Donations to Becker & Poliakoff Helping Hands Toy Drive for Hospitalized & Needy Children Are Now Tax-Deductible

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL--(Marketwire - November 20, 2008) - Becker & Poliakoff, P.A., a diversified commercial law firm with more than 120 attorneys in 13 Florida offices, New York City and affiliated international offices, today announced that donations to the annual year-end Becker & Poliakoff Helping Hands Toy Drive are now tax-deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has determined that the Becker & Poliakoff Helping Hands Toy Drive, now in its eight year, is a public charity for its annual effort to help hospitalized children, their families and others during the holidays. The Helping Hands Toy Drive distributes toys and gifts to children and teenagers undergoing treatment for cancers and terminal illnesses at pediatric hospitals, as well as foster care, homeless and other needy children in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

Every year, with the help of Becker & Poliakoff attorneys and staff dressed as Santa, his elves and special cartoon-character guests, the Becker & Poliakoff Helping Hands Toy Drive delivers toys, laughter and fun to children and their families.

The annual effort is spearheaded by Becker & Poliakoff shareholder and attorney Lee Weintraub and his wife, Gina, a Broward middle-school teacher, whose infant daughter Morgan fortunately survived treatment for a life-threatening retinoblastoma cancer of the eyes.

Following Morgan's successful treatment at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital, Becker & Poliakoff attorneys, staff and the firm's clients have helped each year since 2000 to raise tens of thousands of dollars to fund the annual delivery of new toys, games and electronics to children and their families in need.

All funds raised in the annual Toy Drive go toward the purchase of toys and gifts for the children, with less than 1% used in promotional efforts to encourage donations. Zero percent of any donations go toward administrative costs or overhead -- all of which is voluntarily donated by the Becker & Poliakoff attorneys, staff, families and friends.

"Becker & Poliakoff attorneys and staff once again feel grateful and privileged to be able to participate in this effort to put smiles on the faces and laughter into the hearts of children and their families, who otherwise might not experience all the joys of the holiday season," said Lee Weintraub. "With the not-for-profit certification we've now received, individuals and corporate donors can now make tax-deductible contributions to this annual effort, joining the South Florida retailers who provide generous discounts on toys and electronics each year in order to bring holiday cheer to these children and their families."

"Once again this year, our firm heartily urges the Becker & Poliakoff 'family' of clients and friends in the community to volunteer or consider making tax-deductible contributions to this worthy cause that benefits so many children being treated at Miami-Dade and Broward area pediatric cancer centers, as well as foster care, homeless and other needy children and their families in South Florida," said Alan Becker, co founder and Managing Shareholder, Becker & Poliakoff.

Tax-deductible contributions to the annual Toy Drive from individual or corporate donors can be made to "Becker & Poliakoff Helping Hands, Inc." For further information about the toy drive and how individuals and companies in South Florida may donate or otherwise volunteer to help, visit: www.becker-poliakoff.com/events/community.html.

About Becker & Poliakoff P.A.

Becker & Poliakoff is a diverse commercial law firm with more than 120 attorneys in 13 Florida offices, New York City and affiliated international offices. Celebrating its thirty-sixth (36th) year of serving clients, the firm has seven primary areas of practice: Real Estate, Construction, Community Association, International Trade & Customs, Commercial Litigation, Corporate, Tax & Securities, and Government Law & Lobbying.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Tom Howell Michael Tangeman The Pen Group Communications Tel: (305) 529-1944 tom@thepengroup.com