CHARLESTON – When one of the members of the West Virginia Association for Justice saw the selfless act Shayla Leftridge performed in service to her community, he solicited donations from other WVAJ members to repay Leftridge’s generosity.
In all, 117 WVAJ attorney members from throughout West Virginia donated money to purchase a car to replace the one Leftridge had sold to cover the expenses for a Community Unity event she organized.
Leftridge’s Community Unity event brought together hundreds of community members, including area families, law enforcement officers, other first responders and elected officials. The event was organized in the wake of growing protests over police brutality nationally.
WVAJ member and Charleston attorney J. Timothy DiPiero coordinated the effort for the association after learning about the Community Unity event and the personal sacrifice Leftridge made to pay for the event.
When he saw Leftridge’s story on the news, DiPiero said he tried to think of ways WVAJ could recognize her community-driven sacrifice. DiPiero asked 100 members to give $100 each toward the purchase a car to replace the one Leftridge sold.
“Shayla Leftridge, like so many Americans, saw the rising tensions between police departments and community members across the country,” DiPiero told The West Virginia Record. “She was troubled by what she saw and was very sensitive to both sides."
Specifically, DiPiero said Leftridge is the daughter of a police officer and is a black woman.
“Rather than sit on the sidelines and talk about the potential problems, she decided to act,” DiPiero said. “Her Community Unity event brought everyone together to have fun and get to know each other better.”
The call for donations was so successful that the WVAJ members’ contributions not only paid for the new car but they also raised enough to help fund the 2017 Community Unity event.
“I am hopeful that Shayla’s event, along with the efforts of others who are working to improve police and community relations, will help make Charleston a more fair, safe and friendly city,” DiPiero said.
Tim Short Acura of South Charleston chipped in to recognize Leftridge’s work and community leadership as well by reducing the sale price of the car.
WVAJ President Jane Peak said she believes there is a real correlation between Leftridge’s efforts with her Community Unity event and the mission of WVAJ.
“We’re committed to justice, fair play, civil rights and impartiality,” Peak told The Record. “We are all supposed to be equal under the law. Protecting that equality is a responsibility that everyone shares. It doesn't belong just to judges, lawyers and law enforcement officers -- it belongs to every community member.”
Although this was the first car that the WVAJ members have purchased and presented to someone, Peak said the organization and its members have made many donations over the years to state and local organizations and individuals.
“Another incredible example just this year includes both the thousands of dollars to assist with flood relief, as well as hundreds of hours of volunteer service to help those affected,” Peak said.
Leftridge said she was overwhelmed by the community’s response to her efforts.
“I couldn't believe it,” Leftridge said. “It means so much that people saw what I did and wanted to help me. They cared about what I did, and they want to help me keep doing it. That's what so special about this community and this state.”
