The Cuban American Bar Association’s (CABA) 49th Annual Installation Gala saw an impressive turnout with over 1,300 guests attending the event on Saturday, February 4, at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami. The evening raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for both the CABA Foundation’s scholarship program and CABA Pro Bono Legal Services’ legal advocacy mission.
The evening’s theme, “Orgullo de Mi Tierra Bella,” or pride of my beautiful land, highlighted the deep-rooted pride that CABA’s members embody for their Cuban heritage, as well as their pride in standing with the Cuban people as they continue to fight for freedom on the island.
The annual Gala has become a cornerstone event for the legal community with attendees including prominent attorneys, judges and business leaders. The festivities included dinner, silent auction and live entertainment by Grammy and Latin Grammy-winning artist, Willy Chirino.
“This year’s gala broke all types of records: the most sponsors, the largest fundraising effort and the highest attendance with world-famous Willy Chirino performing,” stated Giselle Gutierrez, CABA’s newly installed President. “We set the tone for a great 49th year for our association by using our platform to express our “orgullo,” our pride, to amplify the voices of the Cuban people still fighting for freedom.”
The evening was made possible by the generous support of almost 100 corporate partners, including CABA’s “nuestras raíces” sponsors, First Horizon Bank and Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A. Silent auction items included a Salvador Dalí “King Richard” lithograph, four tickets to the Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks basketball game and a three-night cruise to the Bahamas on MSC Cruise Line. Proceeds benefited the evening’s fundraising efforts.
About the Cuban American Bar Association (CABA)
Founded in 1974, CABA is one of the largest nonprofit bar associations in the state of Florida. Its membership is comprised of lawyers and law students from various backgrounds whose interests include not only those affecting the Cuban community, but human and legal rights issues impacting minority communities. CABA also founded CABA Pro Bono Legal Services and the CABA Foundation, both created on the association’s fundamental values to aid those in need through legal advocacy as well as offering scholarships to law students.
About the CABA Foundation
In 1995, as part of its mission to promote diversity and access in the legal services community, CABA launched the CABA Foundation (CABF). CABF provides law school scholarships to law students across the country to assist those students in achieving their full potential through access to and increased diversity in the legal profession. CABF also manages and promotes efforts to endow law school scholarships throughout Florida.
About CABA Pro Bono Legal Services
In 1984, CABA Pro Bono Legal Services was created to assist disadvantaged members of our community with pro bono legal representation. Today, it continues to passionately execute its mission of changing the lives of children, individuals, and families who cannot otherwise afford legal advocacy. CABA Pro Bono provides statewide legal representation to those most in need, serving about 1,800 clients per year, including: victims of human trafficking; veterans; victims of domestic violence; abused, abandoned, or neglected children; the elderly; and immigrants. Over the last 39 years, the work of CABA Pro Bono’s dedicated staff, board members, volunteers, and donors, has yielded immeasurable value to its clients.
