Impact Study: Philanthropy - An Attorney's Perspective on Building Communities and Leaders
by Louis "Tom" Runge, Jr.
Andrew Carnegie spent a lifetime amassing a fortune in the steel industry. He then spent the rest of his lifetime giving it away to establish libraries, fund schools and universities and invigorate scientific research. His philanthropy changed the world.
Fast forward to the twenty-first century. Bill Gates spent several decades amassing a fortune in the software industry. Today, he and his wife Melinda are using their charitable foundation to improve health, promote high school education and reduce extreme poverty. Their philanthropy also has the potential to change the world.
Philanthropy is a powerful change agent. It builds stronger communities and strong leaders. The beauty of it is that you don't have to be famous nor do you have to be a billionaire to create impact as a philanthropist. This is why Ellis Lawhorne has made a commitment to be actively philanthropic as a firm and as individuals, committing leadership, volunteer hours and dollars to unmet needs in the Midlands.
"We must not only give what we have, we must also give what we are."
The South Carolina Bar encourages all attorneys to perform pro bono work for those who need legal services, but cannot afford them. Ellis Lawhorne embraces this philosophy. We see philanthropy as a way to invest in our community and also in our people, improving both in the process. We have found that the quality of life of our attorneys and staff is much greater when we look beyond being an exceptional law firm and strive to become better citizens by helping those in need. Philanthropy is not just about dollars, it's also about deeds. We've made it a practice to complement financial gifts to charities with donations of our talents and time as leaders, roll-up-the-sleeves volunteers and as pro bono attorneys.
As a Firm, we support three main charities: HomeWorks of America, which repairs homes of financially and physically disadvantaged elderly in our community; the Midlands Homeless Alliance, which seeks to provide temporary shelter for our community's homeless; and the Trinity Housing Authority, which operates St. Lawrence Place, a transitional housing facility for homeless families. It's no coincidence that all three are focused on either placing or keeping people in homes. Shelter is a basic human need. We believe it is a tragedy that so many in our community find themselves without a home or are threatened with losing their home for various reasons. Getting and keeping people in stable homes is a top priority for Ellis Lawhorne.
Our support for these organizations includes providing leadership. For example, I serve as Chairman of the Board of the Trinity Housing Corporation. My colleague, Cliff Moore, is Chairman of the Board of HomeWorks. Another colleague, David Sojourner, is the former Chairman of the Board of the Central Carolina Community Foundation. Our legal knowledge and experience solving complex business and personal issues are strengths valued by the boards of non-profit organizations.
My background in business, real estate, and finance has been a significant benefit to the Trinity Housing Authority. We are currently involved in a substantial rehabilitation of St. Lawrence Place, updating and refurbishing 30 living units. There's been a tremendous amount of work involved securing grants and loans and hiring and overseeing contractors. My experience has helped streamline the process. My former life in banking has helped at the Board level and when working with residents.
Ellis Lawhorne is also very hands-on with HomeWorks. Cliff Moore is very involved in raising money, recruiting volunteers and organizing building blitzes. Cliff also has recruited many other Ellis Lawhorne attorneys to the HomeWorks cause. We've provided legal assistance, helped find a warehouse for donated tools and supplies, and sent teams of attorneys and staff members to repair homes and provide meals for volunteer workers. In 2008, the South Carolina Bar recognized Ellis Lawhorne as the Pro Bono Firm of the Year for our work on behalf of HomeWorks. This was the second time in the firm's 29-year history Ellis Lawhorne has received this honor.
Philanthropy improves communities, but also those performing philanthropic works
At Ellis Lawhorne, the Firm's commitment to philanthropy has fostered a greater sense of team spirit among our attorneys and staff because it is something we all believe in and work on together after hours. It fills people with a sense of pride to be associated with a law firm that places a priority on helping others. There's no doubt the good feelings that come from repairing the home of an elderly person or from helping a single mother find a home or a job spills over into our workplace.
The other thing we've experienced at Ellis Lawhorne is that our people don't stop with the "official" charities. All of our attorneys and many of our staff are actively engaged in more than 75 nonprofit organizations as board members, volunteers, youth coaches, Sunday school teachers, and other positions. These activities are vital to the health of the Midlands community. Each act of volunteerism makes the Midlands a better place to live and work and enriches the lives of people in need. It has helped build the confidence, compassion and leadership abilities of our people.
One of the miracles of philanthropy is that it survives and in many cases flourishes during economic downturns. At Ellis Lawhorne, people are particularly motivated to get involved. People recognize the need is great and respond. Any gift of time or money is welcomed and helps the cause. It could be a donation of paint for HomeWorks or toiletry items for the Midlands Homeless Alliance. Need sparks help which leads to hope.
My advice to others
You don't have to be Andrew Carnegie or Bill and Melinda Gates to have an impact on the Midlands community and on others who can benefit from your leadership and largess. Volunteer to be a coach or Sunday school teacher. Make cupcakes for a bake sale. Volunteer for a board or committee. It's really very simple—get involved. Your philanthropy will make a difference.
