Foundation Events

2025 TCWLA/TCWLF Annual Grants and Awards Luncheon


SAVE THE DATE!

The annual TCWLA/TCWLF Grants and Awards Luncheon will be on May 2, 2025 at the Fairmont Hotel,  from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Join us as we present TCWLF grants to local non-profits providing legal related assistance to women and children and honor deserving and dedicated Austin women attorneys with the TCWLA attorney awards.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Judge Denise Hernandez, Judge for County Court #6.

We will of course also have our world-famous raffle!

BECOME A SPONSOR!

Travis County Women Lawyers Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose purpose is to support, promote, and encourage activities for the furtherance of justice and equal opportunity for women, families, and children. Every year, we raise thousands of dollars to fund grants to local nonprofits providing legal or related services to women, families, and children. Last year, we gave a record amount of $90,000 in grants and this year our goal is to give $100,000. Please help us to achieve our goal.

WHY SPONSOR?

  • Demonstrate your firm’s commitment to justice by aligning with TCWLF
  • Contribute to the growth and impact of the Foundations grant-giving activities
  • Deepen your engagement with one of the largest attorney organizations in Central, Texas
  • Enhance your firm’s value in the community through charitable giving

HOW TO SPONSOR?

Contact Sponsorship Chair Caroline Hall at carolinehallnelson@gmail.com to arrange payment.

Becoming a sponsor is the most impactful way to demonstrate your commitment to the TCWLF Mission to
“support, promote, and encourage activities for the furtherance of justice and equal opportunity for women, families, and children.”

VIP benefits include front row table and complimentary valet.

Individual tickets will be available for $125. Individual ticket seating is random, and we are not able to accommodate requests to be seated with someone. If you’d like to control your seating, please purchase a table sponsorship.

Promotional materials include the TCWLA newsletter, social, emails, website, and event program.

General sponsorships do not include tickets to the luncheon. You are also invited to purchase tables or individual tickets. See Sponsorship Document.

Additional details about the benefits listed in the chart:

  • Individual Email: A personalized email from TCWLF to our database (~1,500 Travis County attorneys) thanking your company for sponsoring with information about your company, contact information, and a link to your website.
  • Individual Social Post: A post thanking your company for sponsoring with information about your company.
  • Display Table: Table in foyer where networking takes place 30 minutes before the event.
  • Promotional materials include the TCWLA newsletter, social, emails, website, and event program.

Previous Events

Austin Mayor, Kirk Watson recognized The Travis County Women Lawyers Foundation and the Texas Women Lawyers Association with a Proclamation at our 2024 Annual Luncheon where proceeds go directly to support grant giving activities and to recognize women attorneys who have made significant contributions to the Travis County legal community.


TCWLF Fellows*, past and present, are cordially invited to be recognized for your support of the Foundation. Registration is required.

Thursday, October 24, 2024 | 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
The West Chelsea Contemporary Art Gallery
1009 W. 6th Street, Suite 120, Austin, TX 78703

*Fellows are attorneys who have pledged annual donations to support TCWLF, the non-profit charitable counterpart of TCWLA. Each year, TCWLF awards grants to local non-profits that provide legal services to women, children, and families in our community. This would not be possible without the support of our Fellows. If you would like to attend this event, please click here to learn more about and to become a Fellow before registering.


The annual TCWLA/TCWLF Grants and Awards Luncheon will be on April 26, 2024 at the Fairmont Hotel, Third Floor Ballroom, from 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m.  Join us as we present TCWLF grants to local non-profits providing legal related assistance to women and children and honor deserving and dedicated Austin women attorneys with the TCWLA attorney awards.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Shuronda Robinson, fourth generation entrepreneur and CEO of Austin Woman Magazine, with a special welcome by Mayor Kirk Watson.


TCWLF Fellows Appreciation Event

Tuesday October 24, 2023
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.


Amini & Conant, LLP, 1204 San Antonito Street, Second Floor, Austin 78701
with a special presentation and cheese tasting by Antonelli’s Cheese Shop!

All TCWLF Fellows, past and present, are invited to be recognized for your support of the Foundation. And all TCWLA members interested in learning more* about TCWLF and becoming a member of TCWLF are also cordially invited.

