More than 500 guests attended the fairytale-themed Austin Bar Foundation Gala on Jan. 27, 2024, at the Four Seasons in downtown Austin.
The $234,089 raised at this year’s Gala is the most ever.
Members of the legal community arrived in their black-tie best, while others took advantage of the Gala’s theme, such as AYLA President Sarah Harp, who dressed in a red ballgown with black horns like Maleficent, and Austin Bar President Justice Chari L. Kelly in a sparkling pink-cream dress and blush pink roses in her hair.
Attendees enjoyed an elegant pre-event cocktail hour while perusing the auction items generously donated by Austin Bar members and Austin businesses.
After dinner, guests learned about the Austin Bar Foundation’s various projects and grant programs.
Afterward, the live auction took place, and guests bid on nine travel packages, such as a six-night stay in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina; a four-night stay in Park City, Utah; and a four-night stay at the U.K.’s oldest hotel with airfare for two included.
Following the live auction, Marty Murad with Murad Auctions led a lively Fund-a-Need session raising money for DEI-related legal services in Central Texas. Money raised from this portion of the program will be used to offer grants to Central Texas programs and entities offering DEI-related legal services.
Next came the highlight of the evening: the presentation of awards.
Edna Ramón Butts of Austin Independent School District, Marcy Hogan Greer of Alexander Dubose & Jefferson, and Randy Howry of Howry Breen & Herman were this year’s Distinguished Lawyer honorees. Jeff Edwards of Edwards Law received this year’s David H. Walter Community Excellence Award.
All four honorees’ careers and accomplishments were recapped in video presentations filmed and edited by Austin production company You & I Creative Co. (youandicreate.co).
David Talbot, retired chief of the Antitrust Division of the Texas Attorney General’s Office, and Lynn Boswell, AISD District 5 trustee, spoke about Butts. Laurie Bellegie Sharp and Catherine Morse spoke about Greer. Sean Breen, Laura Bellegie Sharp, Stephen E. McConnico, and Matt Dow spoke about Howry. Patrick Keel spoke about Edwards.
Each video was followed by thunderous applause from the audience. This year’s honorees have truly captured the admiration of Austin’s legal community.
With your help, the Gala raised more than $234,000 for the Austin Bar Foundation, which will use the money to support the foundation’s many law-related programs and projects, including: Austin Adoption Day; the CANLAW Clinic; the Veterans Legal Assistance Program; the Diversity Fellowship Program; the LGBTQ+ Scholarship; the Justice Mack Kidd Fund; and the Denise Hyde Scholarship Fund.
Additionally, since the foundation’s inception in 2005, it has awarded more than $210,000 in grants to law-related organizations. Past grant recipients include: American Gateways; Volunteer Legal Services; Austin Community Law Center; Austin Classical Guitar’s Juvenile Justice program; CASA of Travis County; and the Texas Fair Defense Fund, to name a few.
The Fund-a-Need session raised $26,250, which will be used to provide grants to entities and organizations offering DEI-related legal services in Central Texas.
If you were unable to attend the event, you can still make a donation to the foundation. Please scan the QR code on the cover of this magazine to make a donation.
The Austin Bar Foundation sincerely thanks Gala Committee Co-Chairs Nadia Bettac and Mary-Ellen King for their efforts in pulling off this extraordinary event. Thank you also to all the volunteers who assisted with registration, setup, and breakdown.
Be sure to watch the videos honoring the Distinguished Lawyers and David H. Walter award winners on YouTube.
Thank you again for your support, and we can’t wait to see you next year!
(L-R): Randy Howry, Austin Bar President Justice Chari L. Kelly, Marcy Hogan Greer, and Edna Ramón Butts. Howry, Greer, and Butts were the recipients of this year’s Distinguished Lawyer Award.
(L-R): Foundation Chair Amanda
Arriaga and Jeff Edwards. Edwards was the recipient of this year’s David H.
Walter Community Excellence Award.
(L-R): Foundation Gala Committee Co-Chairs Nadia Bettac and Mary-Ellen King.
(L-R): David Courreges, Jasleen Shokar, Alan Lin, Kiele Pace, Jacquelyn Wilson, Avery Leissner, Lena Proft, and Murad Auctions staff member.
(L-R): Louie Riesch, Kennon Wooten, Ryan Beck, Elliott Beck, Chris Kirker, Holly Davis, and Amanda Garrett Taylor.
One of the centerpieces at the Gala, a rose in a bell jar, inspired by Beauty and the Beast.
(L-R): Judge Jessica Mangrum, Melissa Lorber, Sherine Thomas, and Justice Chari L. Kelly.
(L-R): Judge Daniella DeSeta Lyttle, Adrianne Waddell, Dr. James Lyttle, and Judge Laurie Eiserloh.