Summer Newsletter

Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.
Passionately Committed to Equal Justice
Marcia K. Cypen, Executive Director
Summer 2011—A newsletter for friends and donors of LSGMI
Lotus House Street Law Project
Donor Spotlight
O
n March 28, 2011,
LSGMI launched the
Lotus House Street Law
Project in collaboration
with the Miami-Dade
Florida Association for
Women Lawyers (FAWL)
and Judge Rosemary
Barkett. The Project is
an intensive learning and
empowerment
program
designed to meet the
Deborah Baker
Margaret Zehren
unique needs of
Lotus
House guests in order to
support their transition from homelessness to self sufficiency,
social stability and permanent housing.
I
n collaboration with LSGMI Deputy Director Margaret Zehren
and Staff Attorney Anna Frusciante, FAWL volunteers led by
FAWL Board Member Deborah Baker developed A Financial Fresh
Start module with six workshops.
Anne Helliwell
“S
upporting Legal Services of Greater Miami not only benefits many in
our community and helps to improve their lives and futures but also
ensures a better future for the community we all call home. I am honored to
make this donation from the Helliwell Family Foundation in memory of my
father, Paul L.E. Helliwell, Esq., a man who believed in equality for all and in
making a positive difference in the lives of others.”
Anne Helliwell
The Helliwell Family Foundation
V
olunteers for this innovative effort include Judge Laurel
Isicoff, attorneys Ileana Cruz-Bongini (Stearns Weaver),
Jessica Fauer (Wilson Elser), Dee Dee Fischer (Akerman
Senterfitt), Monique Hayes (Genovese Joblove), Kristy Johnson
(Carlton Fields), Linda Leali (White & Case), Angela Lipscomb
(Akerman Senterfitt), Rachel Wagner Furst (White & Case),
community outreach representative Mariangelli Fernandez (State
Attorney’s Office), and financial advisers Ana Harris (CELA
Advisors), Lisa Katz (Gibraltar Bank), and Elvira Merino (US
Century Bank).
“What an amazing presentation last night,” said Lotus House President
Constance Collins Margulies. “Our deepest heartfelt thanks to
everyone for this street law series!”
Paul L.E. Helliwell, Esq.
A donation to LSGMI is the ideal gift for family members, friends and
associates who already have everything. It is a gift that keeps on giving by
sustaining LSGMI’s vital work on behalf of those in need. Your gift can
be in recognition of a holiday, a birthday, a special event, or “just because”.
Gifts to LSGMI are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Please Save the Date and help us Celebrate our 45th Anniversary
on September 16, 2011.
Celebrating 45 Years of Service
“Without the wonderful staff at Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. I would have been lost!!”
- Elliott Lopez
F
O
orty five years ago a group of local attorneys committed to equal justice founded Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. With broad based
support from the local legal and business community, LSGMI now has a staff of 30 attorneys, a budget of over $7 million, and our own
office building—the Chesterfield Smith Center for Equal Justice.
ur vision is to empower our clients and alleviate the hardships of poverty through aggressive advocacy and innovative collaboration with
our community partners. Each year our services benefit more than 30,000 members of the low income community-- women, children,
seniors, veterans, the homeless, people with AIDS and the working poor. Individuals and families turn to us when they have nowhere else to
go for help. When the foreclosure and unemployment crisis hit our community, LSGMI was on the front line responding to the urgent demand
for service.
A
Y
W
s we celebrate our 45th anniversary, we thank each of you who have so generously supported us throughout the years—by working
for LSGMI, volunteering as a law clerk, serving on the board, taking a pro bono case, providing in kind services, and donating money.
Everything that we do is because of you!
our help is important now more than ever as we face a critical challenge to our continued ability to serve the community. The
budget recently adopted by Congress cuts our Legal Services Corporation funding by almost $165,000 in 2011. Please help us fill
this hole by donating today.
ith your support we can continue to help people like Elliott who found an eviction notice on his door on Christmas Eve. Thanks to
LSGMI, Elliott’s illegal eviction was stopped and he did not become homeless. “I have true respect for your organization. I applaud and
tip my hat to each and every one of you who every day help those like myself who are not informed nor know their rights when something
unjust happens to them.”
By the Numbers
LSGMI’s services to the community increased dramatically in 2010.
Cases handled by staff attorneys increased 16%
Information & Referral increased 27%
Clients receiving Community Education training increased 15%
An Intimate Evening with Michael Feinstein
W
i th Fisher Island’s breathtaking Vanderbilt Mansion as his backdrop, Michael Feinstein, the iconic five-time Grammyn o m i n a t e d song writer, pianist and singer, dazzled an exclusive audience on Monday, February 22 with the music of
Gershwin, Berlin, Porter, and more. Proceeds from the evening, underwritten by Robert Pinkert and The Pinkert Family
The sold out crowd was welcomed by Corali Lopez-Castro, Kozyak, Tropin & Throckmorton, who serves as Co-Chair of
LSGMI’s Together, We Must Campaign for Justice. “The current economic downturn has hit South Florida especially hard,”
said Lopez-Castro. The need for free legal services has never been greater.”
