Strasburger Receives 2004 Gold Award for Pro Bono Service and Associate Fry Wernick Receives Special Services Award

OCTOBER 12, 2004 (Dallas, Texas) — The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program ("DVAP") of the Dallas Bar Association honored Strasburger & Price, LLP with the Gold Award for Pro Bono Service at its 22nd Annual Pro Bono Celebration held on October 7, 2004. Strasburger Associate Ephraim (Fry) Wernick was also honored with a Special Services Award for his work in establishing St. Philip's Academy Community Law Clinic.

Each year, the DVAP recognizes law firms and individual attorneys in the Dallas area that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to volunteer legal services for the poor and disadvantaged. The Gold Award is the highest recognition that DVAP confers for firms with 50-100 attorneys in Dallas. The Special Services Award recognizes individual attorneys who have made significant contributions to special pro bono programs. The awards reception is designed to promote DVAP's mission to deliver legal services to the poor and ensure equal access to justice.

Kirk Sniff, Strasburger's Managing Partner and Chairman, noted, "As a firm, we are very proud of our pro bono efforts and leadership in helping those in need of legal services. Pro bono and community outreach is an integral part of Strasburger's culture. It is an honor to receive the Gold Award and to have such an outstanding associate as Fry Wernick."

The DVAP chose to recognize Mr. Wernick because of his dedication to St. Philip's School and Community Center. Mr. Wernick and two law school friends are founders of The Triangle Neighborhood Project, a registered non-profit organization benefiting St. Philip's School and Community Center. Named after the Triangle Neighborhood south of downtown Dallas, the project seeks to make the community around the acclaimed St. Philip's School a model for other inner-city neighborhoods to emulate. The program's initial initiatives include: (1) development of a community law clinic through the DVAP; (2) establishing a 20 mph school zone around St. Philip's; and (3) enforcing a prostitution ban around the school.

As part of the firm's rich tradition of community service, Strasburger recently revamped its pro bono and community outreach initiatives. The firm revised its formal pro bono policy and coordinated a new pro bono committee to provide institutional support for attorney pro bono service. The new pro bono policy includes a system to internally recognize and reward pro bono work. A large number of Strasburger's attorneys are active volunteers, board members and supporters of a wide spectrum of community-oriented organizations. Below is a partial list of the organizations for which Strasburger attorneys contribute pro bono hours:

• Court Appointed Special Advocates (Collin County)
• Dallas Attorney Volunteer Program
• Dallas Charter Commission
• East Austin Revitalization Group
• Hidalgo Foundation of Bexar County
• Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program
• "Just Take One" – San Antonio Justice Clinic
• Legal Aid of Northwest Texas (Dallas & Collin County)
• Metrocrest Family Medical Center (Collin County)
• San Antonio Inventors & Entrepreneurs
• Senior Source – Senior Citizens of Greater Dallas
• The Suicide and Crisis Center (Dallas)
• Susan G. Komen Foundation (all offices)
• The Triangle Neighborhood Project (Dallas)
• Undermain Theater (Dallas)
• Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas (Austin)
• White Rock Lake Museum (Dallas)

     
STRASBURGER & PRICE, LLP