by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The June 7 roast of Hank Coxe, the immediate-past president of The Florida Bar, at the Hyatt proved to be a huge success. Friday, Coxe and Jacksonville Lawyer Magazine (which sponsored the event) Publisher Billy Catlin presented an oversized check for $32,000 to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Executive Director Michael Figgins and JALA Development Director Christa Figgins. JALA Board Chair Chad Roberts was also on hand.
“This will go into the general fund,” said Michael Figgins. “There are so many needs it’s hard to earmark this for just one.”
Figgins said his organization is in its mid-year budget stage. He said the $32,000 represents about 10 percent of what JALA stands to lose if the City cuts all public service grants.
“I’ve given it a lot of thought, but there aren’t a lot of answers,” said Figgins about how to make up the other 90 percent. “If money was easy to raise, we would have already done it. The mayor and his staff are good people. I am sure they will do the right thing.”
Coxe was roasted by fellow Bedell Firm partner David Barksdale, former Florida Supreme Court Justice Major B. Harding, retired educator Chuck Badger, State Attorney Harry Shorstein and Orlando attorney Mayanne Downs.