Community Christian Legal Aid

DERBY DAY FOR JUSTICE RECAP

$330,000 raised — and two well-deserved honors

This year’s Derby Day for Justice gala was an extraordinary evening. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we raised $330,000 to support free civil legal services for families in Harris and Montgomery Counties. We are humbled and grateful beyond words.

The evening also gave us the privilege of honoring two remarkable partners whose commitment to justice runs deep.

We presented United Way of Greater Houston with our Community Partnership Award in recognition of their steadfast support and shared mission to serve our neighbors in need. Accepting on behalf of United Way was Kimberli Mahoney. United Way's support of CCLA has been transformative. Their desire to serve our neighbors holistically is what sets them apart and allows us to care for our clients on a deeper level.

We also proudly presented Lee Crawley with CCLA’s Champion of Justice Award in recognition of his unwavering dedication to expanding access to justice in our community. In addition to his mentorship of our team, Lee’s advocacy in difficult family law cases has made a lasting difference for the families we serve, and we were honored to celebrate him.

🎉 Big news from CCLA!

We are so grateful and excited to share that Community Christian Legal Aid has been selected as a 2026 Grant Recipient of The Children's Fund. We received a $25,000 grant to support our work serving vulnerable children and families in Houston!

This is our first grant from The Children's Fund, and we could not be more honored. This investment will help us provide free civil legal services to kinship caregivers and the families who love and fight for children every single day.

To The Children's Fund, thank you for believing in this work. You are helping us make justice accessible to the families who need it most. 🙏

"Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly." Micah 6:8

"I missed the Derby Day for Justice Gala... can I still help?"

We have been getting this question a lot since our record-breaking night, and the answer is a resounding YES! 🎉

While the hats are put away and the gala is over, the work of Community Christian Legal Aid continues year-round. The families we serve in Montgomery and Harris Counties rely on the ongoing generosity of our community.

If you want to get involved, here are three impactful ways you can help CCLA today:

💙 Make a Donation: Your financial support directly funds our ability to take on more cases and help more families navigate the legal system. Every dollar makes a difference!

🤝 Volunteer Your Time & Skills: Are you an attorney, paralegal, or someone with administrative skills? We are always looking for passionate volunteers to join our clinic nights or take on a case.

📱 Share Our Message: One of the easiest and most powerful ways to help is simply by spreading the word! Like, comment, follow, and share our social media posts so that families in need know we are here for them.

Please visit: cclegaidaid.org Thank you for standing with us and for being such an incredible community of support. We couldn't do this without you!

We hope you’re having a happy May!

Important Reminder: CCLA will NOT be holding a legal aid clinic at The Woodlands Methodist Church this month due to the Memorial Day holiday. Wishing all regular volunteers rest, relaxation and a time of reflection while spending time with family and friends. Clinics will resume June 27th.

Summer is Here — Justice Doesn't Take a Break! During the summer slowdown, it's an ideal time to take a case as a volunteer. We have divorce and guardianship cases in Montgomery and Harris County, if you are interested please email our Director of Legal Operations, Audrey Juranek, at [email protected]

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Community Christian Legal Aid! 🌸💖

Today, we celebrate the incredible strength, resilience, and boundless love of mothers. At CCLA, we have the profound privilege of working with so many devoted mothers and grandmothers who fight tirelessly every single day to protect, provide for, and uplift their families.

Whether you are a mother by birth, by adoption, by fostering, or by stepping up to care for a child who needs you - we see your sacrifices, and we honor your fierce love.

To the mothers navigating difficult seasons, the single moms carrying the weight of the world, and the grandmothers stepping in to raise the next generation: you are heroes.

We are wishing every mother in our community a day filled with peace, joy, and the recognition you so deeply deserve. Happy Mother’s Day! 🌷

Happy Cinco de Mayo from Community Christian Legal Aid! 🌮🎉

Today is a wonderful day to celebrate the rich culture, heritage, and vibrant spirit of the Mexican community. At CCLA, we are so blessed to serve such a diverse and beautiful community here in Montgomery & Harris Counties.

