A Legacy of Love and Action: Celebrating Our Own Rod and DeeDee Smith
Here at Avera & Smith, we have the distinct honor of working alongside individuals who exemplify excellence not just in the courtroom, but in the community. It is with immense pride that we celebrate our partner, Rod Smith, and his incredible wife, DeeDee, on receiving the prestigious Legacy Award, presented by The Community Foundation of North Central Florida. This honor is a testament to a lifetime spent championing the most vulnerable and building a safer, kinder world for all.
While we know Rod as a brilliant attorney and dedicated partner at our firm, this award reminds us that his and DeeDee’s impact stretches far beyond our office walls. The Legacy Award specifically celebrates their mastery in uniting donors, advisors, charities, and the community-the very collaborations that create powerful and lasting charitable legacies.
The Ripple Effect of a Single Idea
A powerful example of this is the founding of the Child Advocacy Center. After witnessing the effectiveness of a similar organization in another county, Rod returned home with a powerful conviction: “We must have this here.” He brought this vision to his wife, DeeDee, and together they ignited a movement that would transform our community’s child protection system.
DeeDee rallied friends and launched what would become the iconic “Gainesville Gone” fundraiser. Seventeen years later, that event is still going strong, a testament to the powerful foundation they built. But as one community leader pointed out, the real success isn’t the money-it’s the “thousands and thousands of people who they made safer.”
Inspiring a Tradition of Giving
The testimonials from the community consistently speak to this unique ability. As one colleague noted, “All you have to say is DeeDee is involved in this or Rod’s involved in that, and everyone will immediately want to join those efforts.” This is precisely the kind of philanthropic leadership the Legacy Award was created to honor.
We at Avera & Smith see this same leadership firsthand. Rod exemplifies these principles in the way he deeply cares for our clients and thoughtfully mentors our legal teams, inspiring them to be leaders not just in the courtroom, but throughout the communities of North Central Florida.
This award is a fitting tribute to two individuals who have dedicated their lives to the art of giving. They have shown us that the most powerful legacy is not just what you give, but how you inspire an entire community to give alongside you.