© 2015 The Texas Lawbook.
By Brooks Igo
(Feb. 23) – The Dallas Association of Young Lawyers presented a check for $50,000 to Dallas Habitat for Humanity and Economic Partners Investing in Communities (EPIC) on Friday.
The check presentation at Dallas Habitat’s headquarters was the culmination of the DAYL Leadership Class of 2013’s final project. The money, specifically earmarked for the Dallas Habitat Jimmy Carter Work Project, was raised at the inaugural DAYL Charity Ball in November at 3015 Trinity Groves.
Dallas Habitat leaders said DAYL “knocked the gala out of the park.” Bill Hall, the Dallas nonprofit’s CEO, praised DAYL’s efforts to “collaborate and solve a significant problem in Dallas.” He estimates that Dallas Habitat’s home ownership initiative can help alleviate $3.6 billion of purchasing power that is missing from the middle class.
Jennifer Larson, a member of DAYL’s Board of Directors, said the 2013 leadership class wanted to partner with an organization where DAYL could have a “financial and hands-on impact.
“It was icing on the cake to see the homes being built,” said Larson, an associate at McGuire, Craddock & Strother.
EPIC, founded two years ago by Toni Brinker Pickens, is an initiative to improve public safety, provide quality homeownership options and spark economic development in targeted Dallas neighborhoods. In addition to Dallas Habitat, EPIC partners with the Dallas Police Department; Communities Foundation of Texas; Safer Dallas, Better Dallas; and Mayor Mike Rawlings’ GrowSouth initiative.
Lt. Col. Junior Ortiz, EPIC’s executive director, said working with DAYL was “nothing less than outstanding.
“DAYL understands our mission and understands what we are trying to do,” he said.
Larson said DAYL has tentative plans to host the DAYL Charity Ball again this year on Nov. 14.
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