Texas Appleseed to Honor Dallas Civic Leaders, Major Law Firms at Annual Gala

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Appleseed, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to improve the lives of Texans through law and policy change, will honor Lael and Peter Brodsky with its 2024 J. Chrys Dougherty Good Apple Award at the 22nd annual Good Apple Dinner. The organization will also present its Pro Bono Leadership Awards to law firms Latham & Watkins LLP and Sidley Austin LLP. 

The Good Apple Dinner is attended by local and statewide leaders in the legal, advocacy, business, and education spheres. Sponsorship opportunities are available now for the event, which takes place on November 7, 2024, at 6 p.m at the Four Seasons in Austin. 

Good Apple Award
Lael and Peter Brodsky will receive Texas Appleseed’s highest honor for their extensive philanthropic work, deep involvement in their community, and commitment to achieving justice for vulnerable Texans. In 2015, they purchased the former Red Bird Mall in Dallas, now called the Shops at RedBird, with the goal of creating a mixed-use development to revitalize the area. The project has resulted in more than 1,500 new jobs and brought a resurgence of investment, including health care, retail, and housing.

Lael Brodsky is the Board Chair of the Innocence Project of Texas and a Board Member of North Texas Public Broadcasting. She has also supported numerous organizations serving women and girls, including as a past Board Member of the North Texas Association for the Reduction of Pregnancy in Teens; Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas; Friends of Planned Parenthood, of which she was also a Board Chair; and the Texas Women’s Foundation, for which she also co-chaired the 2018 luncheon and raised $1.6 million. In memory of their son, Jacob, she is currently focused on the issue of fentanyl’s proliferation in our community.

Peter Brodsky is an investor and business executive who has worked for the last two decades to expand economic opportunity and improve community safety for families in North Texas. He has served as Board Chair of Housing Forward, the City of Dallas’ Animal Advisory Commission, and on the boards of KIPP Texas, North Texas Public Broadcasting, AT&T Performing Arts Center, Vogel Alcove, and Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He also is a member of the Dallas Assembly, an organization of leaders from Dallas’ business, civic, and nonprofit sectors who are committed to the betterment of the city.

Pro Bono Leadership Awards
At the event, Texas Appleseed will also present the 2024 Pro Bono Leadership Awards to two outstanding law firms that have been integral to its justice work. 

Latham & Watkins LLP has conducted research projects in every one of Texas Appleseed’s project areas, as well as cross-programmatic efforts, including a project focused on the impact of school and housing segregation on families in our state. Since 2023, Latham & Watkins has contributed an astounding 1,700 pro bono hours to Texas Appleseed projects. The volume, range, and proactive nature of their support enables Texas Appleseed to approach systemic racial, economic, and social justice issues from multiple angles to create significant and enduring change.

Sidley Austin LLP is a critical partner in Texas Appleseed’s newest effort to support survivors of domestic abuse, the Coerced Debt Relief pilot program, which connects attorneys with victims of coerced debt to help them attain financial relief. Sidley currently represents a significant majority of the program’s active volunteer pool. Not only are they supporting survivors in their time of need, but their participation, trust, and enthusiasm have also enabled Texas Appleseed to grow and expand in new ways.

Further details about the event can be found on the Good Apple Dinner event page.

About Texas Appleseed

As one of the most trusted resources for data-driven policy analysis and solutions, Texas Appleseed advocates at the state and local level for fair, just, and equitable laws. Our work has shaped hundreds of laws and positively affected millions of Texans by breaking down barriers through transformative policy solutions. Find our mission here, and visit www.TexasAppleseed.org for more information.

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