Fred Levin's legacy continues with 'Celebration of Giving.' In Levin style, it will be huge!

In its second year, the "Fred Levin Way Fest: A Celebration of Giving" is coming back in honor of the late lawyer and philanthropist Fred Levin.

Levin passed away in 2021 at the age of 83 from complications related to COVID-19. He was born and raised in Pensacola where he became a renowned attorney, a boxing promoter and a philanthropist who was often referred to as the "world's greatest lawyer" during his long career.

Martin Levin, Fred’s son, says Pensacola was the best place in the world for his father. Fred gave so much to the community, not only with his time but his money. While he was alive, Fred made more than $35 million in philanthropic donations to universities, nonprofit organizations and hospitals. After his death, his estate continued to donate.

Fittingly, the downtown event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday is a celebration of giving to those who need it the most, providing an opportunity to come out, feel good and have fun, while going home with plenty of resources to make life just a little easier.

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“It's really not about celebrating dad's life. It's dad's legacy that makes this event happen,” Martin Levin said. “And it's really about people who are in need to be able to come out in one place on one day and be exposed to 50 nonprofit entities in Escambia County that provide services for them and to be able to receive essential items for free that they could use right now.”

An estimated 54 nonprofits will be at the event including Chappie James Flight Academy, Inc., Center for Independent Living (CIL), Manna Food Bank, Inc. and Pensacola Little Theatre/Pensacola Cultural Center, who will hand out essential items like school supplies, soap, socks, thermometers, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, towels and underwear.

Roughly 4,000 people attended the inaugural event in 2022, where 1,200 free meals were served, and 1,000 prizes, toothbrushes, ECAT tickets and more were given away. Organizers are planning for a bigger crowd this year with even more free essential items for families.

The day also includes free swimming and basketball at the YMCA, free museum entry, as well as kids activities, a live DJ and a car show.

Even with the fame and fortunes, Martin viewed his father as a regular guy who enjoyed the more simple things in life. If there was a fancy special event he would sneak out and go to Jerry’s Drive In or his favorite restaurant Whataburger.

His face was very recognizable but his presence made people feel at ease even seeing him at a grocery store where he was not Mr. Levin, the richest man in Pensacola. To their eyes he was just Fred.

“If you're walking down the streets with Dad you'll hear someone (yell), ‘Fred!’ It could be anyone from the guy sweeping the street to the mayor. It didn't matter, they perceived Dad, which he was, as just the average guy," Martin said. “Of course, he walked around with sweats on and a shirt, he didn't dress up in suits and stuff like that. He was just a very unique individual.”

His casualness was seen very closely by his oldest grandson Brenton Goodman who saw him as larger than life. Goodman would take limousines with Levin to Roy Jones fights and see him in the center of the ring or go to Las Vegas and sit next to him while Levin ate pizza beside a vice president nominee or Hall of Fame quarterback.

Goodman and Levin loved the Florida Gators and bonded over both of them attending the university. Levin donated $10 million to UF's law school, named the UF Levin College of Law, and later donated an additional $40 million from his estate.

Goodman saw how Fred loved giving back to Pensacola, and after his death the family created The Fred Levin Way Foundation, Inc. to help children in need in Northwest Florida.

Last year, when he went to the first Way Fest, Goodman was overwhelmed with emotions seeing the amount of people there for his grandfather. It was the first time he was able to talk with people about Levin and see just what his legacy provided and will continue to do for Pensacola.

Now Goodman’s son, who Levin was able to meet a few months before his death, will be able to grow up every year going to a festival in his great-grandfather's honor.

While everyone remembers the money and fame Levin acquired in his life, Goodman will always cherish the more humble memories with his wife living at his grandfather’s house and seeing the side only a few saw.

“You know just coming home every night eating a home cooked meal with him and watching Jeopardy − and he loved to watch World War II documentaries −and just thinking of times like that where he was less Fred Levin and more Grandpa,” Goodman said. “I guess those are the times that will always be kind of stuck in my memory.”

Fred Levin Way Fest

• When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., April 16

• Where: Downtown Pensacola, in and around Museum Plaza, 120 Church St.

• More info: fredlevinfest.com

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Fred Levin Way Fest celebrates Pensacola's greatest lawyer