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Our Community Service & Charitable Work

In 1955, David Levin and Reubin Askew started our law firm in Pensacola, Florida. Much has changed for us over the past 68 years.

Reubin went on to become a two-term governor for the State of Florida and candidate for President of the United States. The firm now has 45 lawyers; has represented more than 100,000 clients throughout America; and has received jury verdicts and settlements in excess of $40 billion.

One or more of our attorneys are listed in Best Lawyers in America; National Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame; America's Elite Trial Lawyers; U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms; Martindale-Hubbell Preeminent Woman Attorney; and SuperLawyers.

The one thing that has not changed with our law firm, however, is we have never forgotten our roots, and have kept our office in Pensacola. Most importantly, we still support and encourage our 200 employees to engage in extensive community outreach in order to give back to those who have given so much to us.

To date, our employees have donated more than $75 million to charity, and tens of thousands of hours of their time.

Below is a sample of some of our recent community service.

 
 
 

A Sample of Our Community Service

 
Organization
AHERO Fishing – Attorney Tim O’Brien is a sponsor of the AHERO Foundation and regularly takes wounded veterans deep sea fishing as part of the Weekend Warrior Hook-Up organized by the AHERO Foundation. This event supports wounded veterans through giving them an opportunity to catch some monster fish in the Gulf of Mexico. AHERO is a non-profit organization that helps wounded veterans recover by connecting them with outdoor activities.
Bill Bond League of Pensacola – Attorney Rachael Gilmer is an annual Grand Slam sponsor of this city youth baseball league and also helps provide scholarships for players who cannot afford to play otherwise. The teams compete against youth players within the league and also throughout the city. Encouraging educational success through athletics, teamwork, and sportsmanship, the league services players from 4-years-old through 14-years-old.
Brigham and Women's Hospital – Attorney Fred Levin was honored at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, for the establishment of the Fredric G. Levin Distinguished Chair in Thoracic Surgery and Lung Cancer Research, in recognition of his gift in the amount of $2 million.
Ciclovia – Levin Papantonio Rafferty sponsored Pensacola’s first Ciclovia Open Streets. The health and wellness event included closing off part of Downtown Pensacola to vehicle traffic, allowing people and families to move around freely and exercise.
Communities Caring at Christmas – Levin Papantonio Rafferty is one of the main sponsors of WEAR ABC 3’s Communities Caring at Christmas. The annual charitable effort provides new toys, clothing, and daily living needs for abused, neglected, and abandoned children living in foster care, as well as children living in poverty and adults with developmental disabilities across Northwest Florida.
Council on Aging of West Florida – Levin Papantonio Rafferty was a regular sponsor of the Rat Pack Reunion, an annual fundraiser for the Council on Aging of West Florida. The firm has supported the event since it began with the original Celebrity Rat Pack Star, attorney Fred Levin. The Rat Pack Reunion fundraiser is hosted to increase awareness and support for senior citizens in the area. The annual event and black tie gala has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the non-profit organizations, contributions that allow the organization to serve more seniors in the Northwest Florida community through a variety of programs and services.
Dana Farber Cancer Institute – Attorney Fred Levin was honored at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, in Boston, for the establishment of the Fredric G. Levin Endowment in Translational Cancer Research. Mr. Levin was recognized for his gift of $2 million to the facility, which was part of the team that helped him recover from his own battle with lung cancer. A lung cancer survivor, Mr. Levin’s donation was in gratitude for their successful treatment and to further their life-saving research.
Disability Awareness Summit – Attorney Virginia Buchanan was recognized at the 13th annual National Disability Awareness Month Luncheon at the Pensacola Yacht Club. Virginia has worked diligently for years to bring employers and people with disabilities together and identify work opportunities for them.
First Responders & Families Picnic – The firm has been a proud sponsor of this event which brings dozens of first responders and their families together at Pensacola’s Ashton-Brosnaham Park. Police, sheriff’s deputies, paramedics, and firefighters are among the many people who attend and bring their families to the First Responders and Families Picnic. It’s held by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Families, especially children, have a great time eating hotdogs, running obstacle courses, and seeing first-hand the equipment, vehicles, and training our first responders use to keep our community safer. We appreciate all they do!
