Hale Law, a personal injury firm serving Florida's Gulf Coast, has selected Melanie Kersten as the recipient of its 2026 Hale Helps™ Scholarship. The $1,000 award is granted to a graduating high school senior in Sarasota, Manatee, or Charlotte County who demonstrates how one of the firm's core values applies to their life story. Kersten plans to attend Florida State University this fall, where she aims to expand her nonprofit organization, Bags of Care, through a student community service group.
The Hale Helps™ Scholarship is part of the firm's broader Hale Helps™ community program, which also includes a Teacher of the Year award, an annual backpack giveaway, and a Student of the Month recognition. Applicants for the 2026 cycle submitted a 750- to 1,000-word essay, a resume, and a recent academic transcript. They were required to write about a personal challenge they overcame and connect it to one of Hale Law's core values. Submissions underwent a competitive review, including automated and manual checks for originality. Kersten was chosen from a large applicant pool across the three-county region.
“Our goal is to celebrate and amplify the unique journeys and stories of local students, inspiring them to pursue their dreams with vigor and optimism,” said Patrick M. Hale, Founder and Co-Managing Partner at Hale Law.
Kersten's application stood out due to her extraordinary commitment to serving others. After her mother battled breast cancer, she founded Bags of Care, a nonprofit that creates and delivers care packages to cancer patients. Through grassroots fundraising, partnerships with local businesses, and community support, she has raised over $1,000 and personally delivered 60 care packages—30 for adults and 30 for children—to patients at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. Her connection to All Children's is deeply personal, as the hospital saved her life when she was three years old.
In addition to founding Bags of Care, Kersten has volunteered more than 500 hours through Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Teen Volunteer Program, serving patients at both the Sarasota and Venice campuses. Her long record of service reflects the compassion, resilience, and dedication the Hale Helps™ Scholarship was created to recognize.
Hale Law also supported Kersten's mission by helping fund supplies for her nonprofit's care packages. Co-Managing Partner Patrick Iyampillai joined Kersten in assembling care bags for local cancer patients, underscoring the firm's commitment to serving the community alongside those making a difference.
Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte counties form the core of Hale Law's service area, where the firm maintains offices in eight Gulf Coast communities. The scholarship reflects the firm's investment in local students whose leadership and service strengthen the communities they call home.
