Lone Star College System recently received a 2013 Pro Bono Award from the Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) during a reception celebrating National Pro Bono week.

The organization specifically recognized LSC-University Park for its partnership, which includes hosting and promoting various LSLA events.  The reception was held last week at the LSLA offices in downtown Houston. Lone Star College System and Lone Star Legal Aid are two separate organizations that are not affiliated with each other.

“We are delighted that Lone Star College supports such a worthy organization,” said Linda Good, JD, a LSCS board trustee who is also directing attorney, private attorney involvement with LSLA.  “Lone Star Legal Aid helps children, veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, and those who are homeless receive legal advice that they may otherwise not have access to.”

LSLA is the fourth largest free legal aid provider in the United States and provides free legal aid in 72 Texas counties. LSLA handled almost 25,000 legal cases, completing more than 20,000 of them, which benefited nearly 48,000 people in 2010.

“A name isn’t the only thing that Lone Star College and Lone Star Legal Aid share” said Paul E. Furrh Jr., chief executive officer, Lone Star Legal Aid. “Both organizations are deeply concerned with the economic well-being of our community.  Lone Star College was selected to receive the 2013 Pro Bono Award in recognition of the vital role it played in helping Lone Star Legal Aid reach specific populations with unmet legal needs.  Most noteworthy is how Lone Star College has helped Lone Star Legal Aid to reach veterans who have pressing legal problems ranging from delays in receiving disability benefits to marriages breaking down under the strain of multiple deployments.”

“It was such an honor to be recognized for Lone Star College’s leadership in serving our community in every way we can,” said Shah Ardalan, president, LSC-University Park, who represented LSCS at the reception. “In partnership with Lone Star Legal Aid, we continue to meet our mission of improving Houston's economic and personal prosperity, one individual at a time. We do open the doors to a better community.”

In addition to the awards celebration, LSLA also held training sessions covering topics such as guardianship, issues for Texas veterans, basic wills and bankruptcy. These were then followed by client meetings.

Legal Services Corp., Texas Access to Justice Foundation, and multiple grants fund LSLA which has nearly 1.5 million income-eligible Texas residents in its service area.

Lone Star College System has been opening doors to a better community for 40 years. Founded in 1973, LSCS remains steadfast in its commitment to student success and credential completion. Today, with 78,000 students in credit classes, and a total enrollment of more than 90,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and the fastest-growing community college system in the nation. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of six colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball and LSC-University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online.  

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