I wanted to take a moment to share a little story why my friends and I decided to buy a brick in FFLA’s Legacy Garden for our dear friend Lou Ann Powell.
Lou Ann dedicated more than 30 years of her life as the Deputy Director and Chief Financial Officer of The Florida Bar Foundation (now FFLA). But she wasn’t just crunching numbers — she was helping protect FFLA’s mission to increase access to our justice system, which helped improve the lives of countless Floridians.
After she passed away, we felt the need to find a meaningful way to honor her three decades of unwavering dedication and deep love for FFLA. That’s when we learned about FFLA’s Legacy Garden — it felt like the perfect way to keep her memory alive.
We want to set Lou Ann’s legacy in stone. Her skill in financial management, her CPA expertise, her dedication to teamwork, and her fun, sometimes quirky sense of humor, all played a big part in helping FFLA grow and thrive. As former Foundation President John Patterson said when accepting FFLA’s 2022 Medal of Honor, Lou Ann’s work embodied “integrity, accuracy, and transparency.”
But Lou Ann was so much more than a fantastic CFO — she was a bowling champion, a cat lover, and someone whose kindness touched everyone she met. Donny MacKenzie, FFLA’s executive director, summed it up well: “Lou Ann loved people and loved being around them — almost as much as she loved the Foundation. She was a big part of it for 31 and a half years, and we miss her dearly.”
The Legacy Brick we purchased will make sure that future generations remember her name and the difference she made. Her story is proof that one person really can make a difference, and our tribute is a way of honoring not just what she did, but who she was.
Who in your life deserves to be remembered? FFLA’s Legacy Brick Garden gives us all a chance to honor those who’ve made a difference — in service to others, and in furtherance of FFLA’s mission: increasing access to our justice system, thereby making Florida a better place for everyone.
Honor someone today — just like we did for Lou Ann — and keep their legacy alive for generations to come.
Cassie Yde, President
The Television Syndication Company, Inc.
