Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas honored three distinguished members of the Dallas community with the 6^th Annual Women’s Advocacy Awards.  These leaders, who through their sustained service and leadership have made lasting impacts on the lives of women living in poverty, were celebrated June 9^th at III Forks Restaurant.

Proceeds from this event fund salary and benefits for 1-2 full-time Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (“Legal Aid”) staff attorneys dedicated to serving women with complex civil legal problems, including victims of domestic violence who would otherwise go without legal advocate.  Since its inception in 2001, the Women’s Advocacy Awards has raised more than $230,000, to fund free civic legal aid for low-income women seeking safety, security and lives free of domestic violence and abuse.

This year’s event raised $85,300.00!

Receiving the award for Outstanding Business/Civic Leader, Ruth Altshuler currently serves on the SMU Board of Trustees.  Ms. Altshuler is the recipient of numerous local and national awards including Library of Congress Trust (President George W. Bush) and U.S. Commission to UNESCO 2004 (Secretary of State Colin Powell). 

Executive Director of The Family Place, Paige Flink was being honored for her contributions with the Non-Profit Leader Award.  The mission of The Family Place is to eliminate family violence through intervention and proactive prevention, extensive community education, advocacy and assistance for victims and their families.  Ms. Flink has served at The Family Place since 1991 and has been Executive Director since 1997.

Being presented with the Louise Raggio Women’s Legal Advocate Award, Rhonda Hunter was the 95th President of the Dallas Bar Association, and the Dallas Bar Association's first African-American President in its 131-year history.  She is also a co-founder of the Dallas Bar Association's Minority Attorney Business Development Initiative, which works towards the goals of providing training and increasing business development for ethnically diverse lawyers.

The Women’s Advocacy Awards event is run by a committee of dedicated women, and this year was chaired by Barbara Lord Watkins. The Honorary Chair was Ebby Halliday.   Committee members include CHAIR EMERITA - Anne Crews, Mary Kay Inc.; FOUNDING CHAIR - PAULA MANN, Sunbelt Telecommunications; Hon. Deborah Hankinson, Law Office of Deborah Hankinson; Elise Healy, Epstein Becker; Green Wickliff & Hall; Amy Henika, VT Morgan; Dr. Ann Hughes, Texas Women’s University; Sharon S. King, Dallas Community Television; Cheri Lee, Texas Health Resources; Janice Lurie, Natuzzi Dallas; Sonja McGill, MC Squared Human Resources LLC; Norma Lea Beasley; Lori Carr, Gardere WynneSewell LLP; Minnie Arnold Caruth; Diane P. Couchman, Akin,Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld; Sally L. Crawford, Jones Day; Gale Duff-Bloom; Cindy Dyer, Asst. DistrictAttorney, Dallas County; Jennifer Frogge, Dave & Buster’s; Rebecca Greenan, SMU Dedman School of Law; Retta Miller, Jackson Walker; Hon. Mary L. Murphy, 14^th District Court; Jeanne E. O’Neill, Frito-Lay; Kristine Schwope, Class Act Creative Solutions; Anne K. Shuttee, EDS; Barbara VanDuyne, Raggio & Raggio; Robin H. Wilcox, Texas Health Resources; Hon. Cheryl Williams; and Pamela H. Young.

Legal Aid appreciates and thanks the Committee for their hard work and dedication, and thanks the event’s sponsors for their support—all of these efforts allow us to continue the service the Women’s Legal Advocacy Center provides to low-income clients.