Donations needed for 2012 Women's Resource Fair
I have the Austin Young Lawyers Association to thank for my life.
It was back in 2000-something that I was communications director at the bar, and being around all those bright, civic minded young professionals gave me the idea for GivingCity Austin. I’d be a depressed copywriter at some lousy software company today if those lawyers hadn’t inspired me to start on this journey. I owe that organization a lot.
In fact, AYLA members continue to inspire me today. David Courreges, Laura Merritt, Toya Haley and so many others are known just as much for their professional skills as they are for their commitment to the community.
On March 3, AYLA will offer its fifth annual Women’s Resource Fair for homeless, abused and low-income women. The event was clearly organized by people who understand what these women need. Take a look at what it offers:
- Medical services (including mammograms, pap smears, well women exams, eye exams, and wellness visits)
- Confidential legal assistance with family law, child custody, domestic violence and protective orders, criminal cases, immigration, estate planning, and consumer issue
- Mental health services, including spiritual counseling
- Social services and shelter referrals
- Job skills, education, and employment counseling
- Debt and credit counseling
- Clothing closet and haircuts
- Breakfast and lunch for all attendees
- Child care (!) or children 1 yo 11 years old, including breakfast and lunch
- Plus, SE HABLA ESPAÑOL
I mean, it gets better and better. Hundreds of Austin women have attended this event in the past, but AYLA wants to serve more. In fact, in previous years they’ve had to turn women away.
AYLA seeks donations – financial and in-kind – from people and organizations across the city to make this event happen every year. But here’s the problem: They have a hard time raising money because everyone assumes lawyers don’t need to fundraise.
The young lawyers who organize this event certainly invest their own time, money and resources into the Women’s Resource Fair. But these are not fat-cat partners we’re talking about. These are young people just beginning their careers with young families, working long lawyer hours and, on the side, organizing this free event to benefit Austin women. They need lots of support.
But the Women’s Resource Fair is not about the lawyers. It’s about the women. Simply put, your donation allows AYLA to offer more services to more women.
Next Saturday, AYLA will put on the Women’s Resource Fair for the fifth time. Every year around this time, they worry if they’ll have enough to make it happen. If you like, you can donate at the bottom of this page.
