Tampa Prep is proud to announce that Board of Trustee Mike Bedke was recently named the 2022
“General James A. Peake Award” recipient by Bay Area Legal Services. Each year, Bay Area Legal Services presents the “General James A. Peake Award” to those who have gone above and beyond to help expand and improve the delivery of legal services to veterans.
The award was presented at the Bay Area Legal Services' champions for Justice Appreciation event, November 30th at the Tampa Bay History Center, which featured keynote speaker Col. Will Gunn, VP for Legal Affairs and General Counsel for the Legal Services Corp.
“I am proud to be recognized by Bay Area Legal Services, an organization that has made an impact
on the lives of so many, and am honored to play a role in providing veterans with the meaningful civil legal
services they deserve,” said Bedke.
Bedke, head of DLA Piper’s Miami Real Estate practice, serves on Bay Area Legal’s Board of Directors and
played a key role in the organization’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2017, which raised the funds to launch the
Major General Ernest A. and Marilyn Bedke Veterans Law Center and its supporting endowment. Bedke also
championed legislative funding to launch the Florida Veterans Legal Helpline, which has served veterans facing
legal challenges across the state since 2019.
In addition, Bedke helps promote services to veterans such as the Bay Area Legal’s Medical-Legal Partnerships,
providing direct service to veterans onsite at local VA hospitals and resource centers in Hillsborough, Pinellas,
Manatee and Sarasota counties. Bedke also serves as a member of the organization’s Veterans Major Gifts
Committee to ensure the future advancement of these crucial initiatives.
Bedke has served on Tampa Prep's Board of Trustees since 2020, has been instrumental in fundraising for the school, and has two sons who are proud Terrapins, Wyatt (’22) and Bryce (’23).