A Newsletter from the
Foundation
Brief
Spring 2015
Our mission is to fund the advancement of justice by improving access, education and accountability.
Gala 2015 Full of Food, Fellowship and FUNdraising
Celebrating the Class of 1965 Nifty Fifty honorees and their guests gathered at the Hilton Columbia Center Hotel, where they enjoyed food, drinks and, of course, reminiscing with their classmates. After the reunion, Justice Costa Pleicones invited guests on a trip down memory lane to 1965, the year the class was admitted to the South Carolina Bar. In 1965, The Sound of Music premiered, the first US combat troops arrived in Vietnam and fashions changed as women’s skirts got shorter and men’s hair grew longer. Nods, smiles and laughter radiated from the group. Photographs of the members projected onto the screen as each attorney made his way to the podium to be inducted into this prestigious group. Each honoree received his Nifty Fifty pin and had his photograph taken with Gala Honorary Chair Inez Tenenbaum and Foundation Past President Beverly A. Carroll. To view the photographs, log on to www.scbarfoundation.org/gala.asp.
Photo credit: RIM Photography
On Saturday, January 24, 2015, more than 325 people gathered at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center for food, fellowship and fundraising at the Bar Foundation’s ninth annual gala. The event was themed with a 1960s flair, featuring classic cocktails, vintage fashion and iconic party food. The theme also gave an appropriate nod to our honorees of the evening — the Nifty Fifty Class of 1965.
Honorees and guests enjoy drinks and food at the Nifty Fifty Celebration.
After the pinning ceremony, the Nifty Fifty arrived at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, where they were honored in front of the gala crowd. Guests applauded each honoree and then raised their glasses for a toast to the Class of 1965. “We thank you for your years of service and for your leadership and example for those of us who follow you,” said Beverly A. Carroll, the Foundation’s past president and the evening’s emcee. “Cheers!” Continued on page 2
Photo credit: RIM Photography
Nifty Fifty Class of 1965 from left to right (back row): Thomas F. Batson, Charles H. Cook, James R. Thompson, O. Eugene Powell Jr., Everette H. Newman, R. Bruce Shaw, Michael D. Glenn, (front row) Harry J. Haynsworth IV, Wade Ronald Crow, Armand Georges Derfner and Jack Lynn
Gala 2015 Wrap Up
Continued from Page 1
A Message from the Honorary Chair
Photo credit: RIM Photography
The lights dimmed as the screens in the room illuminated to introduce the 2014 SC Bar Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year, John E. Robinson. In his on-screen interview, Robinson emphasized the importance of pro bono work SC Bar President Cal Watson and how this work enhances the (right) congratulates John E. Robinson. reputation of the legal profession. “All lawyers are public servants. Fulfilling a pro bono function is a very important way to affirm the lawyer’s oath that we take.” Photo credit: RIM Photography
The next honoree, Kimaka Nichols-Graham, was celebrated as the 2014 Ellen Hines Smith Legal Services Lawyer of the Year. A dedicated public servant at SC Legal Services since 1998, Nichols-Graham knew at a young SC Access to Justice Commission age she wanted to help people. Chairman Matthew T. Richardson (right) congratulates Kimaka “I always had questions about Nichols-Graham. people having access and having a voice,” said Nichols-Graham. “Every single case matters.”
Honorary Chair Inez Tenenbaum
addresses the gala crowd.
Honorary Chair Inez Tenenbaum took to the podium and addressed the crowd. “Civil legal aid levels the playing field by providing legal assistance and representation and access to information so people can know their rights and responsibilities,” said Tenenbaum. “It is essential to fulfilling our nation’s fundamental promise of justice for all, not just for the few who can afford it.”
Tenenbaum also explained why individual support of the Bar Foundation by members of the profession is critical. “Your support saves someone from losing his or her home. Your support reunites a father with his children. Your support keeps a woman safe through an Order of Protection. Your support enriches the minds and lives of youth through law related education opportunities,” said Tenenbaum. “The benefits are real.” Placing those bids In between enjoying 1960s-themed food and music, guests gathered at the silent auction tables to place their bids on fantastic items, including gift certificates, sports memorabilia, gift baskets and more. Guests also “oohed and ahhed” over a special portion of the silent auction — Lawyer-Made Art. Lawyers from around the state showed off their Examples of the lawyer-made art pieces featured in artistic talents with the gala’s silent auction. paintings, pottery, knitting, photography and jewelry.
