H C B A
P R E S I D E N T ’ S
M E S S A G E
Go rd o n Hi l l - Hi l l Wa rd He n d e r s o n
Red McEwen Award Winner Lisa Esposito at Pirate Plunder Carnival and Elves for Elders events this year.
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provides loving foster care services for abused, neglected,
and abandoned children. When Lisa first visited the
facility, she learned about a young high school student
living at the foster home who needed an outfit for his
homecoming dance. She bought him his first suit, along
with everything else he needed to look sharp that night.
But she was heartbroken to learn that the family of his
proposed date disallowed her from going with him once
they learned he was living in a foster home. The young
man had a great time anyway, but Lisa decided she
needed to do more. As anyone who knows her can attest,
Lisa went all in. She decided to throw a large party for
the kids, and the HCBA’s annual Pirate Plunder Carnival
was born.
Now in its fifth year, on May 19th, Lisa led a team of
Bar volunteers, as well as numerous sponsors, to put on
a fun day that helped the kids forget about their
unfortunate circumstances for a little while. Through
her fundraising efforts and generous sponsorship
support, the kids were treated to carnival games, toys
and other prizes, a dunk tank, a bounce castle, petting
zoo, face painting, barbecue lunch, snow cones, cookies,
and cupcakes. Lisa coordinated a team of approximately
25 volunteers to serve the facility’s 60 foster children.
(Photos from this year’s event on page 47.)
Lisa has a tremendous heart and infectious passion for
helping those who are less fortunate. Lisa also spends
countless hours each December leading the HCBA’s Elves
for Elders project at Whispering Oaks nursing home —
where approximately 50 Bar volunteers sing Christmas
carols and provide stuffed animals and homemade
SUMMER 2018
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HCBA LAWYER
cookies to the underprivileged elderly who are living in
the home as wards of the state.
Lisa, your commitment to helping all in need, from
the youngest child in foster care to the elderly wards
of the state, is inspiring to us all. You exemplify what
our profession does best — serving others. And congratu -
lations on some well-deserved recognition to such a
humble person who seeks none.
Finally, although I am of course biased, I believe this
has been another great year for the Bar. It has been a
pleasure and a privilege to serve as Bar President.
I cannot think of a better way for me to personally give
back to the profession that has been so good to me
personally and to my family. But, the work of the Bar
could not be done without the judges who contribute so
much to our events, our many sponsors, our outstanding
Board of Directors, the many committee and section
chairs who are on the front lines in putting on the
fantastic programs the Bar offers, and of course the Bar
staff who works so hard to make sure everything goes as
smoothly as possible. Thank you!
get iNvoLved
If you are interested in learning more about A Kid’s Place,
please visit their website at http://akidsplacetb.org/
How-to-Get-Involved-with-A-Kids-Place-of-Tampa-Bay.
As you can imagine, there are several ways to get
involved, including opportunities to volunteer and to
donate clothing, school supplies, and more.
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