FEATURED: Attorney Leah Wise of McAllen will be serving on Thursday, September 21 as the Honorary Chair of the 2023 Black and White Awards Gala to benefit Angels of Love, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women and children who are victims of domestic violence. The event, to be held at the Regency Galeria, will recognize community members who embody the mission of Angels of Love. This image of Wise was taken on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at the studios of KRGV-TV in Weslaco.
Photo Courtesy LEAH WISE FACEBOOK
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Attorney Leah Wise, rising star in social media with proven successes in court, selected Honorary Chair of the 2023 Black & White Awards Gala to raise funds on September 21 for Angels of Love
DAVID A. DÍAZ
[email protected]
McAllen attorney Leah Wise, whose mastery of social media and a proven track record of successes in court are making her one of the more visible and youngest public figures in the South Texas legal profession, has been chosen to serve as the Honorary Chair of the 2023 Black & White Awards Gala, set for Thursday, September 21, at the Regency Center in Pharr.
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Social media refers to the means of interactions among people in which they create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. Some of the major social media platforms are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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The Black & White Awards Gala will serve as a fundraiser for Angels of Love, a nonprofit organization that works hand-in-hand with local law enforcement, prosecution, child protective services, medical providers, mental health providers, and victim advocacy professionals in Hidalgo County to protect and serve victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
This 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, headquartered at 409 West Nolana in McAllen, has served deep South Texas since 2010.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organizations, and they are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with Code section 170.
The 2023 Black & White Awards Gala, which begins at 6 p.m., will bring deserved public recognition upon area individuals who embody the organization’s mission, according to Della Fay Pérez-Rodríguez, President, Board of Directors, Angels of Love.
“The 2023 Black & White Awards Gala will feature an evening of music, silent auctions and awards celebrating years of service. Community leaders will be praised for their efforts in helping preventing violence through Angels of Love RGV’s victims’ services, access to the justice system, counseling and education for victims,” said Pérez-Rodríguez.
In addition to the awards, the evening will feature a plated dinner, music, and one of the Rio Grande Valley’s best silent auctions of the year, she added.
For more information or to make reservations, contact the Gala chairperson Luly Peña at (956) 650-2438.
Wise’s passion is empowering Latinas, according to a biographical sketch of Wise provided by Pérez-Rodríguez, which also included the following background:
Wise is the co-founder of “Latina Feature Friday”, a social media segment highlighting Latina-owned businesses in the RGV, runs a “CrashGal Mentorship Group” for aspiring Latina lawyers, and runs a business mentorship group for Latina entrepreneurs.
In 2021, she was named one of the best lawyers in the nation for securing the largest settlement in the state of Texas. Less than one percent of all lawyers in the U.S. achieve this distinction.
She was voted “Best Attorney” by the Valley Morning Star Reader’s Choice Awards in 2017 and 2018.
Wise is the first Latina injury attorney in the history of the Rio Grande Valley to advertise with Univision, KRGV Channel 5, and Lamar billboards.
In 2022, she founded the Leah Wise Latina Student Hardship Fund at St. Mary’s University School of Law in which she pledged $50,000 to the law school to help Latina law students experiencing financial hardship.
Wise enjoys spending time with her loved ones and advocating for women’s empowerment all over the nation.
Wise was born and raised in Harlingen and graduated from Harlingen High School in 2008.
She attended the University of Texas at Austin where she graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Political Communication and a concentration in women’s and gender studies.
Wise obtained her Doctor of Jurisprudence from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2016.
She opened her own law practice in 2016, the first Latina-owned law firm in South Texas dedicated 100 percent to personal injury. Since then, she has obtained millions of dollars in settlements for injured clients.
She is the owner of Leah Wise Law Firm, PLLC, her real estate investment company, Leah Wise Enterprises, LLC, her clothing line CrashGal Couture, LLC, and recently founded a non-profit called Wise Women Foundation.
Angels of Love was founded with the purpose of developing a full array of services for women, children and families who are victims of domestic violence. It is the organization’s intention to fill the service gaps left by underfunded and understaffed governmental services to women, children and their families.
It’s mission is “to provide victims of domestic violence of the Rio Grande Valley, and their families with individualized services in a safe and loving environment in order to provide them with the tools necessary to restore each woman and child to a healthy self-worth and healthy family setting.”
The 2023 Board of Directors for Angels of Love are:
• Della Fay Pérez-Rodríguez
President
• Christina DeMara
Vice-President
• Lupita Herrera
Secretary
• Michelle Tanguma
Treasurer
• Luly Peña
Assistant Treasurer
• Vacant
Parliamentarian
• Michelle Villagran
Vice Chair of Programs
• Sara Guerra
Vice Chair of Public Relations
Tessa Corral
Vice Chair of Marketing
• Sara Guerra
Vice Chair of Social Media
• Marie García
Vice Chair of Development
• Sandra Vicencio
Vice-chair of Shelter Operations
• Adalira Abraham
• Ana Alanis
• Vivi Chapa
• Liria Foster
• Brenda Greagrey
• Elizabeth Chávez Palacios
• Mary Lou Vicencio
Advisory Council
• Jacklyn Báez
• Mayra Gutiérrez
• Karla Lezama
• Laura Acosta
• Dalinda Rodríguez
• Brenda Moreno
• Cristina Solis Wilson
• Cindy Cavazos Méndez
• Cris Cuevas
• Cynthia Martínez
• Carla Sandoval
• Norma Longoria
• Mary Treviño
• Eva León
• Cindy González
• Linda Mireles
For more information about Angels of Love’s mission and goals or to join the Board of Directors, call (956) 972-0685, or go to the its website:
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