Legal Aid Programs in Broward Raise $119,000 to honor Warriors of Justice at 15th Annual for the Public Good Fundraiser
Prestigious recognition event celebrated community advocates for their pro bono service
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (October 31, 2016) Members of the legal and business community joined together to celebrate pro bono giving and access to justice at the 15th Annual For the Public Good fundraiser benefitting Legal Aid Service of Broward County (LAS) and Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) respectively. Members of the community were recognized for their efforts to secure justice and change lives for the underprivileged and underserved in Broward County. The event was held on October 27, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six.
In an effort to bring attention to the vast legal needs of children in the dependency system, attorney Howard Talenfeld of Talenfeld Law challenged others in the community to match his commitment of $10,000. The contribution is earmarked as funding for the Tracey McPharlin Pro Bono Children’s Dependency Project. The partners at Kelley/Uustal joined Talenfeld with a matching commitment leading into the event. The evening became even more meaningful when Darran Blake, a guest of Howard and Julie Talenfeld, presented a matching donation of $10,000 on behalf of the Estate of Rosemary Duffy who recently passed away. Mrs. Duffy was the widow of JD Duffy, a lawyer and municipal judge from Columbus, Ohio. The Duffy’s moved to Fort Lauderdale in the 1970’s and were very philanthropic, contributing to many charitable causes over the years in both Columbus and Fort Lauderdale.
The annual fundraiser recognizes outstanding community advocates whose contributions have made it possible for LAS and CCLA to provide free civil legal services to Broward County children, families, veterans and senior citizens in the low income community. A few of the many legal services provided include helping veterans gain much needed benefits, abused children in foster care, the homeless, children in need of special education, victims of domestic violence and families losing their homes to foreclosure. Proceeds from the event benefit children and families served by LAS and CCLA and enable both organizations to serve greater numbers of those in need.
Fort Lauderdale attorney Juan Carlos Arias of Velasquez, Dolan, Arias Trial Lawyers, served as Master of Ceremonies. He brought a unique perspective to the event as many of the services provided by LAS and CCLA have long been near to his heart. Arias began his legal career as a Captain in the United States Army/Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC), then moved on to prosecute domestic violence cases, among others, with the State Attorney’s Office for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in Broward County. Arias currently serves on the Board of Directors for LAS and CCLA.
Community advocates honored with special awards included: Stephen B. Moss, Esq., Partner, Holland & Knight, LLP, receiving the Russell E. Carlisle Advocacy Award; Stephen Ferrante, Managing Partner, Group Victory, receiving the Commitment to Justice Award; Farmer, Jaffe, Weissing, Edwards, Fistos & Lehrman, PL, receiving the Law Firm of the Year Award; Scott D. Owens, Esq., Scott D. Owens, PA, receiving the Spirit of Justice Award; Russell M. Thompson, Esq., Law Offices of Russell Miller-Thompson, receiving the Attorney of the Year Award; and Lorrie Schwartz, Legal Aid Service of Broward County, receiving the Jacquelyn and Bruce Rogow Employee of the Year Award.
The end of the evening was lent to quietly but deservedly recognizing Tony Karrat for 40 years of leadership as Executive Director of Legal Aid Service of Broward County. Attorney Jesse Diner of Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney, a longtime friend, advocate and supporter of Legal Aid programs, offered a memorable and fitting tribute and shared with the crowd of 300 guests, “recognizing Tony for his steadfast championing of the underprivileged and underserved of this community is long overdue.”
Event Sponsors included: Kelley Uustal; Talenfeld Law; JM Family Enterprises, Inc.; Kirschbaum, Birnbaum, Lippman & Gregoire, PLLC; Scott D. Owens, P.A.; Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk; US Legal Support; Valley National Bank; Broward County Bar Association; Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC; CopyScan Technologies; Daily Business Review; Florida Power & Light; Keiser University; Kim Vaughan Lerner LLP; Sabadell Bank; B’Nai B’Rith Justice Unit #5207; Broward County Women Lawyers’ Association; Farmer, Jaffe, Weissing, Edwards, Fistos & Lehrman, P.L.; Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm, PA; Nova Southeastern University; Rubinton & Associates, PA; Sharon Bourassa, Esq. & Win Leavitt; St. Thomas University School of Law; THINK Magazine; Transworld Business Advisors, LLC.; Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L.; the Young Lawyers Section of the Broward County Bar Association; Frank Weinberg & Black, P.L. and the Honorable Ron Rothschild.
Annual sponsors of LAS and CCLA include CopyScan Technologies; Farmer, Jaffe, Weissing, Edwards, Fistos & Lehrman, PL; Florida Power & Light; Kelley/Uustal; Kim Vaughan Lerner, LLP; Talenfeld Law; US Legal Support; Valley National Bank; Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L. and the Young Lawyers Section of the Broward County Bar Association.
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Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida is a not-for-profit law firm established in 2003 and funded, in part, by the Legal Services Corporation. Our mission is to improve the lives of low income persons in our community through advocacy, education, representation and empowerment.
Legal Aid Service of Broward County is a not-for-profit law firm established in 1974. Our mission is to provide high quality free civil legal advice, representation and education to the poor of Broward County so as to improve the lifestyle and living conditions of the low-income community and to encourage self-sufficiency.
Legal Aid Service of Broward County (LAS) and Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) are 501(c)(3) corporations registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer services (LAS #SC-02337 and CCLA #CH19226). All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free 1-800-435-7352 within the state OR VISITING WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the State.
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