Attorney who works with immigrant children in Lehigh Valley recognized by L'Oréal

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- An attorney who works with immigrant children in the Lehigh Valley is being recognized by a national company for her work.

Rachel Rutter is one of 10 people to be honored by the 2022 L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth for the legal services she offers to a group who may not otherwise have access to them.

• Project Libertad executive director is one of the 2022 L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth
• The nonprofit provides legal and social services to newcomer immigrant children in Pennsylvania
• 10 women from across the country received the recognition

Rutter is a founder and the executive director of Project Libertad, a Phoenixville-based non-profit that provides legal and social services to newcomer immigrant children from across Pennsylvania, including the Lehigh Valley.

“The catalyst for starting Project Libertad was just seeing that there is such a need for holistic services rather than just providing the legal services or just providing some of the social services,” Rutter said. “So our idea is really to try to do both and be as holistic as possible.”

She didn’t expect to be a L'Oréal Paris Women of Worth honoree because only 10 women from across the country are chosen for the honor, she said.

“I thought it was really awesome to be nominated, and even to be a finalist," she said. "But I figured like L'Oréal Paris is such a big company, and that so many people would have been nominated, that I didn't think I would have really chosen.

"So I was really surprised, but I'm really excited as well,” she said.

Rutter, along with the other honorees, will get $20,000 each for their charitable causes.

Project Libertad offers free or low-cost legal service to kids facing deportation, among other services. 

Before Rutter founded the organization, she worked for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society Pennsylvania, which collaborates with KidsPeacein Bethlehem.