John Eix and Tekeste Woldezghi Receive Firm’s David F. Peters Community Service Award

Each year, Hunton & Williams recognizes staff members who have made exceptional contributions to civic and charitable activities with the firm’s David F. Peters Community Service Award. Mr. Peters, chair of the Richmond Pro Bono Committee from 1994 to 1999, was often characterized as the “inventor of the moral compass” and lived that philosophy through his leadership in the firm’s pro bono efforts and his distinguished service to many charitable organizations and his church.

The 2015 recipients from Dallas are John Eix, marketing and client development, and Tekeste Woldezghi, records department.

John Eix and his wife have children who are on the autism spectrum, two of them age 15. Autism is characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, and verbal and nonverbal communication. Based on his personal experience as a parent, and because he cares not only for his kids, but also for others’ kids, John co-founded the nonPareil Institute, a center for training young adults with autism to work in the technology industry. John has worked as a volunteer for approximately 240 hours toward this endeavor.

Tekeste Woldezghi has spent between 5 to 8 hours each week helping to educate and acclimate Dallas/Fort Worth area United Eritrean-American Families into the community. As part of his service, he conducts biweekly board meetings, monthly members meetings, and was recently recognized by City Councilman Dwaine Caraway for the Eritrean community’s contributions to the City of Dallas. Those contributions, led in part by Tekeste, included hosting sporting and cultural festivals that attracted large numbers of guests to our area.