Want to hear from the night’s honorees? Videos featuring our honorees can be found on the Foundation’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/scbarfoundation. To view the photographs from the night’s festivities, log on to www.scbarfoundation.org/gala.asp.
Photo credit: RIM Photography
Photo credit: RIM Photography
Remembering Stephen G. Morrison The next portion of the program, entitled “Martha’s Moment,” was named in honor of Martha B. Dicus and remembers those lawyers who passed too soon, but during their lifetimes displayed a tremendous commitment to public and professional service in the legal community. The Bar Foundation remembered the life and the work of Stephen G. Morrison. Morrison was a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina School Jim Lehman accepts of Law and a devoted community the award on behalf of Morrison’s family. activist. Individuals shared Morrison’s wisdom and how he impacted the legal profession. “He was a giver,” said Jim Lehman, managing partner of Nelson Mullins and Morrison’s longtime colleague. “He was a giver to his clients. He was a giver to our law firm. He was a giver to the community, and he was a giver to our profession.“
Photo credit: RIM Photography
Honoring the Dedicated Carroll then began another gala tradition — honoring two attorneys dedicated to legal services and to making a difference in the lives of South Carolinians.
GOING...GOING...GONE!
One component of the gala is the silent auction, which generated $10,000 for our grantees. The generous people and organizations that donated to the auction are listed below. Please support these businesses and be sure to thank them for their contributions to the event. Businesses Donating Good/Services: 1670 Tours Aerial Adventure Hilton Head BioEsthetics — Lori Nowell Blue Marlin BodyShop Athletics X Capital Genealogy Captain Telegram Carolina Panthers Chattooga Ridge Canopy Tours Coda del Pesce Columbia Arts Academy Columbia Museum of Art The Crescent Olive Cupcake Down South Dems Jewelers DiPrato’s Delicatessen Disney Corporation
Franklin Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Gwynn’s of Mount Pleasant High Thyme Cuisine Hilton Columbia Center Hotel Historic Columbia Foundation Indigo Road restaurants Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology The Mad Platter Mary Kay — Meredith Shirk Medieval Times Myrtle Beach NASCAR Hall of Fame The Pilates Studio Oktoberfest Columbia Poe’s Tavern Regions Bank Residence Inn Marriott Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
Ristorante Divino Ruth’s Chris Steak House Seasons in Hilton Head SC Philharmonic SC Lawyers Weekly Southern Valet Spoleto Festival, Charleston Springhill Suites Marriott Stella & Dot — Rebecca Goodrich Seezen Sunrise Farms, Inc. Taziki’s Cafe Tiger Lily Florist Town Theatre Villa Tronco WonderWorks Myrtle Beach Workshop Theatre Zipline Hilton Head
Additional Items donated by: Candace Bailey Mark Buyck Jr. Sarah Dippity Nathalie DuPree Dick Elliott Elaine Fowler Jay Geddings Kathy Hartzog
Annie Horzen Sandy House Roger Hutchison Margie Lambries Wallace Lightsey Melissa Ligon Kathy Moore
Megan Moore Rachel Moore Johnny Nutt Jenn Nyland Cathy West Olivetti Amy Quinn Marie-Louise Ramsdale
Robert & Susan Rosen Shannon Willis Scruggs Jim Sheedy Chris Stanzione Ashley Cole Story Bradish Waring Babs Warner Robin & Jeff Wheeler
A huge thanks to lawyers who donated art items for our silent auction: Jay Bender, artwork entitled “Not Always B&W” Darra Cothran, artwork entitled “Rainy Day Red” Robert Dodson, photography artwork Kimaka Nichols-Graham, artwork entitled “A Carolina Day” Michael Munden, earring and necklace set John Nichols, oil painting Catherine West Olivetti, mixed media map of SC Courtney Pawley, artwork and tree skirt Pamela Robinson, hand knitted baby sweater
Robert Rosen, signed copies of his books “The Jewish Confederates” & “A Short History of Charleston” Ashley Cole Story, wreath Michanna Talley, earrings, artwork, book Wentworth Tradd, artwork entitled “The Redbreasted Mustain” Cal Watson, photography artwork Sam Wilkins, clay and glaze pottery pitcher
