LFF Blog – Leesfield Family Foundation

The Leesfield Family Foundation Participates in 2025 Give Miami Day

LFF — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 21:55:40 +0000

The Leesfield Family Foundation is proud to support several local organizations during 2025 Give Miami Day.

The Foundation’s contributions during the online fundraiser include Baptist Health, Friends of The Underline, Amigos for Kids, the Overtown Youth Center and more.

Give Miami Day began in 2011 to encourage essential contributions to organizations across South Florida that provide services for those in need. To date, the online giving event, which has grown to be one of the largest of its kind in the Southeast United States, has raised more than $100 million for local services.

Along with Give Miami Day, The Leesfield Family Foundation is donating to Monroe County organizations aiming to provide meals, shelter and other essentials to individuals and families this November in Key West, where Leesfield & Partners has an office on historic Whitehead Street. The Foundation is also contributing to several food banks in New Jersey during the holiday season.

For The Foundation, which also funds scholarships and contributes to disaster aid relief year-round, Give Miami Day is a reflection of its motto — generosity, warmth and reassurance.

The generosity regularly shown by Foundation Chair Ira Leesfield comes from the help he received as a young student to continue his education.

“I have a deep feeling of gratitude for what was done for me, and as soon as I could, I began to pay that generosity back,” Mr. Leesfield said.

About the Overtown Youth Center:

The Overtown Youth Center has provided educational, recreational, and developmental support to young people and children for over 20 years in South Florida. As part of the organization’s goal to empower the youth through educational programs, OYC also provides mentorship opportunities, life skills development and leadership training.

For more information about the Overtown Youth Center and its programs, please visit: https://oycmiami.org/.

About Friends of The Underline:

Meg Daly started Friends of The Underline after walking beneath the previously unused land beneath Miami-Dade County’s Metrorail system. Today, over a decade later, the space has been transformed into a trail for bikers, runners and walkers alike as well as community gathering spaces. The Underline’s work is outlined in three phases. Phase two, named the “Hammock Trail,” is in progress and covers over two miles connecting Southwest 13th St. to Southwest 19th Ave. Work on phase three of the project is expected to begin in 2025. The Underline relies completely on private funds, sponsorships and grants.

The Friends of The Underline Sneaker Ball, the organization’s first gala fundraiser, took place in September and The Leesfield Family Foundation Chairs Ira and Cynthia Leesfield were on the event’s host committee. In March 2023, Mr. Leesfield was elected to its Board of Directors.

For more information about Friends of The Underline, please visit: https://www.theunderline.org/

About Amigos for Kids:

Amigos for Kids got its start in 1991 to provide services for children and parents in South Florida such as after-school care, parent education and community resources. Since then, the organization has helped provide essential services to countless families and has spread child abuse prevention and awareness throughout the country.

For more information about Amigos for Kids, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Fatherhood-Task-Force-of-South-FloridaFTFSF-100064482498224/

About Live Like Bella:

Live Like Bella Childhood Cancer Foundation is an organization dedicated to providing funding for pediatric cancer research in addition to supplying essential services to families affected by childhood cancer. It is named for Bella Rodriguez-Torres, a little girl who died in 2013 after a diagnosis of Stage Four Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma.

Live Like Bella was started by her family after her death to promote her good-natured and jovial spirit and help families just like theirs who have suffered because of this disease.

As part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Live Like Bella hosted “Bella’s Ball,” the organization’s annual charity gala, in which The Leesfield Family Foundation and Leesfield & Partners were the event’s Special Awards Sponsors honoring family and community members who have supported brave children battling cancer.

“He [Mr. Leesfield] is a great connector for people with the best interest of the community in mind,” said Live Like Bella CEO, Nicole de Lara Puente, of The Foundation’s impact. “That’s the kind of person he is. He does it because it is the right thing to do.”

