South Florida Lawyers Embark on Historic Campaign to Aid Abused and Abandoned Children; $200,000 Pledged for This First Time Collaborative Effort.Business Editors/Legal Writers MIAMI Miami, cities, United States Miami (mīăm`ē, –ə). 1 City (1990 pop. 358,548), seat of Dade co., SE Fla., on Biscayne Bay at the mouth of the Miami River; inc. 1896. & WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2002 Two of the nation's leading organizations for abused, abandoned and neglected children, Voices for Children Foundation (Voices) and Lawyers for Children America (LFCA LFCA Large Format Cinema Association LFCA Land Force Central Area (Canadian military) LFCA Low Volume Fraction Colloidal Assemblies ), have partnered with Miami-Dade County attorneys in a first of its kind collaborative effort to raise funds and intensify interest amongst the children's most likely advocates: South Florida's affluent and influential private legal community. Propelled forth by the tragic case of Rilya Wilson Rilya Wilson was a foster child of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the centerpoint of an investigation into neglect and mismanagement in the organization.[1] She was approximately 4 years old when she disappeared in 2000. , the five year old who disappeared in Florida custody and the startling star·tle v. star·tled, star·tling, star·tles v.tr. 1. To cause to make a quick involuntary movement or start. 2. To alarm, frighten, or surprise suddenly. See Synonyms at frighten. subsequent revelations about the deficiencies in the state's Department of Children and Families, the pilot program, the South Florida Lawyers Speak for Children Campaign, was officially launched on December 10th at a Miami City Club breakfast meeting initiated and underwritten by South Florida philanthropist R. Kirk Landon. Spearheaded by prominent plaintiffs' attorneys Michael Hanzman and Mike Eidson, the fundraiser introduced other lawyers and activists to the programs initiated by Voices for Children Foundation and Lawyers for Children America. Voices serves as the fundraising arm of the Guardian Ad Litem A guardian appointed by the court to represent the interests of Infants, the unborn, or incompetent persons in legal actions. Guardians are adults who are legally responsible for protecting the well-being and interests of their ward, who is usually a minor. Program of Miami-Dade County, the single entity that was heralded by the Governor's Blue Ribbon blue ribbon denotes highest honor. [Western Folklore: Brewer Dictionary, 127] See : Prize Panel report. "If there is any program that costs the least and benefits the most, this one is it...Florida's goal should be -- must be -- that every child in state supervision have a Guardian Ad Litem." Lawyers for Children America was founded by attorneys to mobilize the legal community to support abused and neglected children through pro bono Short for pro bono publico [Latin, For the public good]. The designation given to the free legal work done by an attorney for indigent clients and religious, charitable, and other nonprofit entities. representation and other peer-based efforts. In programs established around the country, LFCA volunteer attorneys seek to fill the gap in eroding child welfare systems and government services. "This is an unprecedented opportunity for us to garner continued support from the community most likely to understand the system and seek to change it -- lawyers," stated Norman Powell Norman Scott Powell (1935 – ) is the son of Joan Blondell and George Barnes. He was adopted by his mother's second husband, Dick Powell, in February 1938. He is a television executive and produced such shows as Gunsmoke and The Big Valley. , the Chairperson of Voices and himself an attorney with Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod. Added Zoe Baird, the founder of LFCA and current president of the Markle Foundation, "Establishing the South Florida Lawyers Speak for Children Campaign demonstrates the extraordinary commitment of how local attorneys are able to come together to address this issue in a very positive way...it is an inspiration." |
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