Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals – FACP Annual Conference 2023:

Attorney Tom Marks enjoyed catching up with other Collaboratively trained professionals at the FACP Annual Conference which took place at Marriot Orlando Bonnett Creek Resort.

Florida Family Policy Council:

Tom and Linda Marks attended the Florida Family Policy Council’s 18th Annual Dinner Gala. They are pictured with Mat and Anita Staver of Liberty Counsel. FFPC’s mission is “To Protect and Defend Life, Marriage, Family and Liberty Through Education, Advocacy and Empowerment.”

SimplyIOA Corporate 5k:

Attorney Tom Marks and Legal Assistants Angie Watson and Julia Hsieh joined Team Cru as participants in SimplyIOA Corporate 5k 2023. This annual event, held at Lake Eola in Downtown Orlando promotes camaraderie, friendly competition and celebrating with co-workers. Team CRU has looked at this event as a family time for ministry as well as a time to be a light in our city.

Seminole County Prayer Breakfast:

As the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for Christian Chamber of Central Florida, Attorney A Jay Fowinkle was invited to attend the Annual Seminole County Prayer Breakfast on February 10, 2023. He is pictured below alongside President of the U.S. Christian Chamber of Commerce, Krystal Parker and other attendees.

National Charity League:

One of our Legal Assistants, Julia Hsieh is a member of the National Charity League. She previously served as Secretary and is now the Parliamentarian of the Citrus Blossom Chapter.

The National Charity League is known throughout the country as a multi-generational philanthropic organization of mothers and daughters who volunteer nearly three million hours each year to over 6,000 charities in the United States.

Red Mass:

Attorney A Jay Fowinkle recently attended the Red Mass on January 26, 2023.

A Red Mass is  celebrated annually in the Roman Catholic Church for all members of the legal profession, of any religious affiliation: judges, lawyers, law school professors, law students, and government officials, marking the opening of the judicial year. Through prayerful petition and thanksgiving the Red Mass requests guidance from the Holy Spirit for all who seek justice, and provides the legal community an opportunity to reflect on the God-given power and responsibility of all in the legal profession.

The history of a Red Mass dates back to the early 13th century in France, as a service in which God was called upon to help lawyers and judges adhere to truth and justice. Then, the tradition soon spread to England, where, during the reign of King Edward I, the entire Bench and Bar would mark the opening of each Term of Court by attending a Mass collectively. In those services, the priest-celebrants, as well as the judges of the High Court, wore red robes to symbolize their willingness to defend the truth inspired by the Holy Spirit, even at the cost of shedding one’s blood. Thus, the celebration became popularly known as the “Red Mass.”

Giving Tuesday 2022:

In observance of Giving Tuesday, members of our Team at The Marks Law Firm, P.A. – Family Law & Divorce Attorneys are honored to support the following organization: Nathaniel’s Hope Inc.

Our Digital Marketing & Social Media Specialist, Jessenia Raigosa is a proud supporter of Nathaniel’s Hope. As a disabled adult, Jessenia recognizes the value of organizations centered around special needs children. Nathaniel’s Hope is committed to celebrating kids with special needs (VIPs) as well as educating and equipping communities and churches to provide FREE respite care and programs to enrich the lives of VIP families.

Keep Judge Elizabeth Gibson:

The Marks Law Firm, P.A. – Family Law & Divorce Attorneys hosted a reception at our Orlando office in June 2022 to show support of Judge Elizabeth Gibson, Non-Partisan for Orange County Judge, Group 17.

Contribute to the fundraiser to keep Judge Elizabeth Gibson on the bench to serve the citizens of Orange County, Florida.

Pictured below is Attorney Tom Marks and Judge Elizabeth Gibson.

NADP:

Attorney Tom Marks served as Director of the National Association of Divorce Professionals – Downtown Orlando Chapter from 2017 -2023.

The National Association of Divorce Professionals (NADP) unites professionals who serve clients going through the divorce process. The NADP provides access, connections, and results for its members, with the unique opportunity for them to make strategic alliances within the industry and receive comprehensive professional and business development as well as divorce-centered education, online and in person.

Pictured below are Assistant Director Mary Zogg and former Director Tom Marks at a monthly NADP luncheon for the Downtown Orlando Chapter.

