Annual TCWLF / TCWLA Grants & Awards Luncheon to be Held on April 20

Event Funds Grants to Nonprofits Providing Pro Bono Legal Services for Women, Children

The annual Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation (TCWLF) & Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association (TCWLA) Annual Grants & Awards Luncheon will be held at the Fairmont Hotel on Thursday, April 20, 2023 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

TCWLF, the grant-giving arm of TCWLA, will give away $60,000 in grants this year to local providers of pro bono legal services to women and children in Travis County. The purpose of the luncheon is to raise the money needed for these vital grants. The TCWLF board works throughout the year to solicit grant applications from local nonprofits, review and vet those applications, and follow up with recipients to ensure that the grants were used for their intended purpose.

This year’s Luncheon keynote speaker is Lise Olsen, a former investigative reporter at the Houston Chronicle and author of the book Code of Silence: Sexual Misconduct by Federal Judges, the Secret System That Protects Them, and the Women Who Blew the Whistle. Avery Travis of KXAN will serve at the “ask speaker.”

Sponsorships are available at https://tcwlf.square.site/, or you may send a check, payable to Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation, to Jennifer Hopgood, TCWLF Chair; 5202 Martin Avenue; Austin, TX 78751. TCWLF and TCWLA hope Austin Bar members will be able to attend the Luncheon!

Congrats to Grant Recipients and Attorney Award Winners!

2023 TCWLF Grant Recipients ($60,000 Total)

• American Gateways, $5,000

• Asian Family Support Services of Austin, $5,000

• Casa Marianella, $5,000

• Family Eldercare, $5,000

• Foster Angels, $5,000

• Foster Village, $5,000

• Jane’s Due Process, $5,000

• KAZI, $5,000

• Lone Star Justice Alliance, $5,000

• Seedling Foundation, $5,000

• Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid: Foster Youth Project, $5,000

• Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, $5,000

• Women’s Storybook Project, $5,000

2023 TCWLA Attorney Award Winners

• Public Interest

Christine Nishimura, Executive Director, Teach for America

• Contribution to Minority Community

Hon. Bianca Garcia, Presiding Judge, Travis County Court at Law #3

• Advancement of Women’s Interests

Hannah Hembree Bell, Hembree Bell Law Firm

• Government Service

Vera “Jeanette” De La Cruz, former Chief of Staff, Texas Workforce Commission

• Pro Bono

Lindsay Gray, Founder/CEO, VECINA

• Litigation/Appellate

Katherine Chiarello, Partner, Wittliff Cutter

• Corporate/Transactional

Nikelle Meade, Partner, Husch Blackwell

• Criminal Justice

Addy Miró, Law Office of Addy Miró

• Firm/Organization/Government Entity

Lloyd Gosselink

• Outstanding Achievement

Beverly Reeves, Reeves & Brightwell

TCWLF Lunch Sponsors

(as of March 3, 2023)

Diamond Premier

$10,000

Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association

PLATINUM

$5,000

Fowler Family Foundation | Judge Bianca Garcia | Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend

GOLD

$2,500

Enoch Kever | Jackson Walker | McLean & Howard | Thompson Coe | Weisbart Springer Hayes

SILVER

$1,000

Alexander Dubose & Jefferson | Austin Bar Association | Hanna & Plaut | Kaplan Law Firm | Lincoln-Goldfinch Law | Ruffner Schoenbaum Murphy Banaszak | Velva Price | Velva Price in honor of KAZI (2023 grant recipient)

BRONZE

$500

Barron, Adler, Clough & Oddo | Falk Family Law | Jennifer Hopgood | Ramón Worthington Nicolas & Cantu | Reeves & Brightwell

JUDICIAL Stars

($200 sponsorship)

Judge Dayna Blazey | Chief Justice Darlene Byrne | Judge Elisabeth Earle | Judge Laurie Eiserloh | Judge Maria Cantú Hexsel | Judge Karin Crump | Judge Raul Gonzalez| Chief Justice Nathan Hecht | Judge Sylvia Holmes | Judge Dustin Howell | Judge Daniella Deseta Lyttle | Judge Jessica Mangrum | Judge Catherine Mauzy | Judge Jan Soifer