FLREA High School Mock Trial Team – Every year, the Florida Law Related Education Association hosts a hands-on High School Mock Trial Competition for students across the state. A team of attorneys from Levin Papantonio Rafferty volunteers their time and expertise for several months coaching the local student team from Gulf Breeze High School. The Gulf Breeze Mock Trial Team won Districts in 2018, 2019, and 2020 and went to State. In 2019, the team placed 4th in the State Final and 2018 was the first time in the school’s history the legal team made it to the Florida High School Mock Trial State Finals competition.
Fred Levin Way Fest – This is a free event for the entire community that occurs once each year in downtown Pensacola. The event consists of 50 nonprofit organizations distributing information on their services along with gifting essential items, such as backpacks, blankets, books, diapers, first aid kits, hygiene kits, pet food, school supplies, soap, socks, thermometers, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, towels, and underwear.
Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida – The prestigious law school is named for attorney Fred Levin after he donated $10 million dollars to the university in 1999. It was the largest private charitable contribution made to any law school at the time and has helped the law school become the success it is today. At the 20th Anniversary celebration of Mr. Levin’s landmark donation, Mr. Levin donated another $6 million to the school in honor of his wife, Marilyn. As part of his estate, Mr. Levin gifted another $40 million to the law school.
Fredric G. Levin Lung Cancer Symposium – The symposium was created as a result of Mr. Fred Levin’s generous $2 million donation to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, made in gratitude in 2017, for their successful treatment of his stage IV lung cancer. Fred’s donation to the world-class academic medical center established the Fredric G. Levin Distinguished Chair in Thoracic Surgery and Lung Cancer Research and arranged for the creation of the Fredric G. Levin Lung Cancer Conference. Brigham and Women’s is affiliated with Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The conference is organized by Harvard Medical School and is to be held in Mr. Levin’s hometown of Pensacola, FL, for ten years, providing the latest in lung cancer data and research. Since the first conference, hundreds of local doctors, nurses, students, and patients have attended. The first two conferences were held in the then newly opened Levin Center for IHMC Research, named for Fred Levin after he donated $1 million to its construction. Like he envisioned, the Fredric G. Levin Lung Cancer Symposium has expanded a range of opportunities for collaboration and connection between some of the best doctors and medical care providers in the world.
Give Kids a Smile Day – Levin Papantonio Rafferty sponsored this event which provides free dental care to children who otherwise could not afford it. The dental clinic was hosted by Pensacola Kids Dentistry and Pensacola State College. Levin Papantonio Rafferty attorneys and staff visited with the young patients during the two-day event and the firm was proud to provide hundreds of free dental hygiene kits for the children.
Gospel & Gumbo – Gospel and Gumbo is a fundraiser featuring local food, fare, and music that benefits the Michael E. Green Prescription Fund for St. Joseph Medical Clinic. The clinic is a non-profit organization that provides much needed medical care to the indigent. Levin Papantonio Rafferty sponsors the event, usually held every other year, and provides staff to help host it.
Gulf Coast Kid's House – Attorney Fred Levin donated more than $700,000 to this Escambia County children's advocacy center. It combines under one child-friendly facility all of the professionals and resources needed for the intervention, investigation, and prosecution of child abuse cases. Gulf Coast Kid’s House was established in 1998. Thanks to Fred Levin’s generosity, the Marilyn Kapner Levin Center for Child Advocacy and Child Abuse opened in 2004, named in honor of Mr. Levin’s wife.
Habitat for Humanity – Playground – Camshire Meadows is a Habitat for Humanity neighborhood in West Pensacola, where the children do not have a playground. Levin Papantonio Rafferty donated several thousand dollars to the Homeowner's Association's fundraising efforts to build one, so children would not have to play in the street.
Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build – Attorneys and employees with Levin Papantonio Rafferty raised $8,500 and donated their time to build two homes for local homeowners, as part of the Pensacola Habitat for Humanity Women Build project. Two teams, made up almost entirely of women, including attorneys Rachael Gilmer and Kim Adams, were excited to be a part of the effort. One of the homes was for a single mother, Adele McCormick and her son, who had been living in a one-bedroom apartment before moving into their new Habitat home.