CLS:

In July 2023, Attorneys Tom Marks and A Jay Fowinkle attended the Central Florida Chapter Luncheon. They are pictured below with Judge Meredith L. Sasso.

Attorney A Jay Fowinkle has served as President of The Christian Legal Society – Central Florida Chapter since 2019.

In October 2022, Attorney A Jay Fowinkle received the Attorney Ministries Award at the CLS National Conference in Newport Beach, California.

Christian Legal Society (CLS) is a group of believers who are dedicated to serving Jesus Christ through the practice and study of law, the defense of religious freedom and life, and the provision of legal aid to those in need.

Attorney Tom Marks serves on the Board of Directors for the Central Florida Chapter. Lunches are held every other month at the Orange County Bar Association. In addition to chapter meetings, CLS members frequently volunteer their time and resources to local faith-based organizations, such as Daily Bread and student-led chapters of Christian Legal Society.

Christian Legal Society President (Central Florida Chapter) A Jay Fowinkle and other members (pictured below) recently visited Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in Orlando for a day of volunteering and cookie baking!

In 2019, Attorney Tom Marks was invited to speak to law students at Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University – College of Law’s Christian Legal Society Chapter about his journey to becoming a lawyer, the importance of mentoring, and developing healthy habits.

The CLS Chapter at Barry University, Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law recently hosted a Judges Panel in Orlando, Florida which was sponsored by the Central Florida Chapter. Attorney A Jay Fowinkle served as the Moderator for this event where panelists spoke about their experiences in the industry as Christian legal professionals. Given his 35 years of experience in Family Law, Attorney Tom Marks was invited to speak on the panel as well.

Pictured below are officers (including President A Jay Fowinkle) and members of the CLS Central Florida Chapter at an annual Christian Service Center Fundraiser Banquet.

Christian Chamber:

Both Attorney Tom Marks and Attorney A Jay Fowinkle are members of The Central Florida Christian Chamber of Commerce.

Attorney A Jay Fowinkle is on the Board of Directors for the Chamber. He serves as the Vice-Chairman. In 2017, A Jay was the keynote speaker for a Relationship Building Luncheon held in the summer, where he discussed Unmerited Justice.

This non-denominational organization serves Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Lake, Volusia and Brevard counties and provides content for leaders to grow spiritually, personally, and professionally. The Chamber helps Christian companies get exposure for their brand and allows Christian business leaders and entrepreneurs to connect and form strategic partnerships with a purpose.

Did you know that Tom Marks is the longest standing member of the Central Florida Christian Chamber? He joined in 2003 and was featured as the keynote speaker at a Relationship Building Luncheon in 2017. In his talk, “Relationships for the Kingdom,” Tom shared the significant impact relationships have had on his life as a believer and how God has revealed Himself through many of those relationships. He had the opportunity to spotlight some significant relationships he has built in the Christian Chamber as well.

Pictured below is Tom Marks seated with other members at a Christian Chamber Luncheon.

Choices Women’s Clinic:

Tom and Linda Marks are active supporters of Choices Women’s Clinic with locations in both Orlando and Oviedo. Linda Marks, RN currently serves as Nurse Manager at Choices.

Their mission is to encourage and equip women and men to make informed pregnancy decisions.

They have been serving the Orlando area since 1983. Choices Women’s Clinic (CWC) provides hassle-free, non-judgmental counseling and education at no cost to the client. Their in-house medical professionals also provide pregnancy testing and ultrasounds upon request.

Each year, Choices hosts a banquet fundraiser–an evening with dinner, ministry videos and inspiring testimonies of lives changed through the support they have received at CWC. Both Tom and Linda Marks have served as Table Hosts for this event.

Pictured below are Linda and Tom Marks at Choices’ annual benefit dinner—Steadfast.

Give Kids The World:

Give Kids The World Village (GKTW) is a nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families at no cost.

Both Tom and Linda Marks recognize the impact of nonprofit organizations in the Central Florida community and are proud to support the mission of GKTW.

In 2021, for the first time ever, the Black & White Gala was held at the village in Kissimmee, Florida. Guests in attendance had the opportunity to experience the magic of GKTW’s whimsical nonprofit resort.

Pictured below are Tom and Linda Marks at Black & White Gala, GKTW’s signature fundraising event of the year.