Congratulations to G. Michael Gruber, Chairman of CSF’s Dallas partner, the Children’s Education Fund. Today, the Dallas Lawyers Auxiliary awarded Mr. Gruber with the 2012 Justinian Award, which is given annually to a member of the Dallas Bar Association in recognition of volunteer efforts benefiting the community.

In addition to chairing the Children’s Education Fund, which is funding scholarships for almost 500 Dallas children to attend private school this year, Mr. Gruber chairs an annual benefit for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He is also involved with Dream Dallas, a Habitat for Humanity program raising $100 million to revitalize at-risk Dallas neighborhoods. And he has served on the boards of the North Texas Entrepreneurs Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council.

According to a Dallas Bar Association news release, Mr. Gruber was enrolled in his high school’s vocational education program for automotive mechanics. But his civics teacher, Nancy Solana, was impressed with how he spoke about government and politics in her class, and encouraged him to consider a career in law.

“I loved the class and the challenge of thinking on my feet and discussing the importance of the law in people’s lives. Nancy saw something that made her think I might make a good lawyer, and urged me to take the SAT exam,” he said. The SAT led to a four-year college scholarship to SMU, followed by law school at SMU.

Many years later, as founding partner of the law firm of Gruber Hurst Johansen Hail Shank, Mr. Gruber is helping other young people improve their lives through education.

You can read more about Mr. Gruber’s work at the Dallas Bar Association’s website.