An auction is only as good as those who are making bids. The Foundation is grateful to these tenacious bidders who went home with some wonderful items! Elizabeth Anders Andrew Gowdown René Josey Jennifer Rubin Rhonda Benfield Trey Judy Elizabeth Van Shannon Willis Scruggs Christine Blackstun Doren Gray Angela Kirby Eve Stacey Robin Blume Lila Kittredge David Tedder Will Hammett Chip Cappelmann Wallace Lightsey Rob Tyson Michelle Hardy Jack Cohoon William McGough Melissa Walker George Harper Cindy Coker Dorothy Milianta Babs Warner John Harper Bruce & Debbie Kirby Mitchell Cal Watson J.M. Harvey Debbie Mollycheck Deutschmann Robin Wheeler Cheryl Holland Megan Moore Deidre Dixon Sandra Willis Todd & Kristin Andy & Jenn Nyland Earl Ellis Bill Wilson Horzen Gary Patterson Elaine Fowler Carrington Wingard Melissa Irvin Chris Ramsey Bob Gahagan Tom Winslow Robin Jackson Pamela Roberts Byron Gipson Mindy Zimmerman Meliah Jefferson
Special thank you to those who helped make Gala 2015 a success: Abacus Planning Group Agnes & Tim Babb Robin Blume & Rick Ellis
Tara Caine Bev Carroll Mitzi Daniels Helen Dovell
Cathy West Olivetti Susan Rosen Sandra Willis
A Conversation with Lonnie Doles SC Legal Services’ First AmeriCorps Equal Justice Works Fellow When you meet Lonnie Doles, his passion for public interest law is evident. Behind his smile and friendly personality is a determined individual whose passion for helping others has led him to use his law degree for the public good. Growing up in the Mount Pleasant area, Lonnie loved helping those in need in his community. When he entered the University of South Carolina School of Law, Lonnie quickly realized that public interest law was his passion. During his time as a law student, Lonnie could always be relied upon to help volunteer lawyers provide legal assistance to homeless individuals at Columbia’s Transitions shelter. “There was not a time when I asked Lonnie for help on a pro bono project that he didn’t step up — whether it was research or as a volunteer law clerk on a case,” says Pam Robinson, director of the USC Pro Bono Program. “After his first year of law school, Lonnie was a natural choice for one of the Pro Bono program’s coveted SC Bar Foundation Public Interest Fellowship positions to work as a law clerk at SC Legal Services. The match was a perfect fit.” Lonnie, a 2014 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, is now serving as an Employment Opportunity Fellow for South Carolina Legal Services. This is the first AmeriCorps Equal Justice Works Fellow that SC Legal Services has hosted.
The fellowship is comprised of young lawyers throughout the country dedicated to removing legal barriers to employment for those in need. Lonnie helps clients with criminal record issues, expungements, pardons, correcting errors on their records and occasionally challenging a charge or conviction. He also helps clients deal with identification, licensing, transportation, housing benefits or child support payment issues, all of which can be barriers to stable employment. At the end of the day, Lonnie sees the most rewarding part of the fellowship in the reaction from his clients. “Many of our clients are so used to being ignored and disenfranchised that something as simple as listening to their problems can help considerably,” said Lonnie. “The goal of our profession is the pursuit of justice, but that isn’t truly attainable until we can make justice accessible for all in our society, not just the ones who can pay for an attorney.” This is the first interview in a new video series entitled “Heart to Heart,” which focuses on grantee programs, individuals and volunteers dedicated to bettering the lives of others. To watch Lonnie’s full interview, log on to youtube.com/scbarfoundation. Want to get involved with SCLS? Contact Andrea Loney, Executive Director, at (803) 744-4179 or andrealoney@sclegal.org. Photo credit: RIM Photography
Gala 2015 Snapshots
“I wanted to apply for the fellowship because of my previous work with SC Legal Services. I was lucky enough to work here the summer after my first year of law school and really fell in love with public interest law,” says Lonnie.
