Each year, HYLA, with the support of Houston area law firms and corporate and public sector legal offices, helps brighten the holidays for children when it delivered donated gifts to Petersen and Grimes elementary schools as part of HYLA’s Adopt an Angel program.

HYLA coordinates with Petersen and Grimes Elementary Schools to collect wish lists from children and enlist law firms, corporate legal offices and public sector legal teams to help fulfill them. As the holidays near, attorneys adopt their “angels,” purchase and wrap gifts for them, and deposit the gifts at designated law firm drop-off points. HYLA volunteers then coordinate the delivery of the gifts to the children during “Santa Day” parties at their schools. This year Santa will arrive in the schools via his sleigh – a donated delivery truck rental – with a handful of HYLA elves, including one volunteer dressed as Santa.

For more information about this committee or to find out how you or your firm can get involved, please contact the committee chairs: 

The Program's History.

For over ten years, the Adopt an Angel Program has provided a healthy dose of holiday cheer to underprivileged students at Houston-area elementary schools and other charitable programs serving the needs of children. Children who otherwise would probably not receive gifts during the holidays are presented with clothing and toys donated by Houston lawyers and their staffs. Adopt an Angel committee members spend countless hours during a busy time of the year coordinating this impressive endeavor.

Each year, committee members ask every child to fill out a "wish list ." Although toys are always a favorite, most of the children also list basic clothing items (like socks and underwear) and school supplies. As soon as the committee members receive the lists from the school, they distribute them to attorneys and their staffs who purchase the items and wrap them for delivery. A few days before the students begin their holiday break, the committee members, with the assistance of Santa Claus, deliver the gifts to the children. The children are always delighted by this annual visit.

In 2008, the Adopt an Angel program provided presents to over 1600 children at Grimes Elementary, Petersen Elementary, Woodson Elementary, Casa de Esperanza, House of Tiny Treasures, Homes of St. Mark, and Star of Hope.  Adopt an Angel has been working with Grimes since the program's inception, and Petersen was added a few years later. Due the tremendous support from the Houston legal community, Adopt an Angel has been fortunate to expand in recent years to include three elementary schoole and four non-profit organizations.

The Program's Volunteers.

The success of the Adopt an Angel Program is dependent on the generosity and time of its volunteers, donors, and participants.  The program currently relies on over 70 firms, businesses, and organizations in the legal community, and over 1,200 individual volunteers.  If you or your firm, business, or organization has an interest in volunteering, donating, or participating in the Adopt an Angel Program this year, please contact one of the Program's Chairs.

The Program's Calendar.

The below schedule is tentative and should be confirmed with one of the Program Chair's.

Wish Lists Due From Schools/Non-Profits -- November 2, 2009
Wish List Packet Assembly Meetings -- November 9-11, 2009
Wish List Packets Distributed -- November 16-20, 2009
Gift Collection Days -- December 10-14, 2009
Gift Delivery Days -- December 14-18, 2009