FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (September 7, 2016)- Legal Aid Service of Broward County (LAS) and Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) are proud to announce that Talenfeld Law will be a major sponsor for their annual fundraising event, For the Public Good. The event will take place on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six in Fort Lauderdale.
The partners at Talenfeld Law have long been involved with Children’s Advocacy Programs at LAS and CCLA, including the Tracey McPharlin Pro Bono Dependency Project. As one of Ms. McPharlin’s former law partners, Howard Talenfeld, Esq., was a founder of the Project and has supported the initiative since its inception. Through this sponsorship commitment, Talenfeld is challenging others to match the contribution or make a commitment to the children of our community.
The Tracey McPharlin Pro Bono Dependency Project was launched in 2012 in memory of Tracey McPharlin, a Broward County attorney who passed away in 2010. In a career that lasted only 10 years, Tracey did a lifetime of work that improved and will continue to improve the lives of thousands of foster children. The goal of the initiative is to recruit, train and support attorneys who will carry on Tracey’s work by representing at-risk children at all proceedings affecting their safety, permanency, health and well-being.
Talenfeld Law is dedicated exclusively to representing abused, disabled and injured children in foster care and other child welfare settings in personal injury and damages cases. Founded by Howard Talenfeld, Talenfeld Law is one of the nation’s preeminent children’s rights firms. For more than 25 years, Talenfeld and his team have represented foster care children and the developmentally disabled who are victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect in damages cases and personal injury claims. Partner Stacie Schmerling is a veteran child abuse case worker and investigator who has 15 years of experience working in the child welfare systems in New Jersey and Florida, and has worked alongside Talenfeld since 2008. The team of five attorneys has secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for abused, disabled and injured children.
Talenfeld also is the founder and President of Florida’s Children First, the state’s leading child advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the legal rights of at-risk and foster children.
The evening will pay tribute to six outstanding community advocates with awards including: 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.
Now in its 15th year, the annual fundraiser honors members of the community who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to secure justice and change lives for the underprivileged and underserved in Broward County. An estimated 450 Broward County lawyers, judges and community leaders are expected to be in attendance, for what is widely-noted throughout Broward as the premier pro-bono recognition event of the year.
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. A few of the many legal services provided include helping seniors and 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. Annual sponsors of LAS and CCLA include Talenfeld Law; Valley National Bank; US Legal Support; Kim Vaughan Lerner, LLP; Farmer, Jaffe, Weissing, Edwards, Fistos & Lehrman, PL; and CopyScan Technologies.
To place congratulatory remarks or advertisements recognizing one or more of the honorees or for more insight into sponsorship opportunities and how you can get involved, please contact dlange@legalaid.org or call 954-736-2429.
# # #
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 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.