News Releases

April 23, 2010

AUSTIN, Texas (April 23, 2010) – Austin Habitat for Humanity has bestowed Mitchell Williams attorney Larry Parks with its prestigious Fuller Life Award for lifetime achievement in serving the community. The local housing non-profit celebrated Parks and others as part of National Volunteer Week last Saturday.

This prestigious award for service through partnership with Austin Habitat was presented by President and CEO Michael Willard at the organization’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Party, held this year at Shady Springs Party Barn in southeast Austin. The award receives its name from the late Millard Fuller who founded Habitat for Humanity International in 1976.

Austin Habitat honored Parks “because of his long-time commitment to affordable homeownership in Austin” according to a news release. Parks first became involved with Austin Habitat 12 years ago when it was recruiting volunteers to blitz build 12 houses in 12 days. Since then, he has worked on 25 homes – a number that holds special significance in Austin Habitat for Humanity’s 25th anniversary year.

Parks originally came to Austin Habitat to fill the free time he had on Saturdays when his daughters entered their teenage years. He also had construction skills, as his grandfather was a carpenter and his father built three of the homes his family lived in. Before long, however, he grew to appreciate the Austin Habitat story on a very personal level.

“I can still remember one of the first homeowners I built with on Cedar Street,” Parks says. “Two years before, she had been unemployed and homeless. When someone asked what she was most looking forward to about her new Habitat home, she replied, ‘No one can tell me I have to leave.’ Every home has a story, and every donor and volunteer is just blessed to be a part of that.”  

Another important part of Parks’ Habitat story is two volunteers he transports to the construction site from Marbridge, a central Texas community for adults with cognitive challenges. Both individuals have been volunteering for eight and seven years respectively, and bring an infectious enthusiasm to the worksite. Parks says they have become two of his closest friends. 

 “He is the quintessential supporter,” said Austin Habitat Development Manager Julie Smith about her nomination of Parks for the award. “He donates a substantial amount every year to our homebuilding program. He volunteers, and recruits other volunteers to the Austin Habitat family. He advocates by speaking about the Habitat mission to groups throughout Austin. He does it all.”

Austin Habitat depends on volunteers like Parks to accomplish its mission of putting people in stable, affordable homes. The Volunteer Appreciation Party was a celebration of the extraordinary efforts of these individuals during the current housing crisis. The event aligned with National Volunteer Week, the theme of which for 2010 is “Celebrating People in Action.”

Parks is a civil trial lawyer with more than 30 years experience and has been certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization as a civil trial specialist since 1984. His trial work includes class action defense, business relationships, government regulation, policy issues for insurers and agents, real estate easements and restrictions.

Mitchell Williams supports Austin Habitat through its Take Time To Give community service initiative that provides monetary and volunteer support to civic and charitable organizations throughout Texas, Arkansas and the region. Additional information about the firm’s efforts and the more than150 organizations it supports can be found at www.TakeTimeToGive.com.

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