Four years ago, the United States was plagued by a series of tragic deaths in Ferguson, Missouri, New York, and North Carolina that sparked unrest among communities nationwide.
Driven to take action and help young men in the San Antonio area, a group of former student‑athletes from Roosevelt High School in San Antonio, including Jackson Walker associate James Carlos McFall, came together to create a nonprofit aimed at bringing the community together and helping students strive for and achieve academic, social, and professional success. Since its foundation in 2015, Windcrest/Northeast Bridge Builders has obtained support from local community leaders, business leaders, and citizens. The group hosts a variety of events geared toward promoting community engagement and mentoring, and raises funds that are donated directly to Roosevelt Cluster schools and students. Jackson Walker has supported the group since the founding, including by performing pro bono legal services and serving as a sponsor for the group’s various initiatives, including the Golf Classic and Annual Scholarship Contest.
In a May 6th interview with San Antonio Living TV host Denise Cabello, James and fellow Bridge Builders Co-Founder Darnell Barnes, a lifelong friend and former teammate of James who is currently a coach at Roosevelt, sat down to discuss how the organization’s upcoming Golf Classic directly benefits students in the Roosevelt Cluster.
“The Golf Classic is committed to generating revenue for students in the community. We reach out to local business owners, ask them to fill a team, sponsor a hole, and we make it a fun event,” James said. In conjunction with the tournament, the group also holds an annual scholarship essay competition in which the winning student receives a $2,000 scholarship. As James said, the goal is to “help move the needle a little bit.”
The Bridge Builders Annual Golf Tournament & College Scholarship Essay Competition will take place take on Friday, May 24.
As a coach at the High School, Coach Barnes has seen firsthand what the organization and Annual Scholarship means to both students and their parents:
“A lot of the parents from the neighborhood already know us, but when they see that we’re trying to help their children and benefit them in going to college, they really, really appreciate it. So, anything that we can do to give back is what we’re trying to do.”
To learn more about Bridge Builders and their upcoming events, visit the organization’s website, Facebook (@WNEBridgeBuilders), Instagram (windcrest_nebridgebuilders), or News4SA’s “Support local students with a round of golf.” To explore the Firm’s longstanding and ongoing commitment to the community, visit the Community and Diversity & Inclusion pages.
Event Information
Third Annual Golf Classic and Scholarship Essay Competition
Friday, May 24, 2019 | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Windcrest Golf Course, 8600 Midcrown Rd., Windcrest, Texas 78239
Contact: wnebridgebuilders.org; wnebridgebuilders@gmail.com; Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Meet James
James Carlos McFall focuses his practice on entertainment, media, First Amendment, sports, and complex commercial litigation. He has represented clients in federal and state courts Texas and California. Since 2015, James has co-chaired the ABA’s First Amendment and Media Law Diversity Moot Court Competition, an annual competition which is designed to introduce minority law students to the practice of media law and to prominent members of the media bar.
