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Archive for the ‘Fundraising & Support’ Category

Advocacy Group Florida’s Children First Honors Community Heroes at Palm Beach Foster Children Event

December 2nd, 2011   No Comments   Advocacy, Fundraising & Support

Florida’s Children First, a statewide organization dedicated to protecting foster children and other at-risk youth, recognized Palm Beach County individuals for their tireless work to advocate for the state’s most vulnerable citizens at its annual Palm Beach Fundraising and Awards Reception at Boca Raton’s Bridge Hotel November 29.

Jim Sackett, FCF Executive Director Christina Spudeas, Richard Slawson

Emcee Jim Sackett, FCF Executive Director Christina Spudeas and Richard Slawson

More than 50 of the area’s prominent business and community leaders, as well as individuals and families concerned about Florida’s foster care youth were in attendance to support the organization and its cause, including recently retired WPTV News Channel 5 Anchor Jim Sackett.

Sackett served as Emcee for the evening’s award ceremony, including a special award he presented to a former foster child, Earle James, who he once profiled in a “Thursday’s Child” segment 10 years ago. Earle overcame a difficult background of abuse and loss to become an advocate for children, speaking at parent and youth workshops. His father, Michael, who adopted Earle after seeing the “Thursday’s Child segment” accepted the “Youth Honoree of the Year” award on Earle’s behalf.

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Florida’s Children First Orlando Fundraiser Honors Those Who Help Foster Children

September 24th, 2011   No Comments   Advocacy, Fundraising & Support

Florida’s Children First, a statewide organization dedicated to protecting foster children and other at-risk youth, recognized Orlando individuals for their tireless work to advocate for the state’s most vulnerable citizens at its annual Fundraising and Awards Reception. About 80 of the area’s prominent business and community leaders, as well as individuals and families concerned about Florida’s foster care youth were in attendance to support the organization and its cause, raising nearly $5,000. Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Jeff Faine and Orlando Sentinel writer and foster parent George Diaz among those recognized.

The 2011 Orlando Child Advocates of the Year were Jeff Faine and Susan Khoury. Jeff is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers center and founder of The Faine House, a special home for youth aging out of the foster care system offering young adults a safe place to live while they complete their education or pursue career training.

Susan has been a Guardian ad Litem program director for the Orange County Bar Association for the past 23 years. She supervises more than 13 staff members who recruit, train and support approximately 700 lawyers in Orange County who volunteer to represent the best interest of children in the Orange County juvenile courts.

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Florida Bar News – Tracey McPharlin honored for child advocacy

Florida’s Children First honored child advocate and attorney Tracey McPharlin at its annual Palm Beach Child Advocate Awards Reception.

The event had approximately 100 attendees and raised more than $27,000, which will go toward FCF’s child advocacy efforts across the state.

McPharlin passed away just 10 days after the ceremony on November 6, 2010, in Ft. Lauderdale following a battle with cancer.

Read the entire Florida Bar News story here

Florida’s Children First Annual Child Advocate Awards Set for February

December 15th, 2010   No Comments   Advocacy, Fundraising & Support

Florida’s Children First (FCF), the statewide legal advocacy organization focused on protecting the legal rights of at-risk and foster care children, will hold its annual Child Advocate Awards and Reception fundraiser this coming February.

The event will be at the Tower Club on Thursday, February 24. It typically draws more than 300 prominent attorneys, child advocates, elected officials, judges, community and business leaders, and others concerned about the future of Florida’s children, especially abused, abandoned and neglected children and youth.

This past February, the event honored Mr. Jesse H. Diner, showcased several foster care success stories and raised $100,000 for the organization.

Leaders hope to match or beat the fundraising milestone – and awareness generated for the state’s most vulnerable citizens.

“As President of the Florida Bar, Jesse was a true leader in advancing the rights of foster children and their legal representation in Florida,” said FCF President Howard Talenfeld. “This year, we hope to recognize another equally staunch advocate for children’s rights.”

To learn more, or to make a contribution, call 954-796-0860 or send an email to fcf@floridaschildrenfirst.org.

Sun-Sentinel Society Scene Covers Florida’s Children First Event

March 12th, 2010   No Comments   Fundraising & Support

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel gave major play to the recent Florida’s Children First fundraiser and event honoring Florida Bar President Jesse H. Diner. See the coverage here.

The annual event, held in Fort Lauderdale, raised more than $100,000 for foster children, vulnerable citizens and programs statewide. In attendance were child advocates, attorneys, judges and others involved in supporting children’s needs.

Snapshots of Foster Care Generosity: Florida’s Children First Attendees Give Their Money and Time

March 6th, 2010   No Comments   Fundraising & Support

When more than 300 attorneys, child advocates, judges and honorees gathered for the Fort Lauderdale Child Advocate Awards and Reception of Florida’s Children First (FCF) in February, they represented the scope of statewide legal advocacy focused on protecting the rights of at-risk and foster care children.

Florida Bar President Jesse Diner and Howard Talenfeld

Florida Bar President Jesse Diner and FCF President Howard Talenfeld

They also represented the depth of the Florida legal community’s commitment to protecting society’s most vulnerable citizens.

FCF’s annual Broward event recognized attorney and Florida Bar President Jesse H. Diner for his support of legislation designed to obtain counsel children in foster care and the dependency system, and support for important recommendations of the Florida Bar’s Legal Needs of Children Committee.

Anchorwoman Kristi Krueger and FCF Exec. Dir. Christina Spudeas

Anchorwoman Kristi Krueger and FCF Exec. Dir. Christina Spudeas

Attendees heard how Mr. Diner has been a staunch champion of the passage of legislation to provide attorneys and zealous advocacy for foster children — and how such representation would effectively reduce or eliminate the powerlessness children face when entering the legal system.