For more information about Live Like Bella, please visit: https://livelikebella.org/

About The YES Institute:

Since the 90s, the YES Institute has provided essential services and a sense of belonging for LGBTQIA+ youth in South Florida. The organization began as Project YES and was created by Connie Barden and Martha Fugate to provide services to LGBTQIA+ youth in a bid to prevent suicide and self-harm. Numerous studies have shown that, historically, LGBTQIA+ youth are at a greater risk of dying by suicide or engaging in self-harm than their straight and cisgender peers. The Centers for Disease Control released a 2021 survey that showed that 26.3% of LGB high school respondents attempted suicide in the last year compared to 5.2% of straight high school respondents. The organization aims to create safe spaces in which young people feel that they belong despite gender or sexual orientation.

For more information about Live Like Bella, please visit: https://yesinstitute.org/

About Baptist Health:

The Leesfield Family Foundation will honor the life and extraordinary legacy of Dr. Michael Zinner on Give Miami Day via a donation to the Baptist Health Foundation, which funds necessary medical research, clinical trials, and scholarships for future medical professionals. Dr. Zinner’s positive impact on the lives of his patients, friends, colleagues and family cannot be measured and he will be missed dearly. The Leesfield Family makes this contribution in tribute to Dr. Zinner.

For more information about The Baptist Health Foundation, please visit: https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-foundation

For more information about The Leesfield Family Foundation, please visit: www.LeesfieldFamilyFoundation.org.

‘Giving Rooted in Gratitude:’ How The Leesfield Family Foundation Stands with Women on International Women’s Day

LFF — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:58:52 +0000

When The Leesfield Family Foundation was established in 1990, its primary mission was to provide educational opportunities for students who, like Chairman Ira Leesfield, might not have had the means to fund their own schooling.

Over the years, The Foundation has broadened its scope, placing a strong emphasis on initiatives that support women and children.

“Our giving is rooted in gratitude, using my extra resources to help others instead of accumulating more,” Mr. Leesfield has previously said. “I gain great satisfaction from helping others.”

On Saturday, March 8, people from all over the world will come together to celebrate and highlight the accomplishments of female leaders throughout history. In today’s world, celebrating women’s achievements and paving the way for future opportunities has never been more important. Women have long been the backbone of households and communities. Studies show that when women are educated, their children are 50% more likely to pursue higher education. The Leesfield Family Foundation understands that empowering women through initiatives that ensure safety and promote education is not just an investment in their future, but in the future of generations to come.

Miami-Dade Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers

As a boy growing up on a single mother’s budget, Mr. Leesfield learned the true meaning of hard work. His mother earned 90 cents to a dollar an hour and though money for the shiny things in life may have been scarce, there was no shortage of love, kindness and support in the Leesfield household.

Now, in his 70s with a thriving personal injury law firm, Mr. Leesfield has made it a habit of giving back to hardworking women and mothers much like his own.

A permanent endowment of The Foundation is the Sookie Williams Scholarship, awarded through the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, in honor of Sookie Williams, a champion for women’s rights within the legal community and beyond.

Williams’ boldness, like most women who make their mark on history, was not adequately appreciated during her heyday, but was necessary for change. She got a presidential citation for her work during the war helping to build the atomic bomb, according to her obituary. In her 102 years, Williams worked diligently to close the gender pay gap, earned an honorary membership in the Florida Association of Women Lawyers, was honored in 2011 as a Legal legend and worked as editor of the Daily Business Review.

“Sookie was a woman of valor, and a woman of valor makes the world change,” Mr. Leesfield said. “She called our attention to things that really matter – dignity, work, love and kindness.”

In addition to the Sookie Williams Scholarship, The Foundation also gives out a law school scholarship in partnership with the American Association for Justice. The 2024 recipient of this decades-long academic scholarship was Lainie Long Hoffer, a second-year law student at the American University Washington College of Law.

In a letter to Mr. Leesfield, Ms. Hoffer, a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, expressed her gratitude for the scholarship to continue her studies.

