Dennis Harrison, chief development officer at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, is the recipient of the Jacksonville Bar Association’s 2025 Liberty Bell Award.
The organization presents the award each year to a non-lawyer who has gone above and beyond in service to the legal community, promoting civic responsibility and advancing the rule of law.
In that role, Harrison creates and then oversees the major fundraising initiatives for JALA, including the Freed to Run marathon series that raised more than $2.6 million for civil legal aid for people in Northeast Florida who need an attorney to represent them, but cannot afford to pay.
“He is a creative and logistical force. His impact is felt throughout the legal and philanthropic communities. He connects our entire city to the mission of justice,” JBA President Christian George said as he presented the award.
Harrison said he and his family moved to Jacksonville from Washington, D.C., almost 10 years ago.
“After 10 years, I have another family at JALA,” he said.
