Foundation makes a push for children’s grants
May 2011

by Nancy Kinnally

When low-income children in Florida face legal hurdles, the legal aid lawyers they, their parents, or guardians turn to are likely funded through The Florida Bar Foundation.

The Foundation has a special Children’s Legal Services Grant Program, and lawyers across Florida support it by checking off an appeal on their annual Florida Bar fee statement for the Lawyers Challenge for Children.

Scott Hawkins

Scott Hawkins, president-elect of The Florida Bar, encourages Florida lawyers to make voluntary contributions to the Lawyers Challenge for Children to help bring legal representation to Florida’s most vulnerable children. One hundred percent of all donations go directly to the Foundation’s Children’s Legal Services grants.

“These grants have helped nearly 3,000 children get the legal assistance they need each year, including foster children and children with special healthcare and education needs,” said Hawkins. “Those of us who care about children and believe in justice have the opportunity to make a real difference in kids’ lives through our contributions.”

The easiest way for lawyers to give is to enter their contribution for Children’s Legal Services in the voluntary contributions section of their Florida Bar Fee Statement and add the contribution to their total. Gifts can also be made anytime online.

Given funding challenges presented by declines in IOTA revenue, the Foundation is asking lawyers to make the voluntary suggested contribution of $100 -- or more if possible. Every dollar counts in ensuring that as many children are helped as possible.

For Keshawn, a Glades area first-grader, the intervention of a legal aid lawyer funded by The Florida Bar Foundation’s Children’s Legal Services Grant Program meant a chance to thrive in school once again after a series of suspensions. A traumatic event in Keshawn’s life had caused him to act out in class. Unfortunately, Keshawn’s legal aid lawyer said school officials responded by focusing on physically restraining him rather than getting him the help he needed -- and to which he was entitled by law.

Keshawn’s legal aid attorney reached a settlement with the school district. The district agreed to transfer Keshawn immediately to another school and provide bus transportation, therapy, an expedited psycho-educational assessment, and intensive tutoring to help him make up missed work. He was placed in a specialized classroom for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities.

By the end of the school year, Keshawn had no further discipline referrals, was reading above grade level, and was promoted to second grade. Now in third grade, he’s doing so well, he’s moved to a mainstream classroom. Keshawn’s story demonstrates the power of gifts to the Lawyers Challenge for Children.

Florida Bar Foundation President John Noland said lawyers can feel good about giving to the Lawyers Challenge for Children because their entire contribution will benefit children in need, such as Keshawn.

“The Foundation does not deduct administrative fees from these gifts,” Noland said. “We can all feel confident that 100 percent of our gifts are going to help children. There is perhaps nothing more important we can do as lawyers than protect the rights of Florida’s children.”