News Release - Three Outstanding Women Inducted into Florida Women's Hall of Fame

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Attorney General Bill McCollum News Release

March 11, 2008

Media Contact: Sandi Copes
Phone: (850) 245-0150

Three Outstanding Women Inducted into Florida Women's Hall of Fame

~ Florida Commission on the Status of Women hosts induction ceremony, recognizes 26th anniversary of Women's Hall of Fame ~

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum and the Florida Commission on the Status of Women today hosted the induction ceremony for three outstanding women into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame. Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara J. Pariente, of West Palm Beach and Tallahassee, Dr. Pallavi Patel, of Tampa, and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, of Miami, became the Hall of Fame's 72nd, 73rd, and 74th inductees, respectively. The women were among 10 nominees selected by the Commission, which is housed within the Attorney General's Office. The women were inducted this evening by Governor Charlie Crist. Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink was also in attendance.

"These women are true role models for our state and our citizens," said Attorney General McCollum. "I am proud to participate in their recognition and offer them as examples for exemplary individuals."

"The accomplishments of tonight's inductees serve as an inspiration to young women throughout our state who are leading by example in their own endeavors," said Governor Crist. "As we celebrate their personal achievements, we also honor the public commitment they each have made to women's issues in Florida."

“As a woman, a mother and a public servant, I thank today’s inductees for being a progressive force for change in our state,” said CFO Alex Sink. “Their leadership will inspire future generations of young women who seek to follow in their footsteps.”

Each year, the Commission nominates a selection of women for consideration, and final selection of the inductees is made by the Executive Office of the Governor. The Commission accepts nominations from the public for the Hall of Fame each year from April 1 - July 15. This year marks the 26th anniversary of the Florida Women's Hall of Fame.

"It is an honor for the Florida Commission on the Status Women to be involved in the recognition of women and their accomplishments," stated Norma S. White, L.H.D., Chair of the Commission. "These three outstanding women have a significant impact on all citizens of Florida, providing evidence of the critical role that women have played in shaping our state."

Additional information on the three inductees is included below as well as on the Commission's website at http://www.fcsw.net.

Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara J. Pariente

Justice Barbara J. Pariente is only the second woman to serve on the Florida Supreme Court and served as its Chief Justice from 2004-2006. Justice Pariente graduated fifth in her law school class at George Washington University and immediately began a successful twenty-year legal career, first as a Florida federal district court law clerk, then as one of South Florida's pioneering women trial attorneys. Throughout her legal career, she has shown a passionate commitment to improving the lives of women, children and families in Florida, especially those whose disadvantages in life have brought them into the court system. Since her appointment to the Florida Supreme Court in 1997, she has championed Florida's nationally acclaimed drug courts program to rehabilitate people who commit minor crimes because of substance abuse. She has also been a driving force behind Florida's Unified Family Courts, a judicial approach to help ensure that individual families' legal problems are managed comprehensively by a single judge or team. During her career, Justice Pariente has encouraged school mentoring programs and has worked directly with juvenile detainees in the state's facilities, providing counseling, role modeling and one-on-one- assistance.

In 2003, Justice Pariente turned her experience with breast cancer from what could have been a personal tragedy into a public victory by sharing the story of her successful treatment with Florida and the nation. During this period, she never missed a court hearing, even appearing without her wig in cases which were widely broadcast.

Justice Pariente is married to Judge Fred A. Hazouri of Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeals and is a proud mother and grandmother.

Dr. Pallavi Patel

Dr. Pallavi Patel is a board-certified pediatrician, a philanthropist and an outstanding citizen who has advanced the role of women throughout Florida and the world. Born in India, Dr. Patel began her medical career in Zambia and often returned with her husband, making Zambia and India focal points for their philanthropic work. Dr. Patel's endeavors included building hospitals, schools and other community projects as well as leading disaster relief projects in that region.

In 2004, the Dr. Pallavi Patel Performing Arts Conservatory was established in Tampa as a result of a $5 million gift to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Annually, the Conservatory enables thousands of young people to pursue their dreams in music and the performing arts.

Continuing in her pediatric practice, Dr. Patel is passionate about issues related to teen pregnancy, single motherhood, adolescent self-esteem and women's health and education.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has been widely recognized as a gifted leader and defender of human rights. Born in Havana, Cuba, she was the first Hispanic woman to serve in both the Florida Legislature and Congress. While serving in the Florida Senate, her work as an educator paved the way for her introduction of Florida's first prepaid college tuition plan. As Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United States House of Representatives, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen continues to shape U.S. foreign policy and encourage good governance around the globe.

Always a tireless advocate for the environment, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen has also been instrumental in the cleaning of the Miami River and the prevention of oil-drilling off the coast of Florida.

Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen and her husband, Dexter, have two daughters, Amanda and Patricia.