Occupation Attorney Name Tom Tuohy | Role Author | |
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Born June 17, 1957 (age 66) ( 1957-06-17 ) Chicago, Illinois, United States Known for Founder of Dreams for Kids and Tuohy Law Offices Books Dreams for Kids: Changing the World, One Person at a Time, Kiss of a Dolphin Education DePaul University, DePaul University College of Law | ||
Tom Tuohy is an American attorney, author and philanthropist. He is the founder of Dreams for Kids, a nonprofit international youth empowerment organization and of Tuohy Law Offices. He is the author of two books, Kiss of a Dolphin, 2006, and the updated version, Dreams for Kids, Changing the World...One Person at a Time, 2010.
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Early life
Tom Tuohy was born June 17, 1957 in Austin of the Westside of Chicago. He lived with his parents and three siblings during the infamous "White Flight" era. At the age of 8 years old, Tuohy became the son of a single mother raising 4 young children on her own. His father, Patrick Jr., abandoned his family, leaving his mother, Mrs. Patricia Tuohy, to raise him and his three older siblings.
Education and career
At the age of 19, he began college at DePaul University and worked as a law clerk. He graduated with a B.S. in Marketing in 1979, and went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law. In 1981, Tuohy received a certificate in International Law from the University of Cambridge. He is also a Kellogg School of Northwestern University Executive Scholar and was selected for the Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders of Stanford University Graduate School of Business Center for Social Innovation.
During his freshman year in college, Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State, and founder of the 55 year Jesse White Tumbling Team walked into the office where Tuohy was working. The Jesse White Tumbling Team is a gymnastics and tutoring organization that has worked with tens of thousands of youth from poverty stricken areas of Chicago. Mr. White showed Tuohy how children were living in underprivileged areas of Chicago, specifically Cabrini Green. Mr. White became his mentor and lifelong friend after introducing Tuohy to the poverty of Cabrini Green and inspiring his future philanthropic work. Tuohy serves on the Jesse White Tumbling Team and Jesse White Scholars executive boards. Mr. White has served as the Chairman of the Dreams for Kids Advisory Board from its inception.
Tuohy Law Offices
In 1982, Tuohy founded Tuohy & Associates, now known as Tuohy Law Offices in Chicago. From 1983-1984 Tuohy served as Special Assistant Attorney General of Illinois. Tuohy's law firm assists clients in various areas from estate planning to personal injury. Mr. Tuohy is ranked in the top 5% of all attorneys in the United States for 14 consecutive years by Martindale Hubbell, rating him A/V, the highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards. Martindale Hubbell has been providing attorney ratings for more than 138 years, being the oldest and largest lawyer peer review rating system, basing their ratings on Legal Knowledge, Analytic Capabilities, Judgment, Communication Ability and Legal Experience. Avvo has also awarded Mr. Tuohy with a 10/10 score, its highest rating of superb, and the BBB has rated Tuohy Law Offices with an A+. In 2015, Mr. Tuohy was selected as a member of the Nations Top 1% by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
Philanthropic Work: Dreams for Kids
Tom Tuohy, founded dreams for Kids in 1989 at the request of his mother, Patricia Tuohy. In December 1989, Tuohy received a phone call from Ms. Clara Kirk of Clara’s House. Clara's House is a homeless shelter for women and children in the neighborhood of Englewood, Chicago, where 43% of residents live below poverty level. Dreams for Kids began its community outreach work on December 24, 1989 at Clara's House. Today, Dreams for Kids provides empowerment to at-risk youth, those who live in severe poverty and those with disabilities, by giving them opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others.