Florida Association of Women Lawyers presents Ira Leesfield with the FAWL Philanthropist Award

MIAMI - Jan. 14, 2014 - PRLog -- The 2013 Philanthropist Award was presented to Ira Leesfield by the Miami-Dade Chapter of Florida Women Lawyers for his long-standing commitment to support rising female law students through scholarship grants.    The Leesfield Family Foundation was the first charitable organization to fund a scholarship to FAWL law student members.   The award was presented at FAWL’s 2013 Annual Judicial and Scholarship Luncheon held at The Epic Hotel in Miami, FL.

Recently, the Leesfield Family Foundation awarded its annual law school scholarships to Yineth Sanchez, a first year law student and Antoinette S. Pollard, a second year law student at Shepard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University.  The scholarship is granted in association with the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (FAWL) and is presented annually to a law student who demonstrates ambition and commitment to a career in law.

As a first generation immigrant in the United States, Yineth Sanchez, received her Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Nova Southeastern University. During the tenure of her education, she balanced the demands of school and volunteering in numerous community organizations.  She was recognized as Outstanding Student Graduate and named to the Dean’s List for seven consecutive semesters.

Antoinette Pollard graduated with honors from the University of Florida in 1973.   She was among the first women hired into AETNA’s prestigious Group School training program, where she held positions of increasing responsibility.   Her involvement as a volunteer mentor to underprivileged children in after school programs was the motivating factor to go to law school.

“These two women were selected based on their strong history of community involvement and their commitment to FAWL’s mission to actively promote gender equality and leadership roles for female lawyers in the legal profession, judiciary and community at large,” said Ira Leesfield, Managing Partner of Leesfield & Partners, P.A.”

FAWL is a professional organization dedicated to promoting the advancement of women in the legal profession.  Its membership is comprised of lawyers, judges, and professionals within the business community.  The Leesfield Family Foundation is credited as the first charitable foundation to fund a FAWL scholarship.   This year marks its 17^th consecutive year of participation.

About the Leesfield Family Foundation

Founded by Ira Leesfield, the Leesfield Family Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable foundation designed to support organizations that work to enrich and enhance the lives of the underprivileged throughout the South Florida community, nationally and internationally.  The Foundation supports  numerous organizations and scholarships, including for the past twenty years, the Leesfield/American Association for Justice Student Scholarship, in addition to local scholarships such as the Harold Foster Memorial Scholarship at Nova Southeastern University and the Dan Pearson Scholarship at the University of Miami School of Law and others.  For more information, visit www.leesfieldfamilyfoundation.org.