Press Release: Texas Advocacy Project Receives $20,000 Grant from Texas Bar Foundation to Build Capacity of Free Legal Services

CONTACT INFORMATION 

Sydney Mike-Mayer 

Policy & Communications Coordinator  

[email protected]  

Texas Advocacy Project Receives $20,000 Grant from Texas Bar Foundation to Build Capacity of Free Legal Services 

NOVEMBER 10, 2023 – Texas Advocacy Project (TAP) is proud to announce the receipt of a generous $20,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation (TBF). This significant grant will be utilized to enhance TAP's capacity to connect with the legal community and expand pro bono legal assistance for survivors. 
 
The grant funds a part-time Pro Bono Coordinator position, whose primary role is to establish partnerships with law firms across Texas. These partnerships will result in the recruitment and training of Pro Bono Attorneys at each of the participating law firms, totaling hundreds of Pro Bono Attorneys trained in total. This initiative will strengthen TAP's ability to provide critical legal services to survivors in need, particularly in the areas of Crime Victims Compensation, Title IX, and Legal Line consultations. 
 
Heather Bellino, Chief Executive Officer of Texas Advocacy Project, expressed her gratitude for the support from the Texas Bar Foundation, "This grant is a significant step forward in our mission to empower survivors through legal advocacy. With the Texas Bar Foundation's support, we can now provide even more survivors with the legal assistance they need to break the cycle of violence. We are thrilled to partner with TBF in our efforts to make a meaningful difference in the lives of survivors across Texas." 
 
The $20,000 grant will be disbursed over a 12-month period, ensuring that the Pro Bono Coordinator can effectively facilitate the collaboration with law firms, recruit and train pro bono attorneys, and oversee their work in assisting TAP clients. 
 
Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $26 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation's largest charitably-funded bar foundation. 
 
The grant from the Texas Bar Foundation represents a significant investment in the safety and well-being of survivors in Texas and marks a crucial step forward in TAP's efforts to expand access to free legal services for those who need it most.  
 
For more information about Texas Advocacy Project and its efforts to combat human trafficking, please visit their website at www.texasadvocacyproject.org.  

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About Texas Advocacy Project: Texas Advocacy Project’s mission is to end dating and domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Texas. TAP empowers survivors through free legal and social services and access to the justice system, and advances prevention through public outreach and education. Our vision is that all Texans live free from abuse. In 2022, TAP provided legal services in 4,765 cases, serving 10,502 Texans. If you or someone you know needs help, call 800-374-HOPE or visit TexasAdvocacyProject.org.