Marcia K. Cypen, LSGMI Executive Director, was thrilled to have Feinstein support LSGMI’s mission through his performance.
“What a magical evening. We are deeply grateful that Michael was willing to help support us through the use of his incredible
talents.”
Heartfelt Thanks
to Our Generous Supporters
Leadership Circle
Diamond
Stearns Weaver Miller • Harke & Clasby LLP (Cy Pres) • The Helliwell Family Foundation In Memory of Paul L. E. Helliwell, Esq.
Holland & Knight LLP • Kozyak Tropin Throckmorton (Cy Pres) • White & Case LLP
Platinum
Akerman Senterfitt • Carlton Fields • Genovese Joblove & Battista P.A. • Greenberg Traurig • The Haggard Law Firm P.A. • Kenny Nachwalter, P.A.
Kenny Nachwalter, P.A. • The Law Offices of Robert L. Parks • Robert Pinkert • Wicker, Smith, O’Hara, McCoy & Ford, P.A.
Gold
Berger Singerman • Hunton & Williams • In Memory of Frances and Louis M. Jepeway • Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine, P.L.
Schad, Diamond & Shedden, P.C. (Cy Pres)
Silver
Baker & McKenzie LLP • Buckner, Shifrin, Rice, Etter & Kohlman, P.A. • The Biondo Law Firm, P.A. • Coffey Burlington LLP • Cole Scott & Kissane, P.A.
Colson Hicks Eidson • GrayRobinson, P.A. • Gunster Yoakley & Stewart, P.A. • Hogan Lovells • McDermott, Will & Emery LLP
McLuskey & McDonald, P.A. • Richman Greer, P.A. • Robert Murphy, Law Office of Robert W. Murphy (Cy Pres) • Ross & Girten
Ruden McCloskey Smith Schuster & Russell, P.A. • Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP • Yoss LLP
Bronze
Grossman Roth, P.A. • Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP • Ira J. Kaufman Family Foundation • John M. Hogan • Kaufman, Rossin & Co.
Lance A. Harke, P.A. • Manuel Garcia-Linares (Cy Pres) • Elliot Manning • Moore & Company, P.A. • Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
Morrison Brown Argiz & Farra LLP • Northern Trust • Podhurst Orseck, P.A. • Patricia A. Redmond • Robert L. Parks
Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP • Bradley H. Stein • SunTrust Bank• TD Charitable Foundation • Tracy Nichols & Gerald Sanchez
Trigram GC In Honor Of Marcia K. Cypen
Chesterfield Smith Society for Equal Justice
Guardians
Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP • Cypen & Cypen • Flois & David Landau - In Honor of Marcia & Mark Rabinowitz • Freidin & Dobrinsky • Gold, Chavez & Gold, P.A.
The James Street Group • Miami-Dade Justice Association, Inc. • Parker D. Thomson • Ryder Charitable Foundation • Taylor, Janovic and White, P.A. • Thomas R. Julin
Vera Cash Foundation Inc.
Advocates
Tod Aronovitz • Julie Azuaje • Rodney H. Bell • The Bluntzer Group • Burger King Corporation • Jennifer & Matthew Buttrick
Jose A. Casal • Compuquip • Terence G. Connor • Rebecca A. Cox • Jeffrey B. Crockett • David O. Markus PLLC • Juan C. Enjamio • Salvatore A. Faso • Nancy Flint
Charles J. Foschini • Jeff and Mei Sze Green Foundation • Roberto Hernandez • Derek Jackson • Marvin & Isa Leibowitz • Leinoff & Lemos, P.A. • The Martinez Family Fund
Richard Montes de Oca • Gisela M. Munoz • Darrell Payne • Joel S. Perwin • Preferred Composite Services, Inc. • Craig V. Rasile • Judge Steven D. Robinson
Stanley Rosenblatt • Stephen F. Rosenthal • Sanford Barrows Group, LLC • Seitlin • Judge Patricia A. Seitz - In Memory of Chesterfield Smith • Matthew J. Sitkowski, Jr.
