The Mexican-American Bar Association of Texas Foundation hosted its annual scholarship luncheon on August 24 in Houston.
The 11th annual luncheon at the Double Tree Hotel in Houston raised money for the foundation’s scholarships, which are awarded to outstanding Hispanic students at each Houston-based law school who demonstrate leadership and a commitment to justice and equality within the Hispanic community and beyond.
Since its inception 40 years ago, the Mexican-American Bar Association of Texas Foundation has raised $275,000 for the scholarships, organization representatives said.
“It is important that we encourage a new generation of lawyers to not only be great lawyers but to also give back to the legal community,” Benny Agosto Jr., founder and president of the foundation and a Houston partner with Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend, said in a press release about the event.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner gave a keynote address at the luncheon and the foundation honored community leaders who have exemplified its ideals, including Laura Murillo of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Dave Ward of KTRK-TV, Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, and Houston Police Chief Martha Montalvo.
(Photograph courtesy of the Mexican-American Bar Association of Texas Foundation) From left to right: Laura Murillo, Dave Ward, Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo, Police Chief Martha Montalvo, and Benny Agosto Jr.