The donations came from money Yerrid's law firm received in Florida's tobacco settlement and from money awarded Yerrid last week in a lawsuit brought by a former law firm partner.

       The Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies at the University of South Florida will receive $75,000.

      "It is a great New Year's present," said Charles Mahan, center director.

      The Chiles Center is a research institute dedicated to ensuring babies are born healthy enough to reach their first birthdays. It will use the money to fund new programs, such as one to help toddlers prepare for kindergarten and another to improve costumer service for Medicare and Medicaid recipients, Mahan said.

      The donation comes a year after Gov. Chiles' death in December 1998. The center was the centerpiece of Chiles' Healthy Start program, a $30 million-a-year effort to provide prenatal care to poor pregnant women.

      Today the Center is the only one in the nation that concentrates on maternal, infant and young child health.

      Yerrid's contributions will also go to the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, which will receive $75,000. The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, The Ronald McDonald House, The Children's Home, Metropolitan Ministries, the Salvation Army and the Make-A-Wish Foundation will receive $25,000.

      In December 1998, Tamper lawyer Henry Valenzuela sued Yerrid, saying he deserved 10 percent of the more than $200 million Yerrid's firm will get from Florida's $13 billion settlement with the tobacco industry.

      Last week, Valenzuela was ordered to pay Yerrid $172,500 after he lost the suit. Yerrid was one of a team of lawyers hired by the state to handle its lawsuit. Valenzuela left the law firm in 1996 and did not contribute to the case, Yerrid said. A circuit judge agreed and ordered Valenzuela to pay $172,500 for Yerrid's legal fees.

      Yerrid said he donated the money to charity because he did not want to benefit to Valenzuela's loss.

05/10/80