2/1/2012

It’s 2012 already. Each year there are unknowns and knowns. We do not know who is going to win the Republican nomination or who will win the general election. Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals and those nasty independents and moderates. What makes the Friends of 440 Scholarship Fund unique is a known in which those of all backgrounds and classifications get together as one to help the kids. Helping the educational dreams of many to become a reality is very rewarding.

An unknown each year has been the amount and the number of scholarships. The known is that everyone will do their best to make 2012 a success. Some updates are that Jim Walker and his committee are reviewing the bylaws again. Judge Condry and his committee are finalizing the waiver process.

A special thank you to Mark Touby who pledged $25,000 over five years to the Scholarship Fund. Also thanks to all donors who contributed time and funds during our 20th anniversary year in 2011.

Our fiscal year ends March 31st and, therefore, there is still time to donate towards scholarships to be awarded this year. Applications are due February 28th.

Sharon McMorris has located more alumni, and they are featured at the end of this letter.

Our next board meeting is set for February 11th.  Hope to see you all there.

Keep up the great work!

Richard A. Sadow
President

Where Are They Now?

Alex Cohen, Scholarship Recipient

Alexander Cohen was awarded a scholarship in 2004. He attended Tufts University where he graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in biomedical engineering. He is currently in his final year at Tufts University School of Medicine where he is in the top 25% of his class.  He is in the process of applying to numerous general surgery residencies across the country including four Ivy League programs.  He has taken part in many wonderful research opportunities ranging from drug development to computational fluid dynamics of complex intracerebral aneurysms. Alexander said, “The Friends of 440 scholarship helped to get my academic career off the ground and allow me to pursue my dream education. That path has in turn allowed me to become a successful medical student and ultimately will allow me to be a skilled and compassionate physician.”

Jessica F. Warrington Cruz is an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Civil and Financial Litigation Divisions in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. She was awarded scholarships for four years beginning in 1998.

A lot has happened since my last president’s message. First, our 20th Anniversary Celebration was a success. We all had a chance to socialize not only with supporters and board members, but also with current and past scholarship recipients. Dr. Javier Lopez, co-chair of our Scholarship Alumni Program and a former scholarship recipient, spoke about what the scholarship meant to him. The Richard A. Sadow Award was presented to Judge Donna S. Remsnyder. I would like to thank both Dr. Lopez and Judge Remsnyder for the wonderful presentations they both made during the evening. I also would like to thank AnnaMarie Kim for assisting in the planning of this special evening and for all she does in arranging our meetings in Orlando.

The celebration continued Monday morning during our board meeting and presentation during the opening session of the workers’ compensation convention. My thanks to all.

Since the convention many fund-raising events took place with all having fun and helping the kids. These events included the Treasure Coast Division’s Casino Night chaired by Melanie Jacobson and South Florida’s annual David H. Levine Memorial Golf & Tennis Classic chaired by Darcy Williams.

Don’t forget that our scholarship application deadline is February 28, 2012.

Please note that our next board meeting is set for December 9 in Orlando, and everyone is encouraged to come.  I am keeping this short so to be able to add many photographs. Remember a picture can replace many words.

Richard Sadow & Mike Crumpler.

Front row, left to right: R. Cory Schnepper, Eric Sandler, Cesar Armstrong, Dr. Barry Burak. Back row, left to right: Donna S. Remsnyder, Erin Melinda Koski, Dr. Javier Lopez, Michael Lee, Jessica Johnson, Alan M. Kuker, Brittany Lyp, Bernard Probst, Danielle Garcia, Shannon Sullivan, Jacob Power, Martha Rodriguez, Bill Mathews, Richard Sadow.

Donna S. Remsnyder, 2011 Recipient of The Richard A. Sadow Award.

WHAT? What did you say? Did I hear you correctly? It’s the Scholarship Fund’s 20th Anniversary, and we have awarded kids MORE THAN ONE MILLION, TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS to allow them to pursue their educational dreams.

Do you think you are Jerry Lewis?

No, I am not Jerry Lewis. I may be funny and want to help the kids, but I do not have my own telethon.  What I have is news about the 20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION to raise funds for the kids.  It’s being held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando Downtown, 60 South Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando, FL 32804 on Saturday, August 20, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

I hope you can attend, and feel free to spread the word to all. IT WILL BE APPRECIATED!  We welcome participation and will never refuse a donation including sponsorships.

LET’S ALL JOIN HANDS AND HELP THE KIDS.

