© 2014 The Texas Lawbook.
By Dena DeNooyer Stroh and Greg McAllister
Special Contributing Writers to The Texas Lawbook
Twenty-two Dallas families live in homes built by the Dallas Bar Association’s Home Project through its partnership with Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity. Our donors and volunteers believe that that there is a sense of urgency to support our community and that “we are the people that we’ve been waiting for.” From March through June 2014, the Home Project—led by Dallas attorneys and judges—will build its 23rd home. The build will culminate, as always, with a deserving Dallas family receiving keys to their new home.
These homes make a real difference in the lives of the new homeowners. In 2013, the Thomas family received their keys from DBA President Sally Crawford and Past-President Mark Shank to the 22nd home built by the Home Project. The family expressed excitement that the children could now play in a backyard and do homework in a more peaceful setting. They, like other Dallas Habitat families, received their keys only after their hard work; these homes are not gifts. They, like other Habitat homeowners, contributed hundreds of hours of “sweat equity” by building their own homes and the homes of other Dallas Habitat families in lieu of a down payment. They also complete classes on financial literacy and home management.
Today, the Thomas family lives in their new home and are looking forward to a bright future. Upon receiving their home, Home Project families pay a 25-year interest-free mortgage made possible through the Home Project’s sponsorship and Habitat resources. These mortgage payments help fund future homes for other Dallas Habitat families. The Home Project raises money to pay for construction costs and sends volunteers to help build the home.
The Home Project began over twenty years ago through the vision of DBA attorneys such as Al Ellis, Rex Spivey, and Dolly Kyle. Mr. Ellis explained that the “beauty of the project was that it could involve a large number of lawyers and really focus on team building.” They brought together Dallas law firms, attorneys, judges, and others to work together to build a home. Their vision has staying power: today, the Home Project is Dallas Habitat’s longest running whole-house sponsor.
This longevity is maintained by the Home Project Committee, which coordinates Dallas law firms, businesses, and hundreds of attorneys and other volunteers. In 2013, some of the top donors included Gardere Wynne Sewell, Thompson & Knight, Dentons, and Gruber Hurst Johansen Hail Shank—all of which generously donated funds and 15-30 volunteers to build the home.
Right now, there are opportunities for sponsorship and volunteers for the 2014 home. Early donors for 2014 include Dentons, UNT School of Law, Sommerman & Quesada, Charles Beach, Carol Winklemann, Wendy/Mark Castellana, Tony Gatlin, Digital Litigation, and The Texas Lawbook. Some law firms reserved volunteer days, including some practice-specific days: Bankruptcy Day (led by Judge Harlin “Cooter” Hale and Strasburger & Price); Insurance Law Day (led by Amy Stewart Law); Family Law Day (led by the DBA’s Family Law Section and five judges); and Construction Law Day (led by Slates Harwell). Judges’ Day is led by Judge Kenneth Tapscott, recognized this year as the Judge Merrill Hartman Award winner for his passion and selfless service to the Home Project.
But there are still many donation and volunteer opportunities. The Home Project needs your help to raise funds and continue our positive impact in our community. If you are interested in participating in the DBA Home Project as a volunteer or a donor, please contact us. The Home Project welcomes and thanks all of those who make a charitable donation, which can be made by check payable to “Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity” and sent to Dallas Bar Association Home Project, Attn: Teddi Rivas, 2101 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75201.
Dena DeNooyer Stroh is General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Murchison Oil & Gas, and is serving her second year on the board of Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity.
Greg McAllister is Co-Chair of the DBA Home Project and an associate at Gruber Hurst Johansen Hail Shank. He primarily practices employment law and recently contributed to Texas Litigators’ Guide to Departing Employee Cases authored by Mark Shank and published by Texas Lawyer. Greg is available at gmcallister@ghjhlaw.com.
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