Laughter, cheers and the tumbling of bowling pins echoed through Batt Family Fun Center on May 6 when members of Jacksonville’s legal community teamed up with Special Olympics Florida athletes for an evening of competition and camaraderie.
The Jacksonville Bar Association Young Lawyers Section hosted its annual Pin Pals event aimed at raising funds for Special Olympics Florida. The event drew a crowd of supporters including attorneys, legal staff, athletes and their families.
Law firms from across the city and Special Olympics athletes formed teams, each vying for the event’s crown jewel: The Legacy Trophy, a symbol of unity and sportsmanship that will be passed on to each year’s winning team.
In a display of skill and heart, Coker Law emerged victorious, taking home the trophy and setting a high bar for future tournaments.
The evening also featured a silent auction and raffle, showcasing donations from local businesses and autographed memorabilia from sports franchises including the Jacksonville Icemen, Jacksonville Jaguars and Jacksonville Sharks. Attendees bid on everything from restaurant gift cards from Brunch Haus and Grumpy’s to tickets to the Florida Theatre and Theatre Jacksonville.
Profit from the evening will benefit Special Olympics Florida, supporting year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
For now, the trophy rests proudly at Coker Law, but the true winners were all those who contributed to raising funds for such a meaningful cause. As the event chair, it was truly inspiring to watch the community come together in such a meaningful way.
A special thank you goes to event co-chair Julianna Favale, an attorney at Marks Gray, for her tremendous support.
Austin Sherman is a shareholder at Carr Allison.