If you can attend the celebration or not, everyone is invited to attend our Board of Directors meeting scheduled for Monday, August 22 at 7:30 a.m. at the Orlando World Center Marriott in the New York and New Orleans Meeting Rooms. Please attend this and/or the presentation to be made in front of the entire convention body at 9:15 a.m. in the Palms Ballroom – Canary Convention Level.

Thank you in advance,

Richard Sadow

1/1/2011

Happy New Year! As the New Year approached many of us watched the ball descend on various TV networks broadcasting from Times Square.  We all have different thoughts and expectations for the New Year. Some wish the previous year never ended; others cannot wait for a new start and new resolutions. I am very excited about 2011. It represents the Friends of 440 Scholarship Fund’s 20th anniversary. We have certainly come a long way with the help and efforts of so many.

We are planning a celebration party to honor some of the past recipients of the scholarship and some of the people who have devoted so much time and effort in helping the kids. Sharon McMorris has contacted some of the individuals who received an award to see where they are now and what they are doing. I am happy to say we have many success stories. I will not repeat them here but Sharon will send them to you soon. We all share credit for this accomplishment. A job well done! My thanks to all.

Additional information concerning the anniversary celebration which will be held on the Saturday night before the Workers’ Compensation Convention (August 20, 2011), will be forthcoming.

I hope your resolutions for 2011 come to be!

Richard Sadow, President
Friends of 440 Scholarship Fund, Inc.

6/1/2010

Milestones were reached on May 15th when $104,100 was awarded to 47 students to help them attend college and have their dreams and goals become a reality. They are an impressive group with varying goals and backgrounds. This year’s recipients include the following students.

Jessica R. Johnson of Englewood was awarded a $3,000 scholarship. Jessica is a sophomore at University of South Florida in Tampa where she is pursuing a major in nursing. Her goals include obtaining a master’s degree to become a nurse practitioner. Her family has been struggling for the past four years since her father was diagnosed with a serious cardiac disorder and has endured several procedures. Her mother is employed in Florida’s Workers’ Compensation system. While attending college, Jessica works part time at Publix Pharmacy as a Certified Pharmacy Technician. She is a member of Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship.

Christopher C. Clarke of Fort Myers was awarded the Michael Reed Scholarship award for $4,000. Christopher, an Eagle Scout and senior at Bishop Verot High School, will be attending Flagler College where he plans to enter the Pre-Law Program. Christopher’s father died in 2007 at age 59 after being injured in an auto accident while at work 10 years earlier. Family life changed in an instant for the entire family. With the support of his mother, friends and school community, Christopher has succeeded in high school where he has been an active volunteer in such areas as hurricane relief in New Orleans, Mississippi and Florida; Yearbook Sports Editor; videographer for the varsity football team (lettering in football); member of the Academic Competitive Team; Freshman Retreat Leader; Edison Festival, and Calusa Nature Center.

Victor S. DeRosa of Jacksonville was awarded the Philip Feldman Scholarship Award for $4,000. Victor is a student at Paxon School for Advanced Studies. He plans to attend University of Central Florida. His high school activities included National Honors Society Treasurer; Spanish Club, Science National Honors Society and Junior Varsity Football. Since his mother’s death from cancer in 2007, Victor has lived with his sister who works in Florida’s Workers’ Compensation system. They moved from Broward County to Jacksonville before he began 11th grade. His volunteer activities include serving at an elementary school summer camp for at-risk youth, camp counselor, a marine biology program to clean and research South Florida Beaches and the Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society.

A challenge now presents itself for FRIENDS in order to raise sufficient sums to allow those selected to be able to finish their education and also to provide aid to new applicants. This is not an easy task in our present economy, but I truly believe that if we all continue our work on behalf of the kids that we can achieve this goal. Many fund-raising events are now being set. The next board meeting is set for August 16th, which coincides with the Florida Workers’ Compensation Institute Annual Conference in Orlando. More details will be posted next month, but I’d like all board members to please mark your calendars for Monday morning starting at 8 a.m. I also request that you bring a new person to this meeting. It will be greatly appreciated.

We’ve relocated our headquarters to 9100 South Dadeland Blvd., Suite 1010, Miami, FL 33156. We appreciate the donated space that was provided by Walton Lantaff Schroeder & Carson and is now provided by Levine, Busch & Schnepper.