Fellows are also encouraged to bring as a guest someone who may be interested in joining or supporting TCWLF!

* More info: FYI for non-fellows, did you know that TCWLF is the non-profit charitable counterpart of TCWLA? That all Foundation board members are required to be current members of TCWLA? That 100% of the TCWLF board are fellows? And, each year TCWLF awards grants to local non-profits that support women and children.

The annual TCWLA/TCWLF Grants and Awards Luncheon will be on April 20, 2023 at the Fairmont Hotel, Third Floor Ballroom, from 11:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m.  Join us as we present TCWLF grants to local non-profits providing legal related assistance to women and children and honor deserving and dedicated Austin women attorneys with the TCWLA attorney awards.

This year’s keynote speaker will be Lise Olson. Lisa is a Houston-based senior reporter and editor at the Texas Observer. Lise has investigated many twisted Texas tales, including crooked judges, an unjust execution, massive environmental disasters, myriad cases of corporate and public corruption, and unsolved serial killings. Her reports in three states over 20 years contributed to the prosecutions of a former congressman and a federal judge, inspired laws and reforms, helped solve cold cases, restored names to unidentified murder victims, and freed dozens of wrongfully-held prisoners. In addition to other acclaimed work, she is the author of Code of Silence: Sexual Misconduct by Federal Judges, the Secret System that Protects Them and the Women who Blew the Whistle.

We will also hear from Avery Travis, KXAN investigative reporter covering the courts and the justice system. After graduating from the University of Texas, Avery began her career in Lubbock where she covered a wide variety of important community issues. As the “self-appointed” city government reporter, Avery gave voice to citizen outrage over land annexation and high utility bills. Avery is thrilled to be back in Austin at KXAN, still fighting for positive change in the State of Texas.

Please join us for the annual Fellows Appreciation gathering, with a special presentation and cheese tasting by Antonelli’s Cheese Shop, on October 18, 2022, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, at the Vazquez Law Firm, located at 608 W. 12th Street in Austin.

All TCWLF Fellows, past and present, are invited to be recognized for your support of the Foundation. And all TCWLA members interested in learning more* about TCWLF and becoming a member of TCWLF are also cordially invited.

Fellows are also encouraged to bring as a guest someone who may be interested in joining or supporting TCWLF!

* More info: Fyi for non-fellows, did you know that TCWLF is the non-profit charitable counterpart of TCWLF? That all Foundation board members are required to be current members of TCWLA? That 100% of the TCWLF board are fellows? And, each year TCWLF awards grants to local non-profits that support women and children.

Thanks to our sponsor – Oldham Real Estate Group and Courtney Oldham (Gold Sponsor) | Veritext Court Reporting Agency (Silver Sponsor)

 

We are pleased to announce that the annual TCWLA/TCWLF Grants and Awards Luncheon will be returning, in person, to the Fairmont Hotel on May 6, 2022, Third Floor Ballroom, from 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m.  Join us to as we present TCWLF grants to local non-profits serving women and children in the legal system and honor deserving and dedicated Austin attorneys with the TCWLA attorney awards.

This year’s keynote speaker is Chandler Baker, local attorney and New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Network and The Husbands.  We will also be joined by Sally Hernandez of KXAN News.

Gala Sponsors

Emerald Sponsor
Susan Morrison
Fowler Family Foundation
Jackson Walker LLP
Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association

In Kind Sponsor
Layla Hall Photography
Rainmaker Document Technologies

Platinum Sponsors
Alexander Dubose Jefferson LLP
DLA Piper
Duane Morris LLP
Laurie Eiserloh/Laurel Holland
Enoch Kever, PLLC
Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody
Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.

