The Leesfield Family Foundation projects a busy innovative and helpful 2022, expanding its efforts for COVID relief and support to homeless South Floridians. With continued contributions and support for women and children’s efforts, the Foundation concluded 2021 with existing or new contributions to local organizations including:
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- Baptist Health Foundation
- Susan G. Komen
- The Melissa Institute
- Kristi House
- Yes Institute
- Fatherhood Task Force of South Florida
- Lotus House/Sundari Foundation
- Live Like Bella Childhood Cancer Foundation
- Lawyers for Children America
- Kozyak Minority Mentoring Foundation
- Alzheimer’s Foundation
- UM-NSU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities
At year-end, we delivered holiday donations to Constance Collins, Founder and Executive Director of the Lotus House Shelter for Women (Sundari Foundation) to help with gifts for the 500 residents now benefiting from extraordinary Lotus House programs.
Helping the less fortunate has been the Foundation’s mission since1990, we remain “a small foundation with a big heart” assisting Americans for Immigrant Justice, support to food banks and, of course, ongoing efforts benefiting Baptist Health/South Florida and South Miami Hospital. We continue to be heavily engaged in the programs of the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiatives (CGI). This past year included multiple contributions to Baptist Hospital, surrounding the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Leonard Zwerling, and the purchase of critical medical equipment for use at South Miami Hospital in recognition of his efforts.
New recipients of the Foundation’s giving program during 2021 include Susan G. Komen, the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities in honor of the work of the Cole Scott & Kissane Law Firm, and the Alzheimer’s Association honoring our dear friend Ed Shohat and his late wife, Maria. We are excited to begin our work with the Kozyak Minority Mentoring Program.
Our scholarship program continues to flourish and now includes an endowment of the Leesfield Scolaro/AAJ Law Student Scholarship through the year 2030. Today, the scholarship alumni includes 33 law students, many of whom have remained active in the American Association for Justice, establishing successful careers. We continue to support the Miami-Dade FAWL Scholarship programs and the very worthy women law students who continue to make a significant contribution to the Florida Bar and to the legal community. Our support of the Sookie Williams program is steadfast.
The national, statewide and local needs of the less fortunate range from ongoing support for the Yes Institute to national support for disaster victims, including the families of the Champlain Towers collapse in Surfside. Contributions by friends of the Foundation are now accepted.
We remain available for scholarship requests and grant proposals by contacting Carmen R. Marrero, Executive Director at marrero@leesfield.com or 305-854-4900 or at www.Leesfieldfamilyfoundation.org Contributions can likewise be made at this site.
This year, for the first time, the Foundation has received outside contributions to supplement our family resources. Thanks for the generous support of those who contributed. Anyone wishing to join our fund raising efforts and active charitable programs can go to www.leesfieldfamilyfoundation.org There, you can review our activities and the organizations we support. Press the contribution button to send any amount you are comfortable to donate.
Best wishes for a healthy and happy new year and the power to overcome our nation’s health challenges.
Warm regards,
Ira H. Leesfield, Chair