14th Annual For the Public Good – “magic of pro bono giving”

Legal Aid Service of Broward County and
Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida Raise
An Estimated $116,000 at the 14th Annual “For the Public Good”

Prestigious legal event celebrated community advocates for their pro bono service

Over 350 members of the legal and business community celebrated the “magic of pro bono giving” at the 14th 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 1, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six and raised an estimated $116,000.

This annual fundraising event 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.

Fort Lauderdale attorney Jose Izquierdo of the Law Office of Izquierdo and Marin, returned for a second time to serve as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. His involvement with both LAS and CCLA enabled him to bring a unique perspective to the event as he entertained and delighted the crowd comprised of prominent members of the legal and business community. Izquierdo is the Chair of the 17th Judicial Circuit’s Pro Bono Committee and a proponent of pro bono activities through involvement with the Broward County Bar Association, the Broward County Hispanic Bar Association, the Broward Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Themed entertainment was provided by nationally acclaimed magician and performance artist, Mike Paldino. Paldino delighted the audience using sleight of hand with playing cards, and other feats of mentalism as well as a specially designed jigsaw puzzle illusion commemorating the event.

Community advocates honored with special awards included: Jane Curran, Executive Director Emeritus, The Florida Bar Foundation, receiving the Russell E. Carlisle Advocacy Award; Samuel S. Goren, Esq., Goren Cherof Doody and Ezrol P. A., receiving the Commitment to Justice Award; Kirschbaum, Birnbaum, Lippman & Gregoire, PLLC, receiving the Law Firm of the Year Award; Michele K. Cummings, Esq., GrayRobinson, P.A., receiving the Attorney of the Year Award; the Young Lawyers Section of the Broward County Bar Association receiving the Spirit of Justice Award and Gladys Gerson, Esq., Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida, receiving the Jacquelyn & Bruce Rogow Employee of the Year Award.

Sponsors included: JM Family Enterprises, Inc; Kirschbaum, Birnbaum, Lippman & Gregoire, PLLC; Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk; Talenfeld Law; Broward County Bar Association; Farmer, Jaffe, Weissing, Edwards, Fistos & Lehrman, P.L.; Florida Power & Light; GrayRobinson, P.A.; Kim Vaughan Lerner LLP; Todd & Kimberly McPharlin; Scott D. Owens, P.A.; TD Bank ; US Legal Support; Valley National Bank; Becker & Poliakoff; B’nai B’rith Justice Unit #5207; Sharon Bourassa, Esq. & Win Leavitt; Broward County Women Lawyers’ Association; Corporate Insurance Advisors; Goren, Cherof, Doody & Ezrol, PA; Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm, P.A.; Dr. Arthur & Belinda Keiser on behalf of Keiser University; Nova Southeastern University; ROIG Lawyers; Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A.; St. Thomas University School of Law; The Law Office of Stuart R. Michelson; Transworld Business Advisors; Young Lawyers Section of the Broward County Bar Association; Boardroom PR; Broward County Justice Association; Fowler White Burnett, P.A.; Frank Weinberg & Black, P.L.; The Honorable Mel Grossman; Holland & Knight, LLP; Law Office of Izquierdo & Marin; Menendez Law Firm; Stephen & Rhoda Moss; The Honorable Ronald Rothschild; Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L.; CopyScan, Print Basics and the Daily Business Review.