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On April 16, The College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin honored Leslie Blanton with the Pro Bene Meritis Award at a special dinner. Recipients have shown outstanding dedication to the liberal arts. Blanton received the award because of her roles as "a dedicated philanthropist and champion of numerous arts and philanthropic organizations," according to the university's announcement.

Blanton graduated from the university in 1976 with a B.A. from Plan II Honors. She has since dedicated herself to numerous cultural and philanthropic organizations. She joined the board of Humanities Texas in 2006, offering her guidance and support to the organization ever since. She also sits on the regional board for Teach for America, the advisory councils of the Children's Museum of Houston, and the board of the Center for Reform of School Systems, among many others.

Blanton joined fellow honorees Maureen Decherd, Professor Emeritus Sidney Monas, and publisher Frances Vick at the awards dinner at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Vick, a former Humanities Texas board member, received the 2008 Humanities Texas Award in March.