Lichter Law Firm takes seriously its commitment to give back to the communities it serves. Our attorneys have been actively involved for years with civic, legal, religious and service organizations that truly make a meaningful difference for our clients, colleagues and community. A number of our firm members have received awards, been honored at community dinners or been the subject of articles appearing in local and national news media in connection with their community service.
Mayra co-founded the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation, www.cjdfoundation.org a registered section 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization which she ran and served as President for approximately ten years. During this time, the Foundation gained national and international recognition when Mad Cow Disease (the bovine form of this prion disease) became worldwide news. Mayra worked with scientists, health care professionals, government agencies, professional associations, the media and family members of patients to obtain, produce and disseminate information on Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and other related prion diseases. She has advocated numerous times on Capitol Hill to members of Congress for more surveillance, reporting and research funding, and hosted the first international conference of scientists, media and families. Mayra has also co-presented a lecture with the Center For Disease Control (“CDC”) at the Mayo Clinic. Mayra remains very active in the Foundation as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Foundation works with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from which it receives a yearly grant, collaborates closely with the National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, and has helped establish the CJD International Support Alliance which includes 14 member countries. Currently, the Foundation awards numerous research grants (over $1 million between 2014-18) and hosts an annual conference which attracts internationally renowned scientists, researchers and government representatives who meet with families affected by prion diseases. For her tireless work on the Foundation, Mayra received the Health Care Heroes Award from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, the 2018 Florence Kranitz Leadership Award from the Foundation, and she and her work have been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, The Miami Herald and Good Housekeeping magazine.