Heart of Pensacola - Dinner on the Grounds – Peter Mougey co-founded the Heart of Pensacola along with the American Heart Association (AHA) and other leaders. This project provides weekly boxes and backpacks of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy snacks to more than 500 families in our community. School-aged children receive a weekly backpack filled with nutritious food to get them through the weekend.
IHMC/Brigham and Women’s Medical Conference – The country’s top thoracic physicians and researchers share the latest technology and research on treating lung cancer at this premiere medical conference made possible by Fred Levin. A lung cancer survivor, Mr. Levin donated $2 million to cancer research and as part of the gift, Harvard Medical School helps host the Fredric G. Levin Lung Cancer Symposium in Mr. Levin’s hometown of Pensacola. The inaugural medical conference was held April 3, 2018, at the Levin Center for IHMC Research in April and was organized by shareholder and attorney Virginia Buchanan. The symposium has continued to grow each year and has drawn doctors, nurses, students and patients from across the Gulf Coast.
Law Week Free Legal Clinic – Legal Services of North Florida provides free, annual legal clinics to those who can't afford it, with the help of local litigators. Levin Papantonio Rafferty attorneys Virginia Buchanan and Justin Lusko often take part in the clinic, volunteering their time and expertise to help people with a variety of legal problems.
Levin Center for IHMC Research – The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition opened the new, state-of-the art research facility "Levin Center for IHMC Research" in 2016, named for prominent and successful attorney and businessman, Fred Levin. Mr. Levin donated $1 million for the $8 million expansion, which allowed the IHMC to consolidate their research facilities, including the award-winning robotics lab. The Levin Center for IHMC Research provides ground-breaking and innovative research in variety of fields including robotics and economics and enables partnerships that connect Pensacola and Northwest Florida to the world.
Living the Dream – Levin Papantonio Rafferty and firm partner Troy Rafferty are longtime supporters of the annual "Living the Dream and Tribute to Motown" celebration, an event to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s "dream" of equality and to honor Pensacola natives and residents who exemplify his legacy. Over the years attorneys Fred Levin and Troy Rafferty have contributed generously to a variety of causes that support impoverished and economically disadvantaged youth, including the Southern Youth Sports Association. The non-profit organization is supported by the "Living the Dream" celebration and fundraiser and aims to benefit community youth by responding to their academic, social, and physical needs through sports and tutoring programs. Mr. Levin and Mr. Rafferty have both been honored for their continued support of these educational and charitable programs.
Magdalene's Gifts & Gatherings began when a group of women focused on transforming a massage parlor that was once known for trafficking into a location to educate and inform the public about the reality of sex trafficking in our own community. Since then, Magdalene's board has been working tirelessly to train volunteers and raise funds to create a place for survivors to call home. In addition to striving to provide services, Magdalene's Gifts & Gatherings educates the community on basic facts that impact our community. When you walk into the storefront, you know that whatever you spend will be "Ending Human Trafficking One Gift at a Time." But what you leave with is more than just a physical treasure or gift -- it is invaluable information that may save a life. For instance, most of the people who stop by to shop do not know that Florida ranks third in the U.S. in human trafficking cases or that more than 70% of those cases are sex trafficking. They also might not have known that the Department of Children and Families reports that Northwest Florida has the highest trafficking intake rate in Florida per 100 children in population or that the most prevalent form of trafficking in the area is a person being trafficked by members of their own family. Learning is key to making change, and Levin Papantonio Rafferty supports Magdalene's efforts in tangible ways. Both Mike Papantonio, author of InHuman Trafficking (2021), and Carissa Phelps, author of Runaway Girl: Escaping Life on the Streets (2012), have contributed with their books and talks to help educate the community.
Making Strides – Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is a walk that unites cancer survivors and their supporters. The Pensacola event, held during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, brings thousands of people together. Levin Papantonio Rafferty sponsored the event and provided water to participants, as part of the firm's overall effort in the fight against breast cancer.
Manna Food Drive “Fill the Mayflower” – Each year our firm helps collect food for our local food pantry. Manna is especially near and dear to the paralegals at our law firm as it was our local paralegal association (Northwest Florida Paralegal Association) who helped create Manna.
