Lugar de Noticias Haynes and Boone
J. Kent Friedman in Houston Lawyer Magazine: Local Heroes
07/05/2012
Volunteering is a way of life for many HBA members. They help children, the elderly, the displaced, the downtrodden. Some provide their legal expertise; some provide a helping hand in other areas. They spend countless hours working to better their communities. The HBA members profiled here represent a small sampling of the diverse volunteer efforts of lawyers in our city. They improve the profession, enrich their own lives, and empower the lives of others.
When a late Houston Congressman George Thomas “Mickey” Leland travelled to Israel in 1979, the seeds of a mission were planted. Inspired by his trip, the Congressman dreamed of establishing a foundation that would sponsor inner city teenagers from his beloved 18th Congressional District to make a similar journey, allowing them to broaden their understanding of the world and of themselves. His dream became a reality in 1980 and has continued to thrive after his death, thanks in large part to his close friend, J. Kent Friedman. To honor the vision of the Congressman, who died tragically on a hunger mission to Ethiopia in 1989, Kenny Friedman helped establish the Mickey Leland Kibbutzim Internship Program in 1980 and has worked tirelessly to maintain the program for over 30 years.
Excerpted from Houston Lawyer Magazine, May/June 2012 issue. To view full article, click here.