Whether you are gathering with family for a festive meal, enjoying local celebrations, or simply taking a moment to appreciate the history of the day, we hope your Cinco de Mayo is filled with joy, connection, and great food! 🎊🥑

From our CCLA family to yours, have a safe and happy holiday!

WOW! 🏇✨ We are still speechless from the incredible success of our Derby Day for Justice Gala!

To everyone who attended, thank you! The beautiful hats, the joy in the room, and the overwhelming generosity you showed for our mission meant the world to us.

Because of YOU, we raised an estimated $320,000! 🎉 This represents a 33% increase over last year and is a record-breaking moment for Community Christian Legal Aid. Every dollar raised directly allows us to stand up for justice and serve even more families in our community. We absolutely could not do this vital work without you.

If you weren't able to attend or haven't yet contributed, there is still time to be part of this historic campaign! Donations are still open here: 🔗 https://givebutter.com/c/TAitWh

A monumental thank you to our incredible sponsors who made this evening possible:

🏆 Derby Champion Presenting Sponsor:
Meg and Jed Molleston

🏇 Churchill Downs Sponsor:
The O'Hara Law Firm

🌹 Winner’s Circle Sponsors:
Janet Black
George Lindahl
Patrick O'Hara and Audrey Maness
Southside Bank
The Sum

🐎 Roses Sponsors:
Bullock Campbell Bullock & Harris, P.C.
C.W. Henderson Electric
Wade and Tommie Henderson
Hubbs Law Group
Marrs Ellis & Hodge LLP

🎗️ Silks Sponsors:
Kim and Jeff Cline
Curtis and Beth Dominque
Dual Phase, LLC
Infinity Reporting Group
Wham & Rogers

🎩 Derby Patrons:
Byron and Carolyn Davis
Cruse
Judson and Dwana Waltman
Marty Lundstrom
Texas Lawyers' Insurance Exchange

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for believing in CCLA and empowering us to make a difference.

🐎✨ IT’S FINALLY HERE! ✨🐎

The wait is over! Tonight is the night we’ve all been waiting for . . . our Derby Day for Justice Gala!

Grab your biggest, boldest, and most fabulous Derby hats, and get ready for an unforgettable evening of elegant Kentucky Derby-inspired fun! 👒🏇 We have an incredible night planned with cocktails, a delicious Tuscan Chicken dinner, and thrilling live and silent auctions (including an Indy 500 VIP experience and a Florida Beach House getaway!).

Most importantly, tonight is about coming together as a community to support the vital work of Community Christian Legal Aid. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Here’s everything you need to know for tonight:
📍 Where: The Woodlands Country Club (100 Grand Fairway, The Woodlands, TX)
🚪 Doors Open: 5:45 PM
🍸 Cocktails: 6:00 PM
🎤 Program & Dinner Begin: 7:00 PM featuring Keynote Speaker Mike Holley, D.A.
🏆 Don't forget: We are giving away a prize for the Best Hat, so bring your A-game!

We are so incredibly grateful to our sponsors, volunteers, and everyone attending. See you at the starting gate! 🏁

Ready for Derby Day? 🐎✨

We're so excited for our Derby Day for Justice Gala and can't wait to see everyone in their Derby best!

If you can't attend in person, you can still be a vital part of our mission to bring justice to those in need! Here’s how you can show up in spirit:

💛 Make a Donation: Every gift helps us provide crucial legal aid to our community. Donate securely online here: https://givebutter.com/c/0StVKp
🤝 Become a Volunteer: Share your time or legal expertise to make a lasting impact. Learn more: https://cclegalaid.org/
📣 Spread the Word: Share this post with your friends and family to help us reach more people!

Thank you for standing with us - whether at the gala or from afar! 🙏

https://cclegalaid.org/derby-day-for-justice-gala-2026/