South Florida Association of Legal Administrators • Mark A. Sylvester • TCBA Waston Rice LLP • TD Bank • Donald C. Tyler • Margaret F. Zehren
Trendsetters
William Adams • Alters Boldt Brown Rash & Culmo • Fatima Ashraf • Mark Bagnall • John M. Barkett • Luis Botas • Mark Buchbinder • Raoul G. Cantero
Nancy Ciampa • Deehl & Carlson PA • Sharon Q. Dixon • Manuel L. Dobrinsky • Deborah J. Gander – In Memory of Martha Colson • Ann & Carl Ghattas
Kelly-Ann Gibbs-Cartwright • Libby Herrera-Navarrete • Hicks Porter Ebenfeld & Stein P.A. • Amanda Jacobs • Jonathan Jaffe • Ross M. & Linda W. Johnston
Eric H. Kabot • Dr. Robert Katims - In Honor of Janet McAliley • Kevin Kenneally • Law Offices of Barry L. Meadow P.L. • Tiffani G. Lee
Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP - In Honor of Voula Liroff • Littler Mendelson • McGrane Nosich & Ganz PA • Pablo Meles • Mellon Bank
Murai Wald Biondo & Moreno PA • David Newman • Gary Palmer • Pantropic Power Products • Allie H. Pennie • Joaquin Perez • Roderick N. Petrey • Nunzio J. Pravata
Ratzan & Rubio • Judge Catherine Ravinski • Reliance Medical Wholesale • Richard S. Gendler & Associates P.A. • Rivero Mestre & Castro LLP • Cristina Rodriguez
Bruce S. Rogow • Stephen F. Rossman • Rossman Baumberger & Reboso • Elizabeth Schwabedissen • Julie Siefkas-Marin • Jeffrey Shore • Simon & Bocksch • H.T. Smith
Steven Sonberg • The Spatz Law Firm • Brian F. Spector • John J. Spiegel • Marc J. Sternbaum • Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi, P.A. • Lee Teichner • Vicente Tome
Luis Vacanti • Brenton Ver Ploeg • Ver Ploeg & Lumpkin • Veritext Florida Reporting • Richard Warren • Abigail C. Watts-Fitzgerald • Susan B. Werth • Nina Williams
Sally H. Wise • Steven Wisotsky • Burton Young In Memory of Sheila Young • Sanford L. Ziff Family Foundation
Friends
Patricia Acosta • Elbert Alfaro • Fernando Alonso • Alexander Angueira • Miranda-Lin Bailey • Elizabeth S. Baker • John M. Barkett • Joel M. Barnett
Berman Rennert Vogel & Mandler, P.A. • Michael D. Birnholz • David E. Block • Bambi G. Blum • Richard Brodsky • Judge Stephen Brown • Phyllis Carlin • Lindsay Cohen
Carlos Colon-Machargo • Manuel L. Crespo • Samuel A. Danon • Krista DeCastro • Kathy R. Deckler • John J. Delionado Jr. • Thomas Dillon • David Draigh • Richard M. Dunn
Kenneth C. Ellis • Yudany Fernandez • Lewis B. Freeman • William P. Geraghty • Robert A. Ginsburg • Evan Goldenberg • Stephen J. Golembe • Jordi Guso
Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association, Inc. • Michael A. Hanzman • Timothy D. Henkel • Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP • Elizabeth Hollander • Lauren Hunt
Sanjeev Jayanna • Kelly Janitorial Systems • Charles C. Kline • Roxanne H. Lancella • George McCleary • Victor Mendoza • Alice Meyer • Jeff Mihm • Rene Murai • Philip Parrish Jan
M. Peltz • Matthew Petrie • Sheldon Philip • Jason Pizzo • C. Ryan Reetz • James Robinson • Darin Rock • Remedios Rodriguez - In Honor of Isabella Alexandra Rodriguez • Brian Roffman
Michael Rosenberg • Brenda B. Shapiro - In Honor of Darrell Payne • Harris J. Siskind • Robert H. Smith • Marty Steinberg • B. Cary Tolley, III • Leonard Turkel
Steven & Elizabeth Vainder - In Memory of Anthony Litterello • Carlos Viana • Richard M. Whitebrook • Joshua Young
In Memory of Phylis Tannen
Joan Bearden • Wallace & Mary Lou Brey • Ruth & Leo Czajkowski • James & Gertrude Desjardin • Jack & Lynda Everitt • Ruth Greenfield • Zara Iund • Thomas & Gwen Jones
Andrew & Linda Kleinberg • Robert & Candace Korn • J. David & Elizabeth McGonagle • Sandra L. Peyser • Abby Schaeffer Orfaly • Paul & Alma Warner • William & Shirley Wissemann
In-Kind Donors
Adrienne Arsht Center • Akerman Senterfitt • Books & Books • Bulgari • Burger King Corporation • Chady • Cheesecake Factory • City Furniture • Classical South Florida
Cory Schnepper • Costco Wholesale • Cuban American Bar Association • Cypen & Cypen • Daily Business Review • David Alonso Photography • Diageo • Dr. Diane Walder
Dr. Michael Storch • Eden Roc • Elemis Spa • Elizabeth S. Baker • Enjoy the City • Enrique Monestario • Esquire Express, Inc. • Estee Lauder Co. • Exquisite Catering by Robert
Florida Grand Opera • Florida Marlins Experience • Horwitz Dermatology • Hotel Victor • Hughes Hubbard & Reed • Humberto Benetiz • Jana Water • Jenny’s Flowers • Jill Enfield
Jo Malone “Experience” • Leonore Cajaraville • Maggie Steber • Maria Ason • Marky’s Caviar • Maru Carreras • Miami City Ballet • Miami-Dade Justice Association, Inc.
