The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Scigliano as the organization's new Deputy Director, and Jill Friedman as Fundraising Manager. Under long-time Executive Director Charles Brownstein, Scigliano and Friedman will advance the organization's mission, fundraising, and membership programs.

Scigliano comes to the Fund with a decade's worth of industry experience. Most recently, Scigliano worked at Wizard Conventions, overseeing sales, marketing, and logistics. Previously he worked at DC Comics in sales & marketing, and in comics retail. Scigliano says, "Having had my hand in so many different aspects of the comic book industry for the last decade, it's great to be now be in a position that does so much good for the industry. I'm looking forward to working with so many of the good friends I have made over the years and making new ones as I work to increase the resources that the Fund desperately needs to keep doing what it does best: fighting the good fight." As Deputy Director, Scigliano will be improving the Fund's premium offerings online, overseeing the organization's convention presence, and assisting in overall management.

Jill Friedman has been a familiar face in the New York comics scene since the late 1990s. She brings a background in comics retailing, digital marketing, graphic design, blogging, and office management to the CBLDF. As Fundraising Manager, Friedman will be overseeing the organization's membership program, online auctions, outreach, and special events, and assisting in mission communications. Friedman says, "I am thrilled to be working for such an important organization. The CBLDF has always had a lot of the coolest events and fundraising opportunities, so I'm especially excited to be a part of it."

"As a public trust, the CBLDF is an industry-wide team effort that enjoys tremendous support from all aspects of the community, says CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein. "Adding two talented full time staffers will help us improve communications with our supporters and build our resources in a way that ensures we're able to better fulfill our mission. I'm excited to see how Jill and Mike will help us become an even stronger organization."

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community. They have defended dozens of Free Expression cases in courts across the United States, and led important education initiatives promoting comics literacy and free expression. For additional information, donations, and other inquiries call 800-99-CBLDF or visit http://www.cbldf.org or http://www.myspace.com/cbldf