Gold Sponsors
Allensworth
Austin Bar Association
Baker Botts
Law Office of Becky Beaver
Bollier Ciccone, LLP
City of Austin
Cokinos | Young
Duggins Wren Mann & Romero, LLP
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Hutcheson | Bowers LLLP
Lyttle Law Firm, PLLC
McGinnis Lochridge
Norton Rose Fulbright
Velva Price
Reid Collins & Tsai, LLP
Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP
Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, LLP
Wittliff Cutter, PLLC

Silver Sponsors
Almanza, Blackburn, Dickie & Mitchell LLP
Burgess Law PC
Butler Snow LLP
Dorothy Butler Law Firm
Maria Luisa “Lulu” Flores
Frost Bank
Hanna & Plaut, L.L.P.
Jackson Lewis
Littler Mendelson P.C.
Law Office of Valerie Luessenhop
Martens, Todd & Leonard
McKool Smith
Ortega Law, PLLC
Ruffner Schoenbaum Murphy Banaszak PLLC
Vaught Law Firm, P.C.
Vinson & Elkins LLP
Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP
Weaver

Bronze Sponsors
Culhane Meadows PLLC
Davis Kaufman PLLC
DISCO
Falk Family Law
Fritz, Byrne, Head & Gilstrap, PLLC
Gray Becker PC
Jennifer Hopgood
Ikard Law PC
Kaplan Law Firm, PLLC
Kemp Smith LLP
Kim Tindall & Associates
Lincoln-Goldfinch Law
Maples | Jones, PLLC
The Morris Law Firm, PLLC
Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.
Nielsen Law
Reeves & Brightwell LLP
Law Office of Amie Rodnick/Law Office of Diane Hebner
Lesley Varghese
Veritext Legal Solutions

Judicial Stars 
Justice Thomas Baker
Judge Dayna Blazey
Chief Justice Darlene Byrne
Judge Karin Crump
Judge Maya Guerra Gamble
Judge Maria Cantu Hexsel
Judge Nancy Hohengarten
Judge Sylvia Holmes
Judge Aurora Martinez Jones
Justice Chari Kelly
Judge Julie Kocurek
Judge Lora Livingston
Judge Jessica Mangrum
Judge Brandy Mueller
Justice Edward Smith
Judge Jan Soifer
Judge Kim Williams
Judge Todd Wong

Attorney Award Winners

  • Public Interest – Laurel Holland
  • Contribution to Minority Community – Dominique McLeggan-Brown
  • Advancement of Women’s Interests – Jenny Jackson
  • Government Service – Lynn Carter
  • Pro Bono – Rachel Ekery
  • Litigation/Appellate – Natasha Martin
  • Corporate/Transactional – Pam Madere
  • Criminal Justice – Jana Ortega
  • Firm/Organization/Government Entity – Wittliff Cutter
  • Outstanding Achievement – Sheila Gladstone

Grant Recipients

  • American Gateways
  • Asian Family Support Services of Austin
  • Casa Marianella  (Special Donor Grant)
  • Family Eldercare
  • Jane’s Due Process
  • Lone Star Justice Alliance
  • Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid: Foster Youth Project
  • VECINA
  • Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas
  • Women’s Storybook Project

Each year the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation issues grants to non-profits dedicated to protecting the legal rights of local women and children. The Foundation is able to do so through the financial commitments made by the Foundation’s Fellows. On November 16 from 5:30-7:00 p.m., we will hold an appreciation event at the Vazquez Law Firm (608 W. 12th Street) to express our gratitude for our Fellows.  This event is free to all current Fellows and those who wish to pledge at the event. Wine and snacks will be provided.

Special thanks to our sponsors Hutcheson Bowers LLP  and Veritext Legal Solutions

TCWLA/TCWLF Grants and Awards Luncheon was held virtually on May 21, 2021 honoring
deserving Austin attorneys and award grants to local non-profits.


Gala Sponsors

Emerald Sponsor
Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association

Corporate Sponsor
Morehands Maid Service

Platinum Sponsors
Duane Morris LLP
Enoch Kever PLLC
Jackson Walker LLP
Locke Lord LLP
Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C.
Loewy Law Firm
Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, LLP

Gold Sponsors
Fritz, Byrne, Head & Gilstrap PLLC
Law Office of Becky Beaver
McGinnis Lochridge
Reid Collins & Tsai LLP
Scott, Douglass & McConnico, LLP
Streusand, Landon, Ozburn & Lemmon LLP
Vaught Law Firm, P.C.

