The Florida Region of ORT America proudly honored Ira Leesfield as the first recipient in Florida of the ORT America Jurisprudence Award at a Tribute Reception held at The Intercontinental Hotel on November 19, 2002 in Miami, FL. Over 200 of his colleagues, judges and community leaders were in attendance to pay tribute to his 30 years of service within the legal profession and community at large. It is Ira Leesfield’s lifetime of dedication to his profession, his nation and his community that makes him so richly deserving of this award.
Sidney Reiff, Vice President of ORT America, and Judge Marilyn Milian of the People’s Court (pictured), a well-respected and admired member of the South Florida community presented the award. During the presentation, Sidney Reiff read a congratulatory letter sent by Senator Hillary Clinton where she spoke of Leesfield as “an individual who follows in the tradition of ORT America to help individuals and families become self-sufficient and promote the well-being of adults, children and their families.”
ORT America, founded in 1880 in St. Petersburg, Russia, is a Jewish organization committed to support a worldwide network of comprehensive and technical schools in more than 50 countries worldwide. The cutting-edge educational skills acquired at ORT America schools enable over 300,000 students annually to achieve successful career goals to help them become community leaders and live independently.