FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2004

Contact: Laura Figueroa
512.320.0099 or lfigueroa@txiolta.org

Legal Services Corporateion President Honored at Texas Reception 

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation and the Texas Access to Justice Commission honored Helaine Barnett, the new president of the Legal Services Corporation, with a reception on Saturday, February 7, 2004. The reception was held at the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid office in San Antonio.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is a private, nonprofit corporation established in 1974 by Congress to fund legal aid organizations throughout the nation. LSC is funded through congressional appropriation. The corporation funds 158 independent local legal aid programs throughout the country. In Texas , LSC funds three programs: Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, which serves southwest Texas ; Lone Star Legal Aid, which serves East Texas; and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, which serves northwest Texas . Collectively, the three programs receive approximately $26 million annually from the Legal Services Corporation.

Barnett, who officially assumed the LSC presidency on Jan. 20, is a 37-year veteran of legal aid. She worked with the Legal Aid Society of New York City, as both a legal advocate and in administration, from 1966 to 2003.

In addressing the attendees of the reception, Barnett stated, “I know that the men and women who work on the front lines delivering critical assistance to people in crisis are our greatest asset. Even though we are under-funded, and even though the obstacles remain daunting, we draw strength from our common commitment to providing access to justice.”

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