Every year, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (Legal Aid) hosts the Builders of Justice Awards, and event that highlights and recognizes honorees who have demonstrated extraordinary work benefiting low-income individuals and families through their sustained service and leadership. The organization is now accepting candidate nominations for 2025.
Please nominate an individual, a company, or a nonprofit organization for one of the following categories:
1. Legal Advocate: Presented annually to a member of the legal community, either an attorney or judge. An individual who has done something extraordinary in the interests of low-income individuals and/or families;
2. Business Leadership: Presented annually to a company or individual in business who has made an extraordinary contribution to the improvement of the lives of low-income individuals and/or families;
3. Civic Leadership: Presented annually to a person, nonprofit organization, executive, pro bono attorney, or other volunteer engaged in the provision of services to low-income individuals and/or families;
4. Champion of Justice: Presented to an individual, organization, or company who has shown exemplary behavior in the delivery of services or support of low-income communities in Collin County and greater North Texas.
Nominations deadline Friday, June 13, 2025, at 6 P.M.
Please nominate an individual, a company, or a nonprofit organization for one of the following categories:
1. Legal Advocate: Presented annually to a member of the legal community, either an attorney or judge. An individual who has done something extraordinary in the interests of low-income individuals and/or families;
2. Business Leadership: Presented annually to a company or individual in business who has made an extraordinary contribution to the improvement of the lives of low-income individuals and/or families;
3. Civic Leadership: Presented annually to a person, nonprofit organization, executive, pro bono attorney, or other volunteer engaged in the provision of services to low-income individuals and/or families;
4. Champion of Justice: Presented to an individual, organization, or company who has shown exemplary behavior in the delivery of services or support of low-income communities in Collin County and greater North Texas.
Nominations deadline Friday, June 13, 2025, at 6 P.M.
Previous Builders of Justice Award Recipients
Business Leadership Award
2024 Hugs Cafe Inc.
2023 Bank of America
2022 Linda Epstein, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
2022 Hal Kauffeldt, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
2019 The Celt Restaurant
2018 Albin Roach
2015 Tyler Technologies
2014 Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
2013 Hewlett-Packard Company
Legal Advocate
2024 Kamisha Dumas
2023 Judge Shelly Dukes, Title IV-D Court No. 5
2022 Collin County District Attorney's Office
2019 Jacqueline Williams
2018 Christine G. Albano, Esq.
2017 Anne Shuttee
2016 Preston Park, J.D.
Nonprofit/Civic Leadership Award
2024 Hope's Door New Beginning Center
2023 Samaritan Inn
2022 The Honorable Michael Missildine, Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3
2019 The Honorable Piper McCraw
2018 The Honorable Andrea Stroh Thompson
2017 The Honorable John Roach, Jr.
2016 Mayor Brian Loughmiller & The City of McKinney
2016 The Honorable Cynthia Wheless
2015 The Honorable Scott J. Baker
2014 The Honorable Lance Baxter
2013 The Honorable Jill Willis
Champion of Justice Award
2024 Dr. Cheryl Jackson, Founder, Minnie's Food Pantry
2023 Judge Jill R. Willis, 429th Judicial District Court
2023 Judge Lindsey Wynne, 468th Judicial District Court
2023 Justice Emily Miskel, 5th District Court of Appeals
2023 Judge Piper McCraw, 469th Judicial District Court
2023 Judge Jennifer Edgeworth, 219th Judicial District Court
2022 Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church
2019 First United Methodist Church of Allen
2018 St. Andrew United Methodist Church
2017 Karen and Mike Tankersley
2016 Mel Lemm
2015 Mary Tacher
*Retired/Former
**Deceased
Business Leadership Award
2024 Hugs Cafe Inc.
2023 Bank of America
2022 Linda Epstein, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
2022 Hal Kauffeldt, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
2019 The Celt Restaurant
2018 Albin Roach
2015 Tyler Technologies
2014 Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
2013 Hewlett-Packard Company
Legal Advocate
2024 Kamisha Dumas
2023 Judge Shelly Dukes, Title IV-D Court No. 5
2022 Collin County District Attorney's Office
2019 Jacqueline Williams
2018 Christine G. Albano, Esq.
2017 Anne Shuttee
2016 Preston Park, J.D.
Nonprofit/Civic Leadership Award
2024 Hope's Door New Beginning Center
2023 Samaritan Inn
2022 The Honorable Michael Missildine, Justice of the Peace, Pct. 3
2019 The Honorable Piper McCraw
2018 The Honorable Andrea Stroh Thompson
2017 The Honorable John Roach, Jr.
2016 Mayor Brian Loughmiller & The City of McKinney
2016 The Honorable Cynthia Wheless
2015 The Honorable Scott J. Baker
2014 The Honorable Lance Baxter
2013 The Honorable Jill Willis
Champion of Justice Award
2024 Dr. Cheryl Jackson, Founder, Minnie's Food Pantry
2023 Judge Jill R. Willis, 429th Judicial District Court
2023 Judge Lindsey Wynne, 468th Judicial District Court
2023 Justice Emily Miskel, 5th District Court of Appeals
2023 Judge Piper McCraw, 469th Judicial District Court
2023 Judge Jennifer Edgeworth, 219th Judicial District Court
2022 Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church
2019 First United Methodist Church of Allen
2018 St. Andrew United Methodist Church
2017 Karen and Mike Tankersley
2016 Mel Lemm
2015 Mary Tacher
*Retired/Former
**Deceased