© 2016 The Texas Lawbook.
By Brooks Igo
(July 14) – The Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas raised close to $100,000 and recognized the winners its 16th Annual Women’s Advocacy Awards at Arlington Hall at Lee Park on Tuesday.
The Women’s Advocacy Awards support civil legal aid for victims of domestic violence.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas received the Business Leadership Award. The health insurance organization has provided numerous grants through its “Healthy Kids, Healthy Families” initiative, partnering with nonprofits such as the Caring for Children Foundation, the Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation and “Kids Meals” to offer sustainable programs to underserved communities.
BCBSTX also created the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas STEM Scholarship, which provides $20,000 scholarships to high school seniors in underprivileged communities who are seeking to pursue STEM-related studies in college.
The Rev. Larry James and CitySquare were honored with the Nonprofit Leadership Award. CitySquare is a faith-based, human and community development corporation that battles poverty in several inner city neighborhoods in Dallas.
CitySquare offers legal services, youth and children’s ministry, affordable workforce housing, initiatives related to work force development and technology training, housing interventions for homeless person and spiritual development to neighbors living in East and South Dallas.
Paul Zoltan received the Louise Raggio Women’s Legal Advocate Award. The long-time pro bono attorney launched a pro se asylum workshop in response to the influx of Central American women and children in 2014.
In the last two years, these workshops have completed more than 150 asylum applications for women and children. Zoltan also helped the Catholic Charities team of AmeriCorps start its own legal program for immigrant children, training and mentoring staff in their representation of children in immigration court.
Trial lawyer Randy Johnston won the Champion of Justice Award for his support of women’s causes and legal aid for the poor for many years. Johnston has been awarded a Presidential Citation by the Dallas Bar Association for his efforts to aid the poor.
Johnston is a founding supporter of the DBA’s Law Jam, a musical fundraiser for the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program, a joint program of the DBA and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. During Law Jam 2, Johnston auctioned off the right to cut off his ponytail and raised $14,000 as a result.
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