The Texas Advocacy Project, or TAP, announced it has received a $20,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation, or TBF, according to a press release. The grant, which will be distributed over a 12-month period, will be used to enhance TAP’s capacity to connect with the legal community and expand pro bono legal assistance to survivors of violence.

The grant funds a part-time pro bono coordinator position, whose primary role is to establish partnerships with law firms across Texas, according to a press release. These partnerships will result in the recruitment and training of pro bono attorneys at each of the participating law firms. This initiative will strengthen TAP’s ability to provide critical legal services to individuals in need, particularly in the areas of crime victims compensation, Title IX, and legal line consultations.

“This grant is a significant step forward in our mission to empower survivors through legal advocacy,” said TAP Chief Executive Officer Heather Bellino in a press release. “With the Texas Bar Foundation’s support, we can now provide even more survivors with the legal assistance they need to break the cycle of violence. We are thrilled to partner with TBF in our efforts to make a meaningful difference in the lives of survivors across Texas.”

Since its inception in 1965, the TBF has awarded more than $26 million in grants to law-related programs. The TBF is one of the nation’s largest charitably funded bar foundations.

For more information about TAP, go to texasadvocacyproject.org.