Tahirih Houston celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, 2012, with a gathering to honor pro bono attorneys, volunteer interpreters, and others who have assisted Tahirih throughout the year.
These remarkable individuals donate their time and expertise to Tahirih’s courageous clients and enable Tahirih to turn every $1 donated into $5 of impact. Tahirih Houston’s Pro Bono Network maximizes the non-profit’s efforts to protect vulnerable women and girls fleeing violence.
In her remarks at the event, Houston Director Anne Chandler noted, “International Women’s Day is a time of celebration, but also a moment for us to pause and contemplate the magnitude of work that lies ahead.”
Chandler noted the remarkable success of Tahirih in developing a growing presence in Houston, including the donation over the past year of $700,000 worth of pro bono legal services. While immensely encouraging, Chandler reminded the group of the staggering and continuing levels of violence directed against women and children throughout the world.
Kathleen Weir, attorney with Baker Botts, also spoke at the event about her experience partnering with Tahirih in the representation of a trafficking victim and an asylum applicant. The event was generously hosted by Advisory Council of Houston members Karen Otazo Hofmeister and Heather Beliveaux with food donated by Whole Foods.
