STFBC'S COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

36th Annual American Red Cross Ball

In April 2018, our firm sponsored the 36th Annual American Red Cross Ball: A Masquerade in Red. Julia Bianchi, the wife of Attorney David W. Bianchi, serves as Board Chair for The Greater Miami & The Keys Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Attorney Dax Bello serves on its board. We are so proud of both their efforts and commitment to helping our community—both during times of disaster or otherwise.

Blue Chip Kids

Attorney David W. Bianchi is the author of “Blue Chip Kids, What Every Child and Parent Should Know About Money, Investing and The Stock Market.” Throughout his work with Blue Chip Kids, David helps donate thousands of books to local schools and frequently gives presentations—all in the hopes that he will help to promote and improve financial literacy in the youth of Miami-Dade and nationwide.

Cuban American Bar Association

Attorney A. Dax Bello has been an integral member of the Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) since 2011, serving as a board member and chairing nearly all of its committees. He has spent years helping represent the Cuban-American community through his hard work and his professional legal counsel. In January 2019, we sponsored the 45th Annual Installation Gala for the Cuban American Bar Association. We were particularly proud to sponsor this important non-profit’s event as our friend and colleague, Attorney Dax Bello, was inducted into the 2019 Board as their Vice President for the second year in a row. CABA provides vital services to South Florida’s legal professionals and the Hispanic community, providing scholarships, mentoring for law students and young lawyers, and pro bono legal services for the indigent.

Miami Lighthouse for the Blind

Attorney Gary D. Fox is involved with the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, which was founded in 1931 as an organization to serve the blind throughout Florida. Although it has changed its name several times throughout its 85+ year history, Miami Lighthouse remains as committed today to serving the blind community through outreach and education programs as it did the day that it was founded.

Kiwanis Club of Little Havana

Attorney A. Dax Bello is actively involved in the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana, an affiliate of Kiwanis International. Kiwanis is a global organization that seeks to change the world one child and one community at a time, helping at-risk youth. Every year, Kiwanis Club of Little Havana puts on the Calle Ocho Festival, Miami's largest street festival in Miami and the nation's largest Hispanic festival.

Jewish Community Services of South Florida

Attorney Michael Levine is a member of the board of directors of Jewish Community Services of South Florida which seeks to improve quality of life and self-sufficiency of communities. These services include, but are not limited to: assistance to Holocaust survivors; employment assistance; counseling; support for the LGBTQ community; and the operation of the 2-1-1 switchboard which works to prevent suicide.

Fight Like a Kid

Several members of the firm are actively involved with the “Fight Like a Kid” organization, a nonprofit started by a Florida teenager Bianca Maderal. After being diagnosed with brain cancer, Bianca founded Fight Like a Kid to raise money for childhood cancer research, raise awareness, and inspire those fighting the same fight as herself.

Attorney Stephen Cain led the firm’s involvement with the organization as the Cain family has been friends with the Maderal family ever since Bianca and Stephen's daughter were in the same dance troupe. Stephen and his wife have attended numerous fundraising events since the charity was formed. One of our paralegals, Carol Goraczko started attending events with her daughters this past year. The firm is proud to support Bianca's efforts.

Polycystic Kidney Disease Fundraiser

In May 2018, Attorneys Stephen Cain, Michael Levine, and Dax Bello participated in a fundraiser to raise money and awareness for PKD. Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic condition that causes fluid filled cysts to form in the kidneys. During the event, the first treatment approved by the FDA for people with PKD was announced. PKD currently has no cure and until now no treatment was available for the disease. Patients with PKD live with the knowledge that one day their kidneys will fail and require dialysis and transplants. Stephen has been a vocal advocate for PKD awareness at our firm ever since learning that one his closest friends was living with the disease.

American Red Cross Sound the Alarm

In May 2018, Attorney Dax Bello and one of the paralegals on our team, Carol Goraczko, were part of American Red Cross’ Sound the Alarm event. Thanks to the effort of thousands of volunteers, 100,000 free smoke alarms are installed throughout at-risk communities in more than 100 cities. Volunteers also replace batteries and provide fire prevention and safety education. Our firm is proud to support the American Red Cross in events such as this, helping our community stay safe and whole.

37th Annual Miami Red Cross Ball

Dax and Janine Bello will co-chair the 37th Annual Miami Red Cross Ball along with Amanda Altman on March 16, 2019 at the Intercontinental Hotel. The Ball, which recognizes the lifesaving services provided by the Red Cross, will raise funds for disaster preparedness as well as response and recovery programs in Miami and the Keys. The American Red Cross, one of the longest established non-profit organization founded in Miami in 1926 alleviates suffering and provides relief and comfort to families and individuals in times of need. Attorney Dax Bello is a Board Member of the Red Cross Greater Miami & the Keys Chapter (where David Bianchi’s wife Julia serves as the Board chair). Earlier this year, Dax along with STFBC helped raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Florence, providing displaced families throughout the Carolinas with food and shelter. His and Janine’s work will further the Red Cross’ mission to save lives during times of disaster.

Coffee & Bagel Breakfast for Young Attorneys

Attorney Michael Levine, who currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Dade County Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Section, helped organize a coffee and bagel breakfast with 30+ local lawyers and three federal court judges, giving young lawyers an opportunity to meet members of the judiciary in a less formal setting.

Michael Levine Receives CFF "40 Under 40" Award

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation held a prestigious event recognizing 40 outstanding attorneys throughout South Florida. The lawyers were chosen by a panel chaired by Joseph Ankus, Christopher Drury, and Amber Kornreich in collaboration with the CF Foundation. Attorney Michael Levine was one of the exceptional lawyers selected to receive the award during an evening that included a dinner, a silent auction, and other events to raise money for cystic fibrosis research.

Lecturer at the American Association for Justice

AAJ is a nationwide professional network founded to give trial lawyers the support, resources, and mentoring they need to promote a fair and effective justice system. AAJ’s mission is to ensure that any person who is injured by the misconduct or negligence of others can obtain justice in America’s courtrooms. In February 2019, our very own Gary Fox was invited to speak at the AAJ’s Winter Convention on Miami Beach where plaintiff attorneys from around the country gathered to expand their skills. Gary was happy to lend his time and share stories of his experiences in the courtroom.