March of Dimes Mission Healthy Baby – Military families sacrifice so much to serve our country. Levin Papantonio Rafferty sponsored and provided gifts for the March of Dimes, Military Baby Shower, July 2017, in Navarre. More than two dozen families received a variety of care packages and other items to help with their growing families.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade – Each January, dozens of staff and attorneys with Levin Papantonio Rafferty participate in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade to honor the slain civil rights leader. The Levin Papantonio Rafferty float is among the many festive floats that rolls through the streets of Downtown Pensacola while employees throw out beads, MoonPies, and other souvenirs to the crowds lining the parade route.
Military Night at the Wahoos Stadium – Levin Papantonio Rafferty sponsored Military Appreciation Night at the Blue Wahoos Stadium, where Pensacola’s local baseball team plays.
Out of the Darkness Walk – Levin Papantonio Rafferty regularly sponsors the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, "Out of the Darkness" Walk. The event raises awareness and funds that allows the AFSP to conduct new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss.
Project Formal – Levin Papantonio Rafferty employee Taxie Lambert experienced the unimaginable loss of her daughter to domestic violence. Out of her tragedy, she formed Project Formal, which provides free formal wear to high school students to ensure all students have the opportunity to enjoy school-sponsored events, no matter their household hardships, trauma, and other challenges.
RAM Event – Nearly one thousand people received free medical, dental, and vision care at the Pensacola Remote Area Medical Clinic held at Pensacola High School in December, 2017. Levin Papantonio Rafferty donated generously to the event with time, money, and volunteers to help get much needed medical care to those who could not normally afford it.
Real Men Wear Pink – Attorney Peter Mougey and his wife Katrina helped raise awareness thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society's Real Men Pink campaign, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Katrina Mougey is a breast cancer survivor and each year the Mougey family volunteers to promote early detection, prevention, research, and patient support.
Ronald McDonald House – Levin Papantonio Rafferty attorney Kim Adams and her staff volunteer cook a meal for families at the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola. The charity is a home away from home for children and families suffering a medical crisis and the home cooked meals help provide a source of respite and comfort. Fred Levin has also donated $50,000 to the organization and in 2021 the Levin Papantonio Rafferty sponsored the organization’s fundraiser, Casual for Kids event.
Soul Bowl – Levin Papantonio Rafferty is proud to sponsor Pensacola’s annual premier, youth football show, the Soul Bowl. The community youth football event is held at the Blue Wahoos Stadium in Downtown Pensacola, and includes players from the Southern Youth Services Association and other teams from across the area, that are predominantly minority athletes from struggling communities. The Soul Bowl is an opportunity to showcase their talents and bring the community together to support youth sports and education.
Southern Youth Sports Association – Attorney Troy Rafferty donates $50,000 annually to the Southern Youth Sports Association to present area students with college scholarship checks. Mr. Rafferty made the first donation in 2018 at the Southern Youth Service Association Benefit Luncheon, where he was honored for his support. The SYSA is a Pensacola non-profit organization dedicated to developing the full potential of disadvantaged children by meeting their academic, social, and physical needs through sports, education, and personal encouragement. In addition, he founded the Rafferty Hope Scholarship which is given each year to two underprivileged children to pay their college tuition. Mr. Rafferty credits youth sports for helping him follow a path to success and he donates annually to the SYSA scholarship to inspire educational success in others.
Special Olympics Florida – Our law firm and employees have donated money and time to the Northwest Region, Special Olympics Florida. The mission of Special Olympics Florida is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities who wish to participate, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
Symphony, Sparks & Stars – On the Fourth of July, Levin Papantonio Rafferty attorney Peter Mougey sponsors Symphony, Sparks, and Stars - a free, patriotic concert for the public, featuring a performance by the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra on beautiful Pensacola Bay. The family friendly event, celebrating our country, community and military, also includes a presentation of colors and a military jet flyover, which draws thousands to the Hunter Amphitheatre in Downtown Pensacola, each year.
