© 2014 The Texas Lawbook.
By Brooks Igo – (October 8) – The Texas Access to Justice Foundation (TAJF) is doing its part to try and meet the significant needs military veterans face after returning home from duty.
TAJF recently announced grants totaling more than $426,000 that will help fund civil legal services for Texas veterans. The state has the second-highest population of veterans in the country.
Eleven different nonprofit organizations and longtime legal service providers in Texas were awarded funds. Last year, TAJF grantees helped more than 8,800 veterans obtain access to the justice system.
“This is our way of trying to address an incredible need,” said Richard Tate, chair of the board of directors of the Texas Access to Justice Foundation. “The need is far greater than we will ever be able to fully address.”
Veterans often need representation for legal issues related to marital problems, difficulties in getting medical or disability benefits, wrongful foreclosures and other situations that may arise due to a veteran’s absence during military service.
The Texas Access to Justice Commission raised more than $350,000 in 2013 through its Champions of Justice Gala, which benefits veterans. The gala has raised more than $1.75 million for veterans’ legal services over the last five years.
TAJF collects 100 percent of the money raised at the gala thanks to the State Bar of Texas, which underwrites the cost to put it on. The foundation administered the gala funds and additional TAJF donations to these 11 legal service providers:
1. Baylor University School of Law – $22,000
2. Cathedral Justice Project – $22,000
3. Community Justice Program – $22,000
4. Fort Bend Lawyers Care – $22,000
5. Houston Bar Foundation – $60,000
6. Jefferson County Bar Foundation – $22,000
7. Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas – $50,000
8. Lone Star Legal Aid – $60,000
9. Oficina Legal del Pueblo Unido, Inc. – $22,000
10. Tarrant County Bar Foundation – $50,000
11. Texas Legal Services Center – $64,000
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