DANIA BEACH, Fla. - s4story -- Legal Aid Service of Broward County's A Night for Justice Gala raised close to $100,000 in support of the nonprofit's mission to provide free civil legal services to thousands of Broward County residents in need each year.

The event brought community members, supporters and legal professionals together at the Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA) in Dania Beach on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, celebrating the theme - Lanterns of Light. Guests enjoyed an evening of music, gourmet dining, a silent auction and heartfelt recognition of community leaders dedicated to advancing access to justice.

The evening also recognized five distinguished honorees for their exceptional contributions to the community:

• Attorney of the Year — Nicholas Bastidas, Esq.

o An associate at Nelson Mullins and a lifelong Broward County resident, Bastidas joined Legal Aid's pro bono panel in 2025 and has assisted more than 80 clients through the organization's Pro Bono Advice and Counsel Hotline — more than 40 in 2026 alone.

• The Legal Aid Vanguard Award — Chad Van Horn, Esq.

o Van Horn is the inaugural recipient of the Legal Aid Vanguard Award, a new honor recognizing a leader whose overall contribution sets a new standard for expanding access to justice. The founder and managing partner of Van Horn Law Group, P.A. in Fort Lauderdale has previously received Legal Aid's Attorney of the Year (2017), Russell E. Carlisle Advocacy Award (2020), Law Firm of the Year (2021) and Spirit of Justice Award (2022).

• Law Firm of the Year — Bankruptcy Law Firm of Clare Casas, P.A.

o Founded by Clare Casas, Esq., a Certified Public Accountant and University of Miami School of Law graduate, the firm has been a long-standing Legal Aid pro bono collaborator.

• Tony Karrat Excellence in Community Service Award — United Way Broward

o For more than 85 years, United Way Broward has mobilized community resources to address Broward County's most pressing challenges, today funding more than 130 programs including Legal Aid's MISSION UNITED pro bono program assisting veterans in need.

• Spirit of Justice Award — Publix Super Markets

o The largest employee-owned company in the United States, Publix supports Broward County nonprofits whose missions overlap with Legal Aid's, including United Way Broward and HANDY (Helping Advance and Nurture the Development of Youth), with whom Legal Aid's Children's Legal Project works closely to serve at-risk youth.

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Proceeds from A Night for Justice will support Legal Aid's wide-ranging programs, which provide critical legal representation and education to those facing challenges related to housing, family law, children in need, veterans' affairs, domestic violence and more.

For more information about Legal Aid Service of Broward County or to learn how to get involved, visit BrowardLegalAid.org or call 954-765-8950.