The trustees of the Justice Frank F. Drowota Trust, a charitable fund dedicated to providing supplemental financial support to direct providers of civil legal services, have announced grant recipients for 2025. These awards highlight organizations that continue to advance justice for low-income Tennesseans through advocacy, representation and community outreach.

Buck Lewis presents a check to Betsy Prendergast (left), executive director of the Community Legal Center.

The 2025 grant recipients are:

• Legal Aid of East Tennessee (LAET): Serving communities from the Tri-Cities to Chattanooga, LAET provides civil legal assistance to thousands of individuals and families facing issues such as domestic violence, housing insecurity, consumer fraud and access to benefits. The organization has strong community partnerships and broad geographic reach.
• Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS): Covering a large and diverse region, LAS offers legal help to low-income clients in matters involving family law, health care access, housing, employment and consumer issues. Its advocacy spans urban and rural areas, ensuring that underserved communities receive consistent, high-quality support.
• West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS): WTLS focuses on safeguarding the rights of vulnerable residents throughout West Tennessee. The organization assists clients with pressing civil legal needs, including landlord-tenant disputes, consumer protection, family safety and elder law, while maintaining a strong presence in local courts and community institutions.
• Community Legal Center (CLC): CLC specializes in providing affordable civil legal services and immigrant assistance in the Memphis area. CLC offers representation, legal clinics and community education programs that help families navigate challenges such as immigration status, family conflict and housing instability.
• Tennessee Justice Center (TJC): A statewide nonprofit advocacy organization, TJC works on high-impact cases and policy matters affecting health care access, child welfare, nutrition assistance, and long-term care. Its work often benefits entire populations of low-income Tennesseans, making it a crucial partner in systemic reform.

Launch of the Trust’s New Website

In addition to announcing the 2025 grant recipients, the trust has launched its new website, DrowotaTrust.com. The site serves as a comprehensive resource, offering:

• Information about the mission, history and purpose of the trust
• Profiles of the trustees
• News updates
• A convenient and secure way for supporters to donate.

The new site reflects the trust’s commitment to transparency, accessibility and community engagement.

Continuing the Commitment to Access to Justice

The Drowota Trust honors the legacy of former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank F. Drowota III, whose lifelong commitment to fairness and equal justice continues to inspire. By providing supplemental funding, the trust strengthens the capacity of these organizations to serve Tennesseans who might otherwise face the legal system alone.

As the Drowota Trust expands its outreach and deepens its support for key legal service organizations, it continues to play an essential role in strengthening Tennessee’s civil justice landscape. The 2025 grants reaffirm the trust’s belief that every Tennessean — regardless of income — deserves meaningful access to legal assistance and a fair chance at justice.

Former Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) President Buck Lewis, retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee and Claire Drowota, the widow of Justice Drowota, volunteer their services as trustees. Lewis and his wife, Malinda Lewis, along with Claire Drowota, made substantial donations to the trust in 2024. In 2025, former TBA President Marcy Eason, Jerry Summers and Sonya Smith Wright made generous donations. If you want to support the mission of the Drowota Trust, you may donate on the website or contact Buck Lewis at blewis@bakerdonelson.com for more information regarding bequests, distributions from retirement and 401k accounts, life insurance directives and other forms of support. |||

Update submitted by Sharon Lee, special counsel with Brock Shipe Klenk PLC in Knoxville and former Tennessee Supreme Court justice.