“Mr. Leesfield, I am so grateful to you and the members of your foundation for the generous scholarship,” Ms. Hoffer wrote in her letter. “Your team did an excellent job in both presenting at AAJ as well as teaching engaging curriculum on Resort Tort litigation … Thank you again for your continuous generosity to law students.”

The Melissa Institute

The Melissa Institute is a nonprofit dedicated to violence prevention and treatment via education, community service and research. The organization was born out of tragedy following the unthinkable murder of Melissa Aptman in May of 1995.

At the time, Ms. Aptman, originally from Miami, was looking forward to a visit later that month from her family for her upcoming graduation from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. In a carjacking both Ms. Aptman and a friend were abducted and shot. Tragically, Ms. Aptman died as a result of her injuries. She was 20 years old.

Her friend survived and, after helping police and prosecutors find and convict the assailants, has since gone on to graduate law school.

A year after Ms. Aptman’s murder, her friends and family banded together with violence prevention experts to establish the institute in her name. Mr. Leesfield has been a long-time supporter of The Melissa Institute and has served as an honorary Board Member since at least 2013.

In 2016, when a gunman killed 49 people and wounded over 50 others at Pulse, a gay-friendly nightclub in Orlando, Florida, Mr. Leesfield was grief-stricken. Flags, messages from loved ones and weather-worn teddy bears were left at the site of the violent attack in memoriam of the people who were viciously killed. As these images were splashed across news broadcasts and accompanied articles in the paper, Mr. Leesfield did not hesitate to send aid to help grieving families.

The Leesfield Family Foundation gives ongoing support to local initiatives such as the Fatherhood Task Force of South Florida, Kristi House, Lotus House, Amigos for Kids, the Yes Institute, which is the source for knowledge on gender and sexual orientation. In addition to these organizations, Mr. Leesfield also works closely with Live Like Bella, a pediatric cancer foundation, and Friends of The Underline.

Click Here for an in-depth look at The Foundation’s support to women’s and children’s initiatives.

‘It’s like a family:’ How one foundation aims to bring South Florida charitable organizations together for a single cause – to help those in need

