In the Community
Baron & Budd attorneys and staff are committed to helping programs that benefit the communities we serve. What follows is a partial listing of Baron & Budd's community involvement.
International Pleural Mesothelioma Program
Baron & Budd has pledged $3 million over five years to the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) founded by Dr. David Sugarbaker at Brigham & Women’s Hospital. The IMP is a collaborative effort of medical and scientific professionals affiliated with Brigham & Women’s, Harvard Medical School, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to research potentially curative therapy for patients with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Baron & Budd also provided the financial support for the creation of the International Pleural Mesothelioma Programs website, www.impmeso.org.
Project Exodus
In the wake of the tragedy caused by Hurricane Katrina, in September 2005 Baron & Budd contributed $100,000 to Project Exodus, a citywide effort spearheaded by Mayor Laura Miller and the Dallas interfaith community to provide housing for victims of the hurricane who had relocated to Dallas. Baron & Budd attorneys and staff additionally collected furniture and household goods for their “adoptive” families, and several attorneys provided pro bono legal services to Katrina evacuees at the Dallas Convention Center.
Habitat for Humanity
In an effort to give hardworking families a chance at first-time home ownership, Baron & Budd has been a long-time supporter of Habitat for Humanity, including sponsoring the construction of a new home for a Dallas family. The firm provided the financial support for the project, and 85 attorneys and staff provided the labor over 11 weekends in the sweltering Dallas heat to complete the construction of the home. Baron & Budd separately received a Golden Hardhat award for its participation in the construction of another house sponsored by the Dallas Bar Association
Adopt-A-Child Holiday Project - Dallas Children's Advocacy Center
The Adopt-A-Child Holiday Project is an annual event in which the firm works to fulfill holiday wishes for some of the young clients of the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center. Many of these children have been victims of abuse, and through the Center, have become part of a program designed to help them recover and to protect them from their abusers. This project has been a Baron & Budd holiday tradition for over 15 years. Baron & Budd staff members have "adopted" nearly 550 children and provided donations of much-needed school clothes and shoes, winter coats, and new toys and games from their kids' "wish lists." In addition, their families receive gift certificates to a local grocery store to help ensure the family's holiday is a happy and healthy one. Baron & Budd received the 1997 Small Business Volunteer of the Year award from the Dallas Volunteer Center for its participation in the Adopt-A-Family project.
AIDS Resource Center Food Drive
Since 1995, Baron & Budd has collected several hundred boxes of food as well as monetary donations through its twice-annual food drive to support the Dallas AIDS Food Pantry. The food pantry provides groceries and assistance, and a safe place to shop, to low-income individuals living with AIDS.
America's Walk for Diabetes -- American Diabetes Association
Since 2001, Baron & Budd has sponsored a team in the American Diabetes Association's Diabetes Walk. The B&B team has been one of the largest fundraisers of any team participating in the walk
Blood Care
Baron & Budd staff members have annually participated in a blood drive through Blood Care since 1994. Over the years, B&B attorneys and staff have donated hundreds of pints of blood to assist those in need.
The C.H.A.D. House
In 2001, Baron & Budd awarded a five-year grant worth over $85,000 to The C.H.A.D. (Church's Hour Against Darkness) House, a nonprofit referral and counseling center for homeless women and their children in Tyler, Texas.
The C.H.A.D. House was founded by Karen Choice and Pastor Flora Cobb of the Christian Teaching Center C.H.A.D. Ministry that was established in memory of Karen's son, Ernest "Chad" Choice, who at the age of eight, disappeared in 1991. His fate was discovered in June 1996 when his skeletal remains were found. Karen Choice channeled her grief into creating a community shelter in her young son's name.
Christmas in July Food & Clothing Drive - Dallas Bar Association
Each year since 1996, Baron & Budd staff have joined the Dallas Bar Association in donating cash, food, clothing, household goods and food supplies to local charities, including Genesis Women's Outreach, the North Texas Food Bank, The Family Place, Exodus Ministries, Herrin House, and The Wilkinson Center. Baron & Budd attorneys chaired this project in 1997 and 1998. In 1997, under Baron & Budd's leadership, the project raised a record 1,577 pounds of food and clothing and over $5,000 in donations. Baron & Budd surpassed even this record a year later: in 1998, Baron & Budd staff alone donated 1,662 pounds of food to the North Texas Food Bank through this project. Baron & Budd continues to be a catalyst of this project with generous donations of food, clothing, and other necessities every year.