The Scholarship Fund, in order to reach our goals and continue to grow, has hired Sharon McMorris as its first Executive Director. It has been easy and great to work with her she has already contributed in a meaningful way. Sharon is a long time advocate for education, health and human service needs within South Florida’s nonprofit sector. Throughout her career she has been involved with such organizations as Nonprofit Management and Fund Development (her consulting firm), Nova Southeastern University’s Nonprofit Management Institute, Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Planned Parenthood, Senior Volunteer Services and South Florida Museum of Natural History. You will be able to meet Sharon at one of the upcoming local chapter meetings and/or the Orlando Conference.

Thanks for your continued support.
Richard Sadow, President
Friends of 440 Scholarship Fund, Inc.

Christopher Clarke with his mother Jane Clarke

Victor DeRosa and his sister Vanessa DeRosa Lipsky

Jessica Johnson with her parents Kathy and Donald Johnson

Judge E. Douglas Spangler, Jr. and Jessica Johnson

4/22/2010

MILESTONE ATTAINED:

The Friends of 440 Scholarship Fund will be awarding in excess of $102,000.00  this year to aid children to meet their educational goals and dreams.  This is a record.  Congratulations everyone.

Please note that the selection committee meeting will be held on May 15, 2010 in Orlando at the downtown Marriott Hotel. Anyone who has an interest in seeing and interviewing the applicants is welcome to attend.  Its impact is grand and very touching.  You will always remember it.

Thanks for your continued support.

Richard Sadow, President
Friends of 440 Scholarship Fund, Inc.

10/15/2009

Its football time again. Yeah. Many of us watch college football on a regular basis and realize that most of the student athletes are on scholarship. Well the start of college football also means that it is time to get out the message of the Friends of 440 Scholarship helping kids receive an education so that their goals may come true. That means GETTING OUT THE INFORMATION REGARDING THE APPLICATION. This can be done in many ways.

First, each division should make certain that their local school boards, including private schools, know about the Fund and have a copy of the applications available. Second, claimant attorneys can notify their clients about potential eligibility and have said applications and notification of same in their offices while defense attorneys can notify their carriers about both areas of eligibility i.e., dependents of injured workers and dependents of those whom are primarily involved in the administration of the workers compensation law. This includes dependents of adjusters, legal secretaries whom only do workers compensation and risk managers.

This year for the first time a doctor gave one of his patients an application which was completed, submitted and awarded funds. Get them off to rehab providers, court reporters, doctors, and anyone involved in the field. Our goal is to help the KIDS. SO THE CHALLENGE IS TO DISTRIBUTE THE APPLICATIONS AND I MIGHT SUGGEST CONTACTING JIM WALKER SINCE HE HAS A PROVEN METHOD OF DOING SO. On another note the state wide meeting was well attended and I would like to thank all those whom attended including the members of the First D.C.A. To follow up on matters discussed, the search for an Executive Director is continuing and a committee is being formed to suggest revisions to the state wide by- laws.

I am attaching a few pictures of the students who attended the meeting. Note the tall and short of the matter. lol!. Till next month, enjoy the pigskin action.

Brian	Eric Sandler Receiving the RAS Award
Sophia	Darcy Williams

WOW! !, Coining a phrase seen in CVS stores, WOW. Last Saturday in Orlando, we either interviewed or reviewed 39 scholarship applicants. Scholarships totaling in excess of $73,000 were distributed amongst the applicants. Every year I am amazed of the quality of student we are able to help to allow their educational goals and dreams come true. All this would not be possible without the support shown by so many through out the State. My sincere thanks go out to all including those who took part in the selection process. This is such a rewarding experience that words can not fully express. Everyone is welcome to take part in the selection all you have to do is call me, Darcy, Blanca or any board member.

Megan Vunk was selected to receive the Jennifer Sadow award which is given to a student majoring in education with emphasis on special Ed. Melissa Berwick received the Michael Reid award which is give en in the area of journalism while Bryan Burnett got the Phillip Feldman award which is given to an individual who displays high character and drive without any specific major.

Attached are some photos of certain individuals whom received awards. They come form all different areas in the state and have different stories and dreams.

I envision a financial challenge in the face of hard times for us to raise sufficient funds to allow all repeats and new applicants to fulfill their dreams. I am sure that the chant sweeping the nation cane also propels the scholarship to new bounds, YES WE CAN. I KNOW WE CAN IF WE ALL PITCH IN. SO LET’S DO IT.

Eric Sandler has won the Richard Sadow Award, and the award will be presented to him at the Workers Comp. Convention in Orlando Marriot Convention Center, on Monday August 17, 2009 at 8:00 AM.

Very truly yours,

Richard Sadow
President