LFF — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 17:34:42 +0000

In the tight-knit charitable community of South Florida, the name Leesfield can be attributed to words like “family” and “support.”
At least, that’s how Holly Zwerling with the Fatherhood Task Force of South Florida, one of many organizations contributed to by The Leesfield Family Foundation, sees it.
“We can see the connections they [The Leesfield Family Foundation] have made with other non-profits that we work with,” Zwerling said. “It feels like a family being supported by the Leesfield Family Foundation.”
The Fatherhood Task Force, which began in 2010, has been supporting the roles of fathers as primary parents within the South Florida community for 11 years by hosting its Fathers in Education Day and Fathers in Action and Advocacy Week with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. These programs and others put on by the Task Force, Zwerling said, promote the action of male role models in the lives of children and The Leesfield Family Foundation was there “from the very beginning.”
When asked what makes the contribution from The Foundation so unique, Zwerling had several points to go off of. What stood out most in over a decade of support, however, is the use of the Leesfield & Partners digital sign – which sits outside the office on prime real estate reaching thousands of commuters daily on U.S. 1. The second point, she said, was their combined desire to reach a common goal.
“Ira has shared his personal story of being a father and having father figures in his life that have helped him achieve his hopes and dreams of going to school,” Zwerling said of The Foundation’s Chair, Ira Leesfield. “It’s not just your own father but the men in your life who can impact you in a positive way. Young men need to have those mentors.”
For the fathers Zwerling works with, Mr. Leesfield has served as a source of inspiration and a role model. In June, he was honored with the Fatherhood Task Force of South Florida 2024 Leader Award.
“Sometimes, you get help that lasts one year, or two, but The Leesfield Family Foundation has been a consistent supporter of our work, and they align with many of our partners,” Zwerling said.
‘I want to help’
Live Like Bella is another organization supported by The Foundation that aims to improve the lives of children, just in a different way. The organization took South Florida by storm with its namesake motto encouraging people to live with the light and positivity of a young girl, Bella Rodriguez-Torres, who died in 2013 from Stage Four Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma. Since it began, the organization’s impact has stretched far beyond state borders. For the people at Live Like Bella, the relationship with The Foundation was an act of kismet, according to CEO Nicole De Lara Puente.
“We have a small office in Coral Gables that was donated to Live Like Bella and he [Mr. Leesfield] showed up one day,” De Lara Puente explained. “He was in the building for another meeting and saw our sign … And walked in the door and said, ‘I want to help.’”
Since that coincidental meeting in 2020, she said, The Foundation has been a part of Live Like Bella’s three main goals – giving financial support to families affected by childhood cancer, helping families cover the funeral costs of a child who succumbs to the disease, and funding the necessary clinical trials and research to help find new treatments. Since 2013, Live Like Bella has provided over $6.5 million in financial assistance for families affected by pediatric cancer in 49 states and 37 countries. About 66 research trials in Florida have been funded by Live Like Bella totaling $37 million for their work with the help of sponsors like The Leesfield Family Foundation.
“He is a great connector for people with the best interest of the community in mind,” De Lara Puente said. “That’s the kind of person he is. He does it because it is the right thing to do.”
‘Beautiful Testament’
It is in this vein of generosity and philanthropy that the Leesfield Family Foundation became involved with another local organization, this time a little closer to home. The Leesfield & Partners office, located at 2350 South Dixie Highway, is the operating center for The Foundation and sits directly across the street from the Miami-Dade Metrorail system on U.S. 1. This auspicious site has given Mr. Leesfield a front-row seat to the work being done to convert the area beneath the transportation system into a vibrant community gathering space.
Friends of The Underline Chief Development Officer Leana Cianfoni describes Mr. Leesfield’s contributions to their efforts as a catalyst that will hopefully inspire other families in the area to do the same.
“We have had opportunities for companies and individuals … But nothing of this size and scale,” Cianfoni said of the construction of the Leesfield Family Garden which will sit across the street from the law firm on U.S. 1. “Ira was just very invested because he is invested in this city. His career has really evolved from being a top personal injury attorney across the region, and I think he takes pride in having a business for so long and wanting to have a beautiful park across the street.”
Mr. Leesfield’s work with The Underline earned him a spot on its Board of Directors. He and his wife, Cynthia Leesfield, are among the sponsors for the organization’s upcoming event which has been dubbed The Underline Sneaker Ball. The immersive fundraising event will take place in September at Brickell City Centre and tickets can be purchased from The Underline’s website.
Since the beginning of the Sneaker Ball’s conception, Mr. Leesfield has been a part of the planning process and has even offered up his law firm’s Key West office, a beautiful two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom house located on historical Whitehead Street, as an auction item.
It is this level of involvement that sprouted the idea for the family’s upcoming park to honor The Foundation’s unwavering support
“The Leesfield Family Park is a beautiful testament to him giving back and supporting a project he believes in,” Cianfoni said.

Continued Support of Ukraine, Scholarship Opening & The Underline Sneaker Ball: The Latest from The Leesfield Family Foundation

LFF — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 21:27:22 +0000

“Generosity, warmth and reassurance,” are the three pillars upon which The Leesfield Family Foundation has always stood. In 1990, when Chair Ira Leesfield with his wife and daughter, Cynthia and Jennifer Leesfield, launched The Foundation, those three words are ones they employed to describe their mission – to make a positive impact within their community.

Over three decades later and that mission has expanded ten-fold. Today The Leesfield Family Foundation sponsors numerous grants, scholarships and relief efforts within the family’s home base of South Florida and all over the world. The family has been recognized for their efforts and devotion to public service by local and national organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League, the Florida Justice Association and The American Jewish Committee. The Leesfields are also proud to have spent the last 23 years working with and supporting the Clinton Foundation and to continue that work via the Clinton Global Initiative, which aims to identify and take action in areas such as climate resilience, health equity and inclusive economic recovery and growth.