The Arc Gateway – Levin Papantonio Rafferty is a proud supporter of The Arc Gateway, an organization that provides services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Three of our attorneys have served on the non-profit’s Board of Trustees. We have supported Arc events annually and in 2019, the firm not only sponsored their primary fundraiser, Wreaths of Joy, our production team also volunteered to produce a promotional video showcasing their services and programs. The Arc Gateway’s purpose is to provide the best possible life experiences for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, providing life-enhancing programs that help people with developmental disabilities reach their full potential and realize their dreams.
The People’s Law School – Twice a year, in May and October, Levin Papantonio Rafferty hosts The People’s Law School, a series of free nightly classes, open to anyone who wants to learn more about the law and how it affects us every day. The firm provides an experienced faculty of local attorneys, judges, and law enforcement personnel to answer a variety of legal questions covering a wide range of topics, including Insurance, Probate, Workman’s Compensation, Social Security Disability, Products Liability, Medical Malpractice, and areas of the General Civil and Criminal Court System. The People’s Law School is popular with the community and usually has a full registration.
Theophalis May Resource Center at Legion Field – Levin Papantonio Rafferty’s Troy Rafferty and his wife Ashley donated $1 million toward the building of the new Rafferty Center. The new facility will double the capacity of the Theophalis May Resource Center, adding a new basketball court and several classrooms. Several other LPR partners—including the late Fred Levin, Mike Papantonio, and others—also contributed generous donations to fund the construction of the $2.7 million community center. Lumon May, Escambia County Commissioner District 3 and long-time director of the Southern Youth Sports Association (SYSA), announced the Rafferty Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 17, 2022. The announcement was received with tremendous gratitude from the Pensacola community, whose members appreciate all the center does for building leadership skills, instilling hope, and developing brighter futures for local kids.
University of West Florida – Attorney Fred Levin has a longstanding history of generosity toward the University of West Florida. In 2018, he gifted his waterfront estate, "Tanglewood," as well as much of the art work, furniture, and other valuable collectibles inside the palatial home. The total value of the donation was more than $8 million, making it the largest gift by a living donor in the University’s history. Mr. Levin’s generosity to UWF began decades earlier when he gifted an endowed professorship in honor of his father, Abe Levin, which is now worth more than $400,000. In 2017, he gave $100,000 to support UWF football, as well as $550,000 to establish the Reubin O’D. Askew Institute for Multidisciplinary Studies. The Institute furthers the University’s leadership in STEAM initiatives: combined applications of science, technology, engineering, art and math, and also creates a hub for students and faculty to work on innovative community projects to better prepare them for the workforce.
West Florida High School of Advanced Technology – Attorney Troy Rafferty funded three scholarships to the Capstone program. Capstone is a project all 11th-grade students work on throughout the year, completing research, a technical paper, a product, and a presentation reflective of the academy in which they are enrolled. This is a cumulative project based on three years of specialized instruction in each student’s career academy.
WKRG Magical Christmas Toy Drive – Levin Papantonio Rafferty sponsored WKRG's Magical Christmas Toy Drive, a partnership with Pensacola Salvation Army and Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama. The firm served as a drop off location for new and unused toys for local, needy children. Attorney Kim Adams and other firm staff went on a shopping spree with their own little ones to buy toys for the drive, helping to give more children a Magical Christmas. All presents donated in Northwest Florida benefit Pensacola area children.
YMCA Corporate Cup – Prior to COVID-19, the Levin Papantonio Rafferty law firm had a team participating in the YMCA's annual Corporate Cup competition, held at the University of West Florida. Local businesses compete in a variety of events like egg toss, tug-of-war, and three-legged race to compete for the title of Corporate Cup Champion. The event celebrates health and wellness in the workplace.
YMCA of Northwest Florida – Attorney Fred Levin and his sister-in-law, Teri, donated $1 million to the construction of a new YMCA facility in Downtown Pensacola, in 2015. The state-of-the-art facility is now a center for health, wellness, and economic growth in the community and is named for the generous donors who made construction possible: the Bear, Levin, Studer YMCA.
 
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