The Ferguson-White American Inn of Court (Tampa, FL) fosters the image of lawyers in its community by making charitable donations to the designates of the pupilage groups that win the Inn's annual best program and best program runner-up awards. The winning program's group is awarded $500 to earmark to a charity, while the runner-up group is awarded $250 for its charity designee. The awards are announced and presented at a monthly meeting during the following Inn year, and the designated charities are invited to make a brief presentation concerning each charity's mission.
The best program award for Inn year 2007-2008 went to the group headed by Bencher Hon. Paul M. "Bill" Glenn (Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Florida), which produced Who Speaks for the Judge when the Judge cannot Speak? The runner-up award went to the group headed by Bencher Hon. Cheryl Thomas (County Judge for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Tampa); her group's program was How to Disagree with a Judge.
Judge Glenn's group chose CMF International Hope Partnership as its award beneficiary. CMF provides education, food, clothing and medical care to children living in the Mathare Valley, Kenya. Almost 1 million people live in an area less than 3 square miles. There is no running water, no public services, and no medical care in the valley. Students are linked with sponsors from the United States, who "adopt" and support their child(ren) on a monthly basis. Every dollar goes a very long way and directly to the child's needs.
Judge Thomas's group chose the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to receive its award. The Foundation is the fund-raising, funding and administrative support organization for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. The Toys for Tots Program's mission, in turn, is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October through December each year and then give the toys to needy children in the community so that they can experience Christmas joy and a message of hope.
Award plaques are nice -- and the Inn does present one to each member of the winning pupilage groups, but the winning members are most proud of their ability to "pay it forward" to a charitable organization.