Palm Beach Gardens - December 19, 2007 - The staff of Place of Hope is pleased to announce that Richard Slawson of Slawson, Cunningham, Whalen, & Gaspari has donated a $58,000 gift in support of the family-style child welfare organization's commitment to serve the foster and adoptive communities of Palm Beach County.

"I am honored to be able to support an organization that not only helps hurting children and their families, but also one that truly brings hope and healing to these children," said Slawson.

Slawson, a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Notre Dame Law School, has been representing injured persons and their families as an attorney in Palm Beach Gardens for the past 35 years.

"It's amazing to see our community coming together to impact the lives of abused and neglected children and their families," said Charles Bender, Place of Hope's executive director. "Richard is a good friend and a long time member of the Place of Hope team. We're honored to have been blessed again by his continued generosity."

The faith-based and state-licensed Place of Hope, one of the largest family-style child welfare organizations in Florida, provides emergency and long-term family-style foster care, family outreach and intervention, transitional housing and support services, adoption and foster care recruitment and support, and hope and healing opportunities for children and families who have been traumatized by abuse and neglect throughout South Florida.

Place of Hope is hosting its Spa, Golf Classic & Charity Auction Dinner on April 27-28, 2008 at the Jupiter Ritz-Carlton Golf Club & Spa. Supporters plan to raise funds to benefit its families of foster care children, while playing 18 holes on one of Jack Nicklaus' most innovative golf course designs. Tickets, which include one spa treatment at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Spa, dinner for two at Sunday night's Charity Auction Dinner and one playing spot in the Golf Classic on Monday, are $1,500 for an individual or $6,000 for a foursome. Sponsorships range from $1,000 for a tee sponsorship to $50,000 to become an event Host.

For more information on the law firm of Slawson, Cunningham, Whalen, & Gaspari, please call (800) 681-8882 or visit http://www.slawsonlaw.com/.

Place of Hope, located at 9078 Isaiah Lane in Palm Beach Gardens, will celebrate its 7-year anniversary in May. For more information on Place of Hope, please contact Charles Bender at (561) 775-7195 or visit www.placeofhope.com.