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BACK PACK PROJECT (Click Here for Collage - coming soon)

For the eighth year in a row, the Young Lawyers' Section of the Orange County Bar Association ("OCBA YLS") collected school supplies for Rock Lake Elementary this fall.  Eight years ago, the OCBA YLS selected Rock Lake as the recipient of the donations from its Back Pack Project due to the school's significant needs.  At that time, Rock Lake was ranked as an "F" school due to several contributing factors, including students living in homeless shelters, students transferring in and out of school causing Rock Lake's mobility rate to be over 100%, and the inability of students to purchase the supplies they needed to learn.  In 2001, the OCBA YLS decided the latter problem was one it could help solve to enable Rock Lake's students to have a successful school year.  Accordingly, the OCBA YLS asked Rock Lake to create a wish list that it would set out to fulfill each year.

This year, the newly formed CFAWL YLS offered to partner with the OCBA YLS to help the Back Pack Project be even more successful.  Together, the OCBA and CFAWL YLS collected approximately $1,500.00 in monetary donations and dozens of boxes of supplies.  Further, the two organizations were able to engage additional groups in the community to invest in the Rock Lake students.  The Southeastern Chapter of the Legal Marketing Association contributed almost $500.00 in monetary contributions in addition to dozens of supplies.  The Lion's Club ensured Rock Lake students would have something in which to put their supplies by donating 100 back packs, valued at approximately $1,000.00.  All supplies, which filled an entire empty office prior to delivery, were delivered to Rock Lake on Thursday, August 20th.  The students and teachers were thrilled by the donations and met members who delivered the contributions with many hugs and tears of joy.

CFAWL's contribution to Rock Lake is one over which we should all be proud.  Partially as a result of the Back Pack Project, Rock Lake is now ranked an "A" school.  Additionally, in 2009, Rock Lake was nominated as the State of Florida's number one school in exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years under Title I.  This honor qualified Rock Lake to be considered for an award on a national level, and at the Title I Conference in February 2009, Rock Lake became one of fifty-seven schools in the nation to receive a Distinguished School Award.

CFAWL owes a special thanks to its Back Pack Project Committee Chair, Barbara Leach, who tirelessly worked on this project to ensure the children would have all the supplies they needed this year.  Awesome work Barb!

FAWL Honors CFAWL with Two Awards

In June 2009, the Florida Association of for Women Lawyers presented CFAWL with two awards: (1) the 2009 Membership Recruitment Award and (2) the 2009 Outstanding Chapter Program in recognition of success of the Professional Women's Exchange.  Thank you all for making CFAWL a great organization and one of the focal points for women lawyers in Central Florida!