The Docket October 2020 | Page 13

CDI Board of Directors 2020 – 2021 DIRECTORS Jay Castle Warren Chin Cathi Carson-Freymann David Fugett Adria Jensen Lisa Kleinberg Alexis Rosenberg Rudy Vazmina Tamara Williams
COUNCIL FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

CDI kicks off fundraising campaign to benefit Garland Scholarship Program

By JAY CASTLE , Esq . Council for Diversity and Inclusion Programs Chair

The Sarasota County Bar

Since 2007 , the Garland Scholarship Program has provided over $ 130,000 in scholarships to minority law school students . All scholarship recipients are placed in paid summer internships , mentored , and encouraged to return to Sarasota upon graduation . These students are , indeed , the faces of change for the Sarasota legal community – future advocates , counselors , judges , mediators , business and community leaders .
This year , thanks to the leadership of SCBA Member and Past President Chip Gaylor and Attorney David Steves , both of Muirhead , Gaylor , Steves & Waskom , all contributions made before December 31 , 2020 , will be matched dollar-for-dollar ( up to $ 50,000 ) by the H . Gladstone and Betty Pritchard McKeon Charitable Foundation and the William and Mary Muirhead Foundation .
Over the next three months , the Faces of Change campaign will profile past scholarship recipients and allow us to catch up with them since they participated in the program . Their stories are powerful and inspiring .
“ The personal connections that are developed through the Program allow us to see that we really are brothers and sisters .”
the Florida Bar Exam . He was a very bright guy , and a ‘ lawyer ’ s lawyer ’ – you could always rely on Richard to give you great advice and insights .” But he wasn ’ t just a legal genius . Rolfes also remembers that “ Richard was funny as hell — he would lead our associates in fearless skits roasting all of the partners , even senior partners Patrick Dickinson and Hunter Gibbons .”
One of Richard ’ s most important accomplishments , however , was his instrumental role in creating the agreement with the Community Foundation for a minority law student scholarship fund .
CDI Chairperson Karimu Hill-
Harvey believes that “ the Richard Garland Scholarship Program gives new horizons to those who haven ’ t had the same starting point as others .” She believes the Program is a critical part of the Council ’ s mission to promote diversity and inclusion in the Sarasota legal community through outreach ,
education and collaboration . Hill- Harvey notes that “ the Program allows the legal community to embrace law students from other cultures and backgrounds … The personal connections that are developed through the Program allow us to see that we really are brothers and sisters .”
Over the next few months , the Faces of Change campaign will emphasize through personal stories the important work of the Garland Scholarship Program . We hope that all SCBA members will give generously during the campaign and also encourage their clients , business partners , and friends to donate as well . We have a unique opportunity to double the impact we can have on the lives of these future lawyers — the faces of change . For more information or to make a donation , please go to https :// www . cfsarasota . org / Sarasota-County-Bar-Association- Richard-R-Garland-Endowed-Diversity- Scholarship

The Program ’ s namesake , Richard R . Garland ( 1958-2011 ), was an extraordinary person . After receiving his Juris Doctor with honors from the University of Florida , he joined Dickinson & Gibbons , P . A ., where he remained his entire legal career . He was a master and past president of the Judge John M . Scheb American Inn of Court , a past president of the SCBA , and was still active in the Appellate Practice Section , the Bylaws Committee , and the Diversity Committee ( now the CDI ) at the time he passed away . Richard ’ s partner , A . James

Rolfes , remembers that Richard “ had one of the highest scores on
Chair Judge Karimu Hill- Harvey
Chair-Elect Ilyas Sayeg
Secretary Lisa Gallagher
Treasurer Colton Castro

CDI Board of Directors 2020 – 2021 DIRECTORS Jay Castle Warren Chin Cathi Carson-Freymann David Fugett Adria Jensen Lisa Kleinberg Alexis Rosenberg Rudy Vazmina Tamara Williams

ADVISORY BOARD Judge Rochelle Curley Judge David Denkin Keith DuBose Charlie Ann Syprett Scott Westheimer Judge Charles Williams
The Docket · October 2020 13