Our Volunteers
Foundation's 2026 Luncheon Award Winners
The Arizona Bar Foundation will recognize the outstanding public service of five Arizona attorneys and organizations and the top pro bono attorneys at the State Bar of Arizona’s annual convention. These attorneys have made significant contributions to promoting access to justice for Arizonans through pro bono work and legal advocacy.
“The Foundation is honored to recognize the outstanding contributions each of these awardees have made in promoting access to justice.” said Kevin Ruegg, Arizona Bar Foundation CEO. “Their dedication and leadership is a shining light for all to follow as we strive toward making our Pledge of Allegiance a daily reality – “with liberty and justice for all.”
Award winners were selected based on nominations from their peers and colleagues and will be honored during the Foundation’s annual awards luncheon at the State Bar’s convention in Tucson on June 25th, 2026. Those recognized include:
Walter E. Craig Distinguished Services Award
Hon. Samuel Thumma
William E. Morris Pro Bono Service Award
J. Robert Walston Jr.
Hon. Thomas Fink
Mark Santana Law Related Education Award
Hon. Joseph Welty
Dee-Dee Samet
Columbia Bank
Thank you to the 2026 Top Pro Bono Volunteers:
Learn more here.
Foundation's 2026 Law Related Education Award Winners
LRE Officer of the Year
The Law-Related Education Officer of the Year Award recognizes exceptional contributions of Arizona police and probation officers in furthering education and understanding of the role of the law in our democratic society. This award focuses on public awareness on the contributions that the officer provides to the community and Arizona schools.
Corey Radford
Corey Radford is actively involved in educational programming centered a wide range of Law-Related Education (LRE) topics, including traffic violations, mock crashes, misdemeanors, traffic rules, safe driving, bullying, vaping awareness, drug awareness, and harassment. He serves students at Mayer Junior/Senior High School in the Mayer Unified School District, a school of approximately 526 students. Corey is widely recognized for his strong character and meaningful interactions with students, consistently demonstrating a commitment to LRE and the use of best practices in education. Through his work, he has inspired many students to consider careers in law enforcement and related fields. In addition to his classroom impact, Corey is a dedicated mentor and role model who is approachable and supportive, fostering positive relationships with students. Beyond academics, he contributes to the school community as a football coach and participates in property clean-up efforts, showing his investment in both students and the broader community. His influence and dedication have been recognized through nominations from a student, a parent, and a teacher, highlighting the widespread respect he has earned.
John J. Ross Memorial Award for Excellence in Law-Related Education
This award recognizes exceptional contributions of Arizona educators in furthering understanding of the role of the law in our democratic society.
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