Exodus Ministries
Baron & Budd employees organized a food, furniture and clothing drive benefiting this program, which is only one of three in the country that actively seeks to reunite ex-offenders and their families by providing transitional housing, job training, and living skills to its clients.
Genesis Women's Shelter
Baron & Budd regularly collects toiletries, clothing (including employment interview outfits) and personal hygiene products for the victims of domestic violence residing in this organization's emergency shelter.
Freedom Run
Every year since 2002, Baron & Budd has been a major sponsor of the Freedom Run and Festival organized by the Dallas Young Lawyers Association to honor and remember the victims of the 9/11 tragedies. Proceeds benefit the Assist the Officer Foundation.
North Texas Food Bank
Baron & Budd attorneys and staff collect nonperishable food items to benefit the North Texas Food Bank, and assist with the “Stamp Out Hunger” program sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers by volunteering at the NTFB facility.
Bear the Burden Project
Through the Dallas Young Lawyers Association, Baron & Budd employees collect teddy bears for the Buckner Children’s Home, used to comfort children who have been removed from abusive homes, abandoned or neglected.
Trinity River Mission
In 2006, Baron & Budd staff donated candy, eggs, baskets and decorations for an egg hunt serving 300 children through the Trinity River Mission, which provides educational support services to non-English speaking residents living in the Los Altos neighborhood in West Dallas.
Eyes and Ears of Texas
Baron & Budd employees donate used eyeglasses and cell phones through this program, which are donated to local charities and a Dallas women’s shelter.
Grand Forks Book Drive
In 1997, a devastating flood triggered by El Nino weather conditions devastated the town of Grand Forks, North Dakota. For two years running, Baron & Budd staff collected books and magazines to help replenish the flood-devastated libraries of Grand Fork.
Lawyers Have Heart 5K Fun Run and Walk - American Heart Association
Baron & Budd staff turned out in droves to participate in this fundraiser benefiting the American Heart Association. Sponsored by the Dallas Bar Association, Baron & Budd attorneys took the lead in organizing the event in 1997 and 1998. Baron & Budd was also recognized as the law firm with the highest level of participation for a law firm of its size. In 1998, the event raised almost $20,000 for the American Heart Association.
Lawyers in the Schools
Baron & Budd attorneys visit local elementary and middle schools to speak with children about the law and the legal system, and to tutor children through after-school mentoring programs. Baron & Budd attorneys also volunteer their time as judges for school moot court and mock trial competitions.
Race for the Cure -- Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Since 1995, Baron & Budd has sponsored its staff to participate in this 5K race that raises funding to find a cure for breast cancer. Every year Baron & Budd employees join the 20,000 participants who raise approximately $600,000 yearly to fight the disease.
"Santa Brings a Suit" Project
Through a program sponsored by the Dallas Bar Association, Baron & Budd participates in a drive annually to donate men's and women's suits benefiting the clients of community organizations such as Trinity Works.
Texas Hearing and Service Dogs, Inc.
In 1993, Baron & Budd served as a Service Dog Team Sponsor to provide for the training of a dog rescued from an animal shelter to be the companion and assistant to a Texan with hearing or physical disabilities.
"Ties that Bind" Project
Baron & Budd attorneys and staff donated more than 75 ties as part of this Dallas Bar Association-sponsored project.
Trinity Works
In 1999, Baron & Budd staff collected donated items for a silent auction benefitting Trinity Works, a non-profit agency that provides transitional housing, crisis intervention, therapy and training to families in need.
Other Activities
Several attorneys and staff serve as members of boards of directors and advisory boards for a variety of non-profit organizations, including Mi Escuelita, the Women's Advocacy Project, Public Citizen, St. Philips School and Community Center, Public Citizen, Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, Habitat for Humanity, and others.
Community Recognition
2005 Equal Access to Justice Award
2005 Outstanding Clinic Attorney Volunteer Award, Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (Natalie Duncan)
2003 Law Firm of the Year - Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas
2000 Outstanding Chair Award - Community Involvement Committee (Christina Mancuso) Dallas Bar Association
1999 Dallas Lawyers Have Heart: Medium-Sized Firm Trophy - Highest level of participation of all medium-size firms
1999 Golden Hardhat Award - Habitat for Humanity
1998 Dallas Lawyers Have Heart: Big Firm Trophy - Highest level of participation of all large firms
1997 Small Business Volunteer of the Year Award - Dallas Volunteer Center
1997 Public Justice Achievement Award - Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
1996 Public Justice Achievement Award - Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
