OU Law Announces Pros for Africa $100,000 Donation

NORMAN – University of Oklahoma College of Law Dean Joseph Harroz recently announced a new affiliation with Pros for Africa that will enhance the non-profit's mission to assist African children and the college’s global educational offerings.

OU Law Professor Cheryl Wattley and students Courtney Ernston and Brandon Cato will join more than 70 Pros for Africa volunteers traveling to Uganda this spring to construct a school, provide medical care and distribute food, water and clothing to children. The volunteer group consists of athletes, doctors, attorneys, academic and business professionals, and entertainers. Pros for Africa has donated $100,000 to support OU’s participation in this trip and future initiatives by the law school’s International Human Rights Clinic.

"Our organizations are working together to energize students to experience other cultures, develop a lifetime commitment to meaningful service, and prepare for the increasingly global practice of law," Harroz said. "Pros for Africa has an amazing program in place, and we are thrilled to be involved in it. We are also honored that they have chosen to support our International Human Rights Clinic."

Wattley, who is also the director of clinical education in the OU College of Law, traveled to Uganda last January with the International Human Rights Clinic. The clinic identifies one African country scheduled for universal periodic review by the United Nations Human Rights Council and coordinates student and faculty travel to the selected country for the purpose of gathering information on selected human rights issues relating to indigenous peoples. Afterward, students submit a comprehensive report of their findings to the Human Rights Council as part of the periodic review process. The students’ Uganda report will be submitted later this month.

"Our organizations share the desire to improve life in Africa and provide life-changing worldly opportunities to Oklahomans at the same time," said Pros for Africa Co-founder and OU Law alumnus Reggie Whitten. "With our unique Uganda connection and so much potential for the future, this affiliation made perfect sense."

Pros for Africa was founded in 2009 by Adrian Peterson, Tommie Harris, Roy Williams, Mark Clayton, Reggie Whitten, Bill Horn, Jay Mitchel and Jared Mitchel. The Oklahoma City-based non-profit sends representatives to African nations to provide food, water, clothing, medicine and other necessities to children devastated by war, poverty and natural disaster. For more information about Pros for Africa, visit www.prosforafrica.com.

For immediate release                                    

Media contact: Evie Klopp Holzer, (405) 831-0709