Record-Breaking $100,000 in Grants Awarded During Annual TCWLF / TCWLA Awards Lunch

The Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation (TCWLF) and Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association (TCWLA) held their Annual Grants & Awards Luncheon May 2, 2025, at the Fairmont Hotel. This year, at a sold-out luncheon, TCWLF, the grant-giving arm of the Association, gave away a record breaking $100,000 in grants to five deserving local providers of pro-bono legal services to women, children, and families in Travis County. These deserving organizations were selected after the TCWLF volunteer board worked throughout the year to solicit grant applications from local nonprofits, reviewed and vetted those applications, and followed up with recipients to ensure that the grants were used for their intended purpose.

Judge Denise Hernandez, Judge for County Court #6 and community activist, delivered the keynote. State Bar President Steve Benesh gave a special welcome to attendees. TCWLA presented Attorney Awards to recognize female lawyers who have shown excellence in their field of practice, along with its first Landmark Recognition, presented to the Third Court of Appeals, which for the first time is comprised of six female justices.

Since 2002, the growth of TCWLF has been tremendous, particularly over the last five years. Thanks to the generosity of all of the sponsors, guests who attended, and everyone who bought raffle tickets, TCWLF exceeded its fundraising goal of $135,000. The proceeds of this year’s luncheon will be used to provide the grants to be awarded at next year’s luncheon.

TCWLF also added a record 16 new Fellows during the luncheon. It is not too late to become a Fellow. All lawyers in Austin are invited to become a Fellow of TCWLF. To make a contribution or to become a Fellow: https://tcwla.org/foundation-sign-up/#join. TCWLF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity and any contribution is tax-deductible.

Congratulations to this year’s grant recipients!

• CASA of Travis County ($40,000 – Impact Grant)

• AGE of Central Texas ($15,000)

• Foster Angels ($15,000)

• Girls Empowerment Network ($15,000)

• Seedling ($15,000)

Congratulations to this year’s attorney award winners and honorees!

• Public Interest–Kristen Doyle

• Government Service–Terees Shinn-Jenkins

• Litigation/Appellate–Amy Emerson

• Corporate/Transactional–Ashley Thomas

• Criminal Justice–Jennifer Freel

• Pro Bono–Katie Valle

• Contribution to Minority Community–Diana Melendez

• Advancement of Women’s Interests–Joelle Schulze

• Outstanding Achievement–Jane Webre

• Landmark Recognition–Third Court of Appeals

Thank you again to all of the sponsors:

Diamond Premier

• Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association

Platinum

• Allensworth

• Botkin Chiarello Calaf PLLC

• Butler Snow LLP

• Hutcheson Bowers LLLP

• Jackson Walker

• Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.

• Scott Douglass McConnico

Gold

• Black Barn Financial

• Chief Justice Darlene Byrne

• Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody

• Law Office of Jason Wright, PLLC

• McGinnis Lochridge

• Nielsen Law

• Norton Rose Fulbright

• Prospect Point Recruiting

• Reid Collins & Tsai LLP

• The Law Office of Becky Beaver

• Thompson Coe

• Weisbart Springer Storm Hatchitt

Silver

• Alexander Dubose & Jefferson

• Armbrust & Brown, PLLC

• Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP

• Dickinson Wright, PLLC

• Doyle & Seelbach

• Duane Morris

• Duggins Wren Mann & Romero, LLP

• Federal Bar Association – Austin Chapter

• Fritz Byrne

• Gerstle Snelson, LLP

• Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani

• Hanna & Plaut

• Littler

• Michel & Rogers

• Orrick

• Peckar & Abramson

• Roarty Law Firm

• Troutman Pepper Locke LLP

• Weaver

Bronze

• Almanza, Blackburn, Dickie & Mitchell, LLP

• Austin Trust Company

• Barnes Lipscomb & Stewart, PLLC

• Cadence Bank

• Cain & Skarnulis LLP

• CareFor

• CM Law

• Cornell, Smith, Mierl, Brutocoa, and Burton

• Dalrymple ADR

• Falk Family Law

• Frost Bank

• Gilstrap Law Group

• HR Legal Search

• Ikard Law PC

• Laurie Ratliff PLLC

• Law Office of Jennifer D. Ward

• Lexitas

• Lucent Discovery

• Martens Law

• Moody Bank

• Phelps Dunbar LLP

• Reeves & Brightwell LLP

• She Spies Private Eyes, Inc.

• Texas Capital Bank

• Vazquez Law Firm, PLLC

• Velva Price, Travis County District Clerk

• Veritext

• Walsh Gallegos Kyle Robinson & Roalson P.C.

CORPORATE SPONSORS

General Sponsor Partner

• Steno

• Hancock Whitney Bank

General Sponsor Friend

• Regions

General Sponsor Supporter

• Kerry & Cassandra Wiggins

General Sponsor In-Kind

• Matthew Lemke Photography

• Rainmaker