Silver Sponsors
Alexander Dubose & Jefferson LLP
Austin Bar Association
Burgess Law PC
Hawkins Parnell & Young LLP
Hutcheson Bowers
Justice Chari L. Kelly
Lazar Law
Ruffner Schoenbaum Murphy Banaszak PLLC
Susan Morrison
Velva Price
Vinson & Elkins LLP

Bronze Sponsors
Andrews Meyers, P.C.
Boulette Golden & Marin LLP
Susan Burton
Davis Kaufman PLLC
Kim Tindall and Associates
Law Office of Amie Rodnick / Law Office of Diane Hebner
Law Office of Nikki Hudman
Maples Jones, PLLC
Martens, Todd & Leonard
Judge Amy Clark Meachum
Reeves & Brightwell
The Morris Law Firm
Judge George C. Thomas & Jolsna John ThomasWeaver

Judicial Stars
Judge Selena Alvarenga
Judge Dayna Blazey
Judge Clifford Brown
Judge Maria Cantú Hexel
Judge Madeleine Connor
Judge Karin Crump
Judge Elizabeth Earle
Judge Raul A. Gonzalez
Judge Guy Herman
Judge Nancy Hohengarten
Judge Sylvia Holmes
Judge Julie Kocurek
Judge Lora Livingston
Judge Jessica Mangrum
Judge Aurora Martinez Jones
Judge Catherine Mauzy
Judge Jan Soifer
Judge Kimberly Williams
Judge Todd Wong

Grant Recipients

  • American Gateways
  • Asian Family Support Services of Austin
  • Casa Marianella
  • Catholic Charities of Central Texas
  • Family Eldercare
  • Jane’s Due Process
  • Lone Star Justice Alliance
  • Texas Fair Defense Project
  • Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid—LASA
  • Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid—Foster Youth
  • Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas
  • Women’s Storybook Project

Attorney Awards
TCWLA and TCWLF were unable to host the Annual Grant & Awards Luncheon in 2020 due to Covid-19. As such, this year, we will be honoring both the 2020 and 2021 Attorney Award Winners!

2020 Attorney Award Winners

  • Public Interest – Hon. Tamara Needles
  • Contribution to Minority Community – April Glass Griffin
  • Advancement of Women’s Interests – Jolsna John Thomas
  • Government Service – Justice Chari Kelly
  • Pro Bono – Caitlin Haney Johnson
  • Litigation/Appellate – Melissa Lorber
  • Corporate/Transactional – Natalie Lynch
  • Criminal Justice – Krista Chacona
  • Firm/Organization/Govt Entity – Ruffner Schoenbaum
  • Outstanding Achievement – Diane (DeDe) Hebne

2021 Attorney Award Winners

  • Public Interest – Laura Bates
  • Contribution to Minority Community – Pooja Sethi
  • Advancement of Women’s Interests – Lessie Gilstrap
  • Government Service – Sarah Holland
  • Pro Bono – Ifeoma Ibekwe
  • Litigation/Appellate – Alessandra Ziek Beavers
  • Corporate/Transactional – Laura Frederick
  • Criminal Justice – Beth Payan

TCWLA MEMBERSHIP

Join TCWLA to help foster communication among women lawyers and strengthen the image and position of women lawyers in the community.

TCWL FOUNDATION

Join TCWL Foundation to support, promote, and encourage activities for the furtherance of justice and equal opportunity for women, families, and children.

DONATE!

Donate to the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation and support, promote, and encourage activities for the furtherance of justice and equal opportunity for women, families, and children

SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Donate to the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association scholarship fund to support

Margaret Cooper Scholarship 
Ann Forman Scholarship
Lora Livingston Scholarship
Ana Mejia-Dietche Scholarship
Orlinda Naranjo Scholarship

TCWLA MEMBERSHIP

Join TCWLA to help foster communication among women lawyers and strengthen the image and position of women lawyers in the community.

TCWL FOUNDATION

Join TCWL Foundation to support, promote, and encourage activities for the furtherance of justice and equal opportunity for women, families, and children.

DONATE!

Donate to the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation and support, promote, and encourage activities for the furtherance of justice and equal opportunity for women, families and children

SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Donate to the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association scholarship fund to support

Margaret Cooper Scholarship 
Ann Forman Scholarship
Lora Livingston Scholarship
Ana Mejia-Dietche Scholarship
Orlinda Naranjo Scholarship

Find yourself in the service of others

     –  Mahatma Gandhi