Disaster Relief

Most recently, The Leesfield Family Foundation celebrated its continued support of World Central Kitchen and its efforts to get nutritious meals to families of refugees and troops in Ukraine. Two years after Russia first invaded Ukraine, The Leesfield Family Foundation has helped to feed millions of people whose lives and homes have been uprooted by the conflict.

The Leesfield Family Foundation is proud to continue supporting World Central Kitchen in its efforts to continue feeding families in war-torn Ukraine.

In reporting from The New York Times, it was estimated via radar satellite data that the two-year war has destroyed around 210,000 buildings across an 800-mile stretch from cities like Ukraine, Kharkiv, Mariupol and Kherson. The once full and operational buildings include over 900 hospitals, churches and schools that made up communities now desolate and shattered. The number of felled buildings, according to The Times’s analysis, is more than if every building in Manhattan was destroyed, four times over. The devastation to these cities, once bustling with children off to school and families sitting around a table for dinner, is wrenchingly evident. In addition to The Foundation’s support, the Leesfield family has also pledged to match every contribution it receives dollar-for-dollar to help World Central Kitchen continue its work feeding Ukrainians in need. For more information on how to contribute, please visit www.LeesfieldFamilyFoundation.org.

Ira and Cynthia Leesfield sit on the host committee for The Underline Sneaker Ball which will take place on Sept. 28, 2024.

Local Support

On the home front, The Leesfield Family Foundation continues its support of local organizations such as Live Like Bella, the Fatherhood Task Force, Lotus House, Amigos for Kids as well as many others. “We continue our long-term involvement … as part of our ongoing commitment to improve the quality of Florida life for children and families,” The Leesfield Foundation said in a statement describing almost four decades “of caring” within its South Florida community.

The Underline Sneaker Ball

In March 2023, Friends of The Underline elected Ira Leesfield onto its Board of Directors. In September, The Underline will host its Sneaker Ball, a concept that invites attendees to pair formal attire with a favored pair of tennis shoes, to promote its work on the Underline, a 10-mile linear park below the city’s Metrorail system, a portion of which is located across the street from the Leesfield & Partners office on South Dixie Highway. That land will be transformed into an urban park space and will be named on behalf of the family. Ira and Cynthia Leesfield sit on the host committee for the event which is set to take place on Sept. 28, 2024, at Brickell City Centre.

Attendees are encouraged to lace up their best, “fashion-forward” sneakers for the occasion. Tickets go for $500, each, with sponsorship packages ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. To register for the event, go to https://www.theunderline.org/sneakerball/.

Scholarship Opportunity

Dexter Butler was known in life for his kindness and dedication to mentoring his students at Key West High School. Via a scholarship, The Leesfield Family Foundation aims to keep that legacy going in his name.

Since it began in 1990, the Leesfield Family Foundation has been dedicated to women’s and children’s initiatives, disaster relief and scholarships. The education of The Foundation’s very own, Ira Leesfield, was achieved with the help of scholarships.

“Since I was raised in a culture of scholarships and financial assistance, the Leesfield Family Foundation is a natural outlet for my family to now express its thanks to the less fortunate and those in need,” Leesfield said on The Foundation’s website.

In The Foundation’s tradition of giving back, it is launching another scholarship this time in honor of the late Dexter Butler, a Key West High School teacher and coach who died in March 2024. The $2,500 athletic scholarship will be awarded to a student of exceptional academic standing and will afford Butler’s family the comfort of knowing their son’s legacy of supporting and guiding young students will not be forgotten.

Butler is described as being “full of life” and who seemed to love those around him with a kindness that left an “indelible impact.” Through this scholarship, Butler’s work to support and guide his students will continue.

Grant applications and scholarship requests for 2024 and 2025 are now being accepted. For more information, please visit www.LeesfieldFamilyFoundation.org or email Carmen Marrero at marrero@leesfield.com.