He also has backed the Florida Bar Association’s effort to recruit and train pro bono lawyers to represent these children.

Honoree Jesse Diner, Adele Stone, and Broward Judge John Luzzo

Honoree Jesse Diner, Adele Stone, and Broward Judge John Luzzo

Florida’s Children First is supported by sponsors Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate; Regions Bank; United Automobile Insurance Group; Boardroom Communications Inc.; White & Case; American National Bank; President’s Fest in the Park; among others.

To learn more, or to make a contribution, call the Broward office of Florida’s Children First at 954-796-0860 or send an email to fcf@floridaschildrenfirst.org.

Broward Judge Andrew Siegel, FCF Board Member Julie Talenfeld, and David Singer

Broward Judge Andrew Siegel, FCF Board Member Julie Talenfeld, and David Singer

From its Website, Florida’s Children First’s  staff, board members, volunteers and advocates devote their time to ensure that each child in care or in an at-risk situation will have a voice that is heard when decisions are made.  We use legislative and policy advocacy, executive branch education and advocacy, training and technical assistance to lawyers and Guardians Ad Litem representing children, public awareness, and filing of amicus briefs as strategies to improve child serving systems.

Florida’s Children First Honors Attorney, Florida Bar President Jesse H. Diner

March 1st, 2010   No Comments   Fundraising & Support

Diner Lauded For Commitment to Legal Representation for Foster Children; Event Celebrates Success Stories, Raises $100,000 for Advocacy Statewide

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Florida’s Children First (FCF), the statewide legal advocacy organization focused on protecting the legal rights of at-risk and foster care children, honored Mr. Jesse H. Diner and several foster care success stories at its Child Advocate Awards and Reception in February.

The event, held in Fort Lauderdale, was attended by more than 300 attorneys, child advocates, elected officials, judges, community and business leaders, and others concerned about the future of Florida’s children, especially abused, abandoned and neglected children and youth. The event raised some $100,000 for the organization.

“As President of the Florida Bar, Jesse has utilized his position as Florida Bar President to advance the rights of foster children to legal representation in Florida,” said FCF President Howard Talenfeld. The other foster care honorees included Michael Lewis, who was honored as the Young Adult Honoree, and Linsey Brewster-Jenkins and Alexeve Jenkins, who were honored as FCF’s Foster / Adoptive Family of the Year. “They serve as a role models and inspiration for any of us who strive to improve how Florida’s vulnerable children are treated.” (more…)

Florida’s Children First to Honor Attorney & Advocate Jesse H. Diner at Broward Reception Feb. 24 at Tower Club

Florida Bar President Jesse H. Diner Instrumental in Seeking Legal Representation for Foster Children

Florida’s Children First (FCF), the statewide legal advocacy organization focused on protecting the legal rights of at-risk and foster care children, will honor at its upcoming Child Advocate Awards and Reception Mr. Jesse H. Diner, President of the Florida Bar, who has made advancing the rights of children a major emphasis in Florida.

jesse-dinerFCF’s annual Broward event will recognize Mr. Diner for his efforts supporting legislation designed to obtain counsel children in foster care and the dependency system, supporting the recommendations of the Florida Bar’s Legal Needs of Children Committee. He has championed the passage of legislation that would provide attorneys for foster children, ensuring foster children receive “the same zealous advocacy adult clients expect of their lawyers,” he has written.

He also has supported Florida Bar’s efforts in recruiting pro bono lawyers to represent these children. (more…)

80 Attend Legal Aid Service of Broward County and Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida ‘NEXT Event’

February 5th, 2010   No Comments   Fundraising & Support

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Legal Aid Service of Broward County and Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida’s newest organization – NEXT (Next EXecutive Team) – welcomed 80 guests including several members of the judiciary to a special Groundhog Day mixer at YOLO in downtown Fort Lauderdale on February 2, 2010.

The event was sponsored by the law firm of  Colodny Fass Talenfeld Karlinsky & Abate P.A. In addition to an exciting evening of new friends and networking, event attendees enjoyed learning more about NEXT – a joint project between the Legal Aid Service of Broward County and Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida.

“I’m glad to see lawyers and business people coming out so strongly to show support for Legal Aid and NEXT,” said Howard Talenfeld, Esq., an honorary guest and speaker, and a notable advocate for children and the elderly in South Florida.

“I think there are many of us in our community who really appreciate the important and much needed services Legal Aid provides.”

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Florida, Attorneys Provide Help to Haiti Earthquake Victims, Orphans

Child care advocates, attorneys and agencies across Florida are stepping up to provide assistance and guidance to victims and orphans from the Haiti earthquake — and those who want to help.

The state of Florida Department of Children and Families has posted a variety of resources on its Website. Visit DCF Haiti Earthquake Relief (http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/haitiInfo.shtml) to learn more.

The U.S. Department of Citizenship and Immigration Services hosted a recent workshop for those Haitians interested in gaining Temporary Protected Status, with members of the Miami-based Haitian Lawyers Association in attendance. Learn more by visiting their site at http://www.hlaonline.org/.

University of Miami Law School lawyers and students helped those seeking TPS fill out forms. Read here to find out what’s needed to properly fill out the documentation.

Listen to this WLRN-FM radio story on the process of applying for TPS status. Applicants have six months to apply for TPS status, beginning on January 21, 2010. Officials expect more than 200,000 applications.

Attorneys and advocates can visit the Florida Bar Association Website to find out how they can help. Others can visit the Miami Herald’s database of charities.