Murai Wald Biondo Moreno & Brochin, P.A. • Neiman Marcus • Nelson Viera • New World Symphony • Northern Trust • Oceania Cruises • Petit Rouge • Ratzan Law Group
Rhythm Liqueur • Robert & Edith Hudson • Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. • Saks Fifth Avenue • Samuels Richter Architects,Inc. • Southern Wine and Spirits
Specialty Bakers of Adventura • Stearns Weaver Miller • Steinway & Sons • The Chophouse • The Flaming Greek • the margulies collection at the WAREhOUSE • The Opium Group
Tiffany & Co. • Tourneau • Trigram GC • Whimsical Art • White & Case
Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.
3000 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 500
Miami, FL 33137
For Residents in Miami-Dade County North of Kendall Drive:
305-576-0080
Nonprofit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Miami, FL
Permit No. 1255
South Dade Law Center
11285 S.W. 211th St., #302
Miami, FL 33189
For Residents in Miami-Dade County South of Kendall Drive:
305-232-9680
For Residents of Monroe County:
877-715-7464
www.lsgmi.org
Board of Directors
Garrett J. Biondo, Esq.
President
Lance A. Harke, Esq.
1st Vice President
Yanick J. Landess
2nd Vice President
Carlos J. Canino, Esq.
Treasurer
Gisela M. Munoz, Esq.
Secretary
Olanike Adebayo, Esq
Shabab Alli
Juanita Alvarez
Julie Azuaje, Esq.
Deborah Baker, Esq.
Cindy Borroto
Stephanie Carman, Esq.
Beatrice Cazeau, Esq.
Nancy Ciampa, Esq.
Manuel Crespo, Esq.
Jeffrey B. Crockett, Esq.
Alana Dasent, Esq.
Manuel Dobrinsky, Esq.
D. Porpoise Evans, Esq.
Jordi Guso, Esq.
Shatwona Howard
Bacardi L. Jackson, Esq.
Derek A. Jackson, Esq.
Louis M. Jepeway, Jr., Esq.
Linda Jones
Tracy Kelley
Tamara Kilcrease
Maria E. Lauredo, Esq.
Tiffani G. Lee, Esq.
John W. McLuskey, Esq.
Gary David Palmer, Esq.
Darrell Payne, Esq.
Timothy M. Ravich, Esq.
Cristina B. Rodriguez, Esq.
Elvin Ruiz
Alan Sajous
Karimah Sheffield
Devetria Stratford
Mark Alan Sylvester, Esq.
Vicente A. Tome, Esq.
Rocio Tucen
Ida Wright
Donald Yates, Esq.
Campaign Leadership
Committee
Eugene E. Stearns
Co-Chair
Robert L. Parks
Co-Chair
Corali (Cori) Lopez-Castro
Co-Chair
Patricia Acosta
Alexander Angueira
Antonio Argiz
Julie A. Azuaje
Elizabeth S. Baker
Garrett J. Biondo
Byron Brown
Jennifer Stearns Buttrick
Carlos J. Canino
Raoul G. Cantero, III
Kendall B. Coffey
Jeffrey B. Crockett
Gabrielle Lyn D’Alemberte
Manuel L. Dobrinsky
Michael P. Elkin
Sandra M. Ferrera
Philip Freidin
Ivan A. Garces
Michael A. Haggard
Lance A. Harke
Marlon A. Hill
Marcos D. Jimenez
Thomas R. Julin
Alan Kluger
Leslie J. Lott
John W. “Jack” McLuskey
David O. Markus
Brian Miller
Michael T. Moore
Tracy Nichols
Darrell Payne
Mey-Ling Perez
Robyn F. Perlman
Benjamine Reid
Dean A. Robertson
Cristina B. Rodriguez
Stephen F. Rosenthal
Lauri Waldman Ross
Alfred J. Saikali
Lilly Ann Sanchez
Carl Schuster
Effie D. Silva
W. Robert (Bob) Smith, III
Bradley H. Stein
Vicente A. Tome
Stanley H. Wakshlag
Stephen N. Zack