• Florida Bar Foundation Logo

    September 2023 Board Report

    The Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors held its quarterly board meeting on September 15, 2023, in Maitland, Florida. Murray Silverstein presided over the meeting and grantee presentations were given by Bethanie Barber, Executive Director, Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, and Jeff Harvey, Executive Director, Community Legal Services. The Foundation appreciates […]

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  • family law section

    Foundation is grateful recipient of donations

    In June, The Florida Bar Family Law Section donated $75,000 to the Foundation’s Children’s Legal Services grant program. Since 2012, the section has donated $650,000 to support legal aid efforts that provide legal services to children including those in foster care, and those who have been abused, neglected or trafficked. Outgoing Family Law Section Chair […]

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    Miami lawyer David B. Rothman and Sarasota lawyer Kimberly L. Rodgers honored

    The Florida Bar Foundation awarded two lawyers with its top honors in June. David B. Rothman, founder of criminal defense firm Rothman & Associates, P.A., in Miami, received the Medal of Honor for a Lawyer for his dedication, commitment and tireless volunteer work on behalf of numerous Bar and legal organizations, and his steadfast integrity […]

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  • murray

    President’s Message – Fall 2023

    The Foundation has spent more than a year working on changes that will better reflect who we are and what we do. I am pleased to announce that after updating our mission statement, the board of directors approved the adoption of a new name in June. Once it has approval from the Florida Supreme Court, […]

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  • scbalas award

    Paul C. Doyle Children’s Advocacy Award winners recognized

    The Paul C. Doyle Children’s Advocacy Award was presented during the Foundation’s 2023 Annual Award Ceremony and Breakfast on June 22 in Boca Raton. The award, given biannually, recognizes grantees or philanthropic organizations that have protected, expanded or brought about positive change to a substantial number of low-income children securing their fundamental rights. Paul C. […]

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    Foundation begins IOTA collections under amended rule

    On May 15, 2023, an amendment to Florida Bar Rule 5-1.1(g) took effect, requiring financial institutions that offer IOTA accounts to base their interest rate for those accounts on a new set of terms. Interest earned on lawyers’ trust accounts is used by the Foundation to fund legal aid. The rule language states that “when […]

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    Foundation submits first IOTA implementation report to Florida Supreme Court

    The Florida Bar Foundation submitted its first status report regarding its activities as the designated IOTA administrator to the Florida Supreme Court in September 2023, pursuant to Rule 5-1.1(g) as amended by the Court in 2021. Read the report. 

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    Join us for our Housewarming

    Join us for a Housewarming event on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at our new office. Join us for tours, drinks, light refreshments and live music. We are putting down roots in our new home and hope you can be a part of the celebration. RSVP for the event here. 

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    Foundation announces IOTA collections for 2022-23 fiscal year

    The Florida Bar Foundation has collected $45,547,390.93 in Interest on Trust Accounts (IOTA) collections during fiscal year 2022-23, its second year under amended Rule 5-1.1(g)(8), Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. In accordance with the rule, the Foundation will, on or before Dec. 31, 2023, distribute to one or more qualified grantee organizations all IOTA funds […]

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  • murray

    Tampa lawyer Murray Silverstein takes office as president of Foundation

    Murray Silverstein, partner in the newly-opened Tampa office of national firm Stinson LLP, took office July 1, 2023, as president of The Florida Bar Foundation, a statewide charitable organization whose mission is to provide greater access to justice. Silverstein, whose practice areas include unfair competition, trade secrets, restrictive covenants, contract claims, intellectual property, and health […]

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    June 2023 Board Report

    The Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors met in person in Boca Raton on June 22, 2023. The major actions of the board and reports received included: Adoption of FY 23-24 Operating Budget The Budget and Finance Committee recommended, and the board approved, a FY 23-24 operating budget in the total amount of $2,465,235, which […]

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  • gonzalez

    Gonzalez takes office as second vice president, honored with President’s Award for Excellence

    Maria C. Gonzalez,  a board certified marital and family law lawyer from Miramar, took office as the second vice president of The Florida Bar Foundation on July 1, 2023. The Foundation is a statewide charitable organization whose mission is to provide greater access to justice. Gonzalez has served on the Foundation’s board of directors since […]

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