations to come.

Our deepest condolences go out to his second wife, Sarah, his children, and all who were privileged to know him.

A celebration of Gil’s life will be held on Saturday, February 15, at 2 p.m. at St. Philip’s Church in Garrison, New York.

Sanctuary Spotlight: Molly Snyder

Sanctuary for Families

A conversation with Sanctuary Board Member Molly Snyder, LCSW, on Sanctuary’s Camp HOPE NYC — a transformative weeklong summer camp for teens impacted by gender-based violence.

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We recently spoke with Molly Snyder, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Sanctuary Board member, and dedicated supporter of Sanctuary’s Camp HOPE NYC — a transformative weeklong summer camp for teens impacted by gender-based violence. In her work as an LCSW in private practice and as a Clinical Supervisor at the Jewish Board of Family and Children Services, Molly specializes in supporting women through life transitions, with deep expertise in treating trauma, anxiety, and depression. Her collaborative and curious approach helps her clients build self-understanding and create a clear, authentic vision for their future.

Tell us a little bit about yourself  — what is your background?

I grew up in San Diego, California. My mom was a professional in the Jewish community and my dad was a pediatrician. They both prioritized community involvement and activism. Specifically, my mom was focused on the importance of women being financially independent, which influenced my decision to go to business school and start my career in finance. I received my undergraduate business degree from the University of Michigan and started my career at Goldman Sachs in investment banking soon after. I then went back to receive my MBA from Columbia Business School and after graduation, joined an organization in lower Manhattan that helped businesses recover in the wake of 9/11. When my kids were in elementary school, I was excited to make a career change and got my Masters in Social Work from Columbia University.

What first drew you to Sanctuary, and what was it about the organization that made you want to get involved?

I started with Sanctuary over 10 years ago as a clinical intern during my time at Columbia School of Social Work. I loved my experience at Sanctuary and was inspired by the passion and professionalism of everyone across the organization. I also witnessed Sanctuary’s deep investment in the professional development of their interns and staff and the resulting impact that these efforts had on client care.

“There is a sense of passion and care at all levels of Sanctuary — from the Board to the staff, with an unparalleled commitment to clients.”  

How did you first learn about Camp HOPE, and what about Camp HOPE resonates with you?

I came to Sanctuary because I wanted to be more thoughtful about giving to causes that I care about, and given my history with Sanctuary, it was an obvious choice. It’s a privilege to see an organization from the inside and know that the work that they’re doing is of the highest quality. I was shown a few different options to support and I’ve always been a lover of camp, so Camp HOPE caught my attention right away.

For Camp Hope teens, I imagine that camp is literally and figuratively a breath of fresh air, giving them a chance to explore their interests, develop lasting friendships and connect with nature. Because of their life experiences, their nervous systems are likely on high alert most of the time, which can make it challenging to connect to others, to connect with themselves, and to just be a kid. I can’t think of a better place to decompress than in nature, in a supportive, safe environment where they can simply have fun.

Sanctuary teens at Camp HOPE NYC

What do you believe is the most important message for potential donors to understand?

There is a sense of passion and care at all levels of Sanctuary — from the Board to the staff  — with an unparalleled commitment to clients, ensuring that their needs are always the priority. Services are tailored to the individual circumstances and preferences of each client and much effort is dedicated to understanding the clients’ unique experience and their vision for themselves and their families. Sanctuary staff does a great job helping clients identify the pathway to reach their goals and provides the services and resources needed to support them along the way.

I also love Sanctuary’s holistic model, which includes shelter, clinical services, legal support, economic empowerment, and advocacy because each component is interconnected. For example, if you have a job and you’re constantly triggered from past trauma at work, you may have a hard time being productive or effective with assignments. Or if you don’t have a restraining order and you’re not feeling safe, it’s going to be difficult to work or to take care of your kids. I love that all the pieces are in place to address the multitude of challenges that clients face, in order to set them up for success. It’s really an honor to be on the Board and to be able to be engaged with such an exceptional organization.

What would you say to someone who is considering funding our work? What makes it worth their investment?

Knowing that your dollars are truly impacting change — on individuals, families, communities, and the systems our clients are forced to contend with — makes all the difference. Sanctuary provides a comprehensive model of high-quality services, ensuring the opportunity for clients to attain safety and stability for their themselves and their families. I think it’s important that funders know for certain that their dollars are directly impacting change.

MAKE A GIFT

Karen King, 2024 Abely Awards Honoree

Sanctuary for Families

Established 27 years ago by Davis Polk, Sanctuary for Families, and Columbia Law School, the Abely Awards honor individuals who have made a difference in the lives of survivors of gender violence.

Established 27 years ago by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, Sanctuary for Families, and Columbia Law School, the Abely Awards honor individuals who have made a difference in the lives of survivors of gender violence and who embody Maryellen Abely’s compassion, zeal, energy, and dedication.

This year, we are thrilled to present the 2024 Abely Pro Bono Award to Karen King.

INTRODUCING KAREN

A Partner at Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello PC, Karen King is a skilled trial attorney and advocate who has represented both institutional and individual clients in federal and state courts across the country.  Karen has been practicing for over 24 years, and began her legal career as an associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, and later as Counsel at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.  Her regular practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, compliance and regulatory enforcement matters, securities litigation and regulation, internal investigations, and strategic advice.  Karen was named a “Distinguished Leader” by New York Law Journal in September 2022 and a “Notable Woman in Law” by Crain’s New York Business in June 2023. 

Throughout her legal career, Karen has prioritized pro bono service. She was the recipient of the American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico award in 2023, the Federal Bar Council’s Thurgood Marshall Award for Exceptional Pro Bono Service in 2019, as well as the Pro Bono award from the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.  She is a member of the Second Circuit Pro Bono Panel and the Asian American Bar Association of New York’s Anti-Asian Violence Task Force.  She is a co-editor of two papers on the rise of hate and violence against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.  She also successfully litigated a decade-long Title VII case on behalf of Asian-American police officers at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.  Her pro bono clients include victims of domestic violence, students with learning disabilities, victims of gun violence, and prisoners on civil rights issues.

Over the past six years, Karen provided dedicated, strategic, and trauma-informed legal representation in an exceptionally complex case under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction involving a young Orthodox Jewish mother fleeing domestic violence in Italy with her two-year-old son.  The case moved from federal court in the Eastern District of New York to the United States Supreme Court and back to the Eastern District. Not only did Karen argue and secure a unanimous decision before the Supreme Court in favor of her client—a ruling that will benefit numerous other survivors around the country—but her critical work on the case helped ensure the child was ultimately able to remain safely in the care of his aunt, even after the tragic, premature death of the mother during the protracted litigation. Karen now co-chairs the Narkis Golan Initiative, named in honor of her late client, which provides resources to advance the rights of domestic violence survivors in child abduction cases around the country.

Karen holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a juris doctorate from Harvard Law School.