Law Rocks celebrates grassroot, community efforts, and The Hustle & Heart award is meant to encourage donations for each band’s nonprofit pick. As part of our initiative to increase our impact, we began offering The Hustle & Heart Award at each U.S. Law Rocks show. This award is given to the band that has the highest number of unique donors contributing to the “Donation” category (separate from sponsorships or ticket sales). Law Rocks makes an additional donation to the winning band's charity of choice. We are thrilled to increase our support of small, local nonprofits who would otherwise not be receiving this funding.
Today’s spotlight is on GENESIS WOMEN’S SHELTER & SUPPORT, winner of the Hustle & Heart Award at The Inaugural Law Rocks Dallas this past February. Genesis was the chosen nonprofit of Hustle & Heart Award Winner Just South of Nowhere, featuring legal talent from Baker Botts.
Just South of Nowhere band leader Olivia Countryman of Baker Botts credited broad firm support from the top down as instrumental to the band’s success in drumming up donations. From the Partner-in-Charge of the Dallas office approving a large donation, to the remainder of the partners also donating, Countryman says the firm kept the buzz going with email updates. When vendors were contacted to ask for a donation, many answered the call, often donating $1,000+ toward the band’s chosen nonprofit.
Countryman says band members posted about the event, sharing donation links across social media, with LinkedIn receiving the most attention. With these efforts, Just South of Nowhere raised over $14,000 in support of Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support, including the additional $2,000 from winning the Hustle & Heart Award.
Read on for our spotlight interview with Genesis to learn more about the deserving organization and its mission.
Photo courtesy of Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support
1) Can you tell us a little about your organization and its mission?
For almost 40 years, Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support has provided help and hope to women and children who have experienced domestic violence. Each year, Genesis serves more than 3,700 women and children to provide life-changing services like counseling, advocacy, occupational therapy, childcare, legal assistance and an emergency shelter with an onsite school at no cost and with no strings attached. In addition to our services, our mission also focuses on spreading awareness around the impact and pervasiveness of abuse. With four locations across Dallas, we remain committed to walking alongside every woman and child who comes to Genesis, seeking safety and support to heal from the trauma of abuse.
2) What is one success story you’re really proud of?
When Katherine* moved out of the home she shared with her partner Brad* prior to the birth of their daughter, she desperately hoped she was leaving behind the life of abuse and fear she had lived with for so long. Little did she know, the fight for freedom from Brad’s control would persist long after she left. Brad obsessively drove by her new home, stalked her and constantly threatened her – no amount of intervention from the local police made Katherine feel safe.
Taking matters into her own hands, Katherine bravely opened a legal case against Brad. She represented herself and ultimately agreed to standard possession orders in the hopes that giving Brad what he claimed he wanted would end the harassment and abuse he had inflicted on her for so long. But her hopes were dashed when the harassment and stalking continued despite the legal orders that had been given.
Everything in Katherine’s world came crashing down when her daughter Maddie returned home from a weekend at Brad’s house in tears, sharing that his new girlfriend had been abusing Maddie and she no longer felt safe spending time at Brad’s house. Katherine’s maternal instincts took over as she angrily confronted Brad about the abuse, but Brad had no tolerance for the confrontation and physically assaulted her in front of Maddie. It was then that Katherine knew they were in danger every moment they spent in his presence.
Katherine called Genesis and was offered a place at the Emergency Shelter. She and Maddie packed their bags and drove to the Shelter without a word to Brad. For the first time in years, Katherine finally felt safe – but that relief was short-lived when Brad filed a modification to their previous court case, arguing that Katherine was keeping Maddie from him. With little knowledge of the legal system, Katherine ignored the lawsuit, assuming nothing would happen if she refused to see him in court. Shortly thereafter, Katherine received word that the case had defaulted and Brad would receive full custody of Maddie.
Katherine met with Savannah*, one of Genesis’ expert attorneys, who assured her that the Genesis legal team would do everything in their power to bring Maddie back to Katherine and ensure she was safe. After several long weeks, Savannah motioned for the order giving Brad custody of Maddie to be moved aside. The judge ruled in her favor, and Maddie came home to Katherine. With her daughter in her arms once again, Katherine felt hope – hope she had been missing for far too long.
After several grueling months of litigation, the court ruled that Brad was abusive, was likely to perpetuate the abuse again, and therefor would receive limited visitation with Maddie. Furthermore, his girlfriend was forbidden to be around Maddie at any time, alleviating the anxiety Maddie had felt for so long at the prospect of ever having to see her again.
The Genesis Client Legal Assistance Program gives clients like Katherine and their children the chance for a brighter, abuse-free life. Our dedicated attorneys fight tirelessly to ensure these brave women no longer have to endure the abuse and trauma they have known, at no cost and with no strings attached.
*Names have been changed for confidentiality.
3) What programs and initiatives do you have scheduled for the upcoming year?
In addition to the amazing fundraising events we have coming up like the First Ladies’ Bruncheon and Genesis Jamfest, each winter we host the Genesis Holiday Program for clients of Genesis. While the holiday season can be a special time for some, it can be a stressful or scary situation in homes where abuse is present. The Genesis Holiday Program allows our amazing community to rally around the women and children at Genesis by “adopting a family” to fulfill their entire gift wish list or providing a gift to a child. This program is so special to us not only because of the support we receive from the community, but because we can help bring some holiday magic back into the homes of those we serve and remind them that they are loved, seen and supported.
Learn more about Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support.