Tribute Gifts
The Bar Foundation gratefully acknowledges those who have made gifts in tribute of a colleague or friend of the Bar for the period September 1, 2014 — February 28, 2015. Names in bold denote the honoree. IN MEMORY OF Dorothy D. “Dot” Anderson Mark W. Buyck Jr. Roy D. Bates Danny C. Crowe Hon. Walter J. Bristow Jr. L. Henry McKellar Robert W. Burkett Hon. Howard P. King A. Crawford Clarkson Jr. Hon. Catherine H. Kennedy Col. Charles Rook Counts Herman S. Caldwell Jr. Martha B. Dicus Thomas L. Bruce Eve M. Stacey Judge & Mrs. Frank Eppes Frank L. Eppes John B. Foster Charles P. Edwards David L. Freeman Wallace K. Lightsey Julian H. Gignilliat R. Read Gignilliat Andrew D. Grimes Hon. T. L. Hughston Jr. C.T. Nettles James W. “Bill” Hancock Jr. Beverly A. Carroll Hon. Falcon B. Hawkins Jean T. Hawkins Joseph William “Joey” Heape Hon. Catherine H. Kennedy
Harold W. Jacobs
Morris D. Rosen
SC Bar President 1973
SC Bar President 1979
T.E. Allen III John M. Bleecker Jr. Elaine H. Fowler Knox & Priscilla Haynsworth Hon. T. L. Hughston Jr. Russell T. Infinger Hon. J. Ernest Kinard Jr. Hon. Howard P. King Sylvia J. McDonald Julian J. Nexsen Jr. H. Hugh Rogers Robert S. Wells
Elliott T. Halio
B. Henderson Johnson Robert S. Wells Prof. Coleman Karesh Terry and Sylvia “Jeanne” Breen Kevin K. Kenison Edward G. Burns James C. McLeod Jr. Thornwell F. Sowell III Stephen G. Morrison George B. Cauthen William C. Hubbard Hon. Catherine H. Kennedy Patrick C. Wooten Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP Hon. Jamie Lee Murdock Jr. Debbie S. Mollycheck G. Dewey Oxner Jr. Louise E. Oxner
Barbara A. Scott Hon. Catherine H. Kennedy Roy McBee Smith Charles P. Edwards Margaret S. Williams Hon. Catherine H. Kennedy
IN HONOR OF Hon. Lee S. Alford Beverly A. Carroll Stuart M. Andrews Jr. Robin F. Wheeler Grady L. Beard Rebecca Laffitte Cal Watson Hoover C. Blanton Susan F. Campbell J. Steedley Bogan Cal Watson Thomas L. Bruce Susan B. Berkowitz Hon. William R. Byars Hon. Tommy B. Edwards Beverly A. Carroll David A. White George B. Cauthen Robin F. Wheeler
Hon. O.A. Rankin Robert D. Robbins
Gray T. Culbreath Rebecca Laffitte Cal Watson
D. Gene Rickenbaker Hon. Howard P. King McDougall & Self, LLP
Tina M. Cundari Cal Watson Anne S. Ellefson Cal Watson
Robert M. Ethridge Cal Watson
John E. Robinson George B. Cauthen
Beth Ramsey Faulkner Beverly A. Carroll
SC Access to Justice Commissioners — past, present and future Robin F. Wheeler
Elaine H. Fowler Hon. Kaye G. Hearn & George M. Hearn Jr. Hon. Catherine H. Kennedy Lanneau W. Lambert Jr.
SC Bar LRE programs and staff David C. Shea
Elizabeth Van Doren Gray Rebecca Laffitte Cal Watson
Shannon Willis Scruggs Hon. Kaye G. Hearn & George M. Hearn Jr.
Nicolas L. Haigler Rebecca Laffitte
Thornwell F. Sowell III Rebecca Laffitte Cal Watson
Amy L.B. Hill Rebecca Laffitte Cal Watson Clifford O. Koon Jr. Leigh J. Leventis Rebecca Laffitte Cal Watson Thomas E. McCutchen Jr. Susan F. Campbell Dana C. Mitchell III Jr. David M. Yokel Debbie S. Mollycheck Beverly A. Carroll Michael H. Montgomery Rebecca Laffitte Julian J. Nexsen Julian J. Nexsen Jr. Alice F. Paylor Cal Watson Pamela J. Roberts Cal Watson
Robert E. Stepp Rebecca Laffitte Cal Watson Ashley C. Story George B. Cauthen Monteith P. Todd Rebecca Laffitte Cal Watson Robert E. Tyson Jr. Rebecca Laffitte Cal Watson Elizabeth H. Warner Hon. J. Michael Baxley Cal Watson Cal Watson Hon. Kaye G. Hearn & George M. Hearn Jr. Rebecca Laffitte Lanneau W. Lambert Jr. Robert S. Wells Cal Watson William K. Witherspoon Cal Watson
When “thank you” just isn’t enough...recognize your mentor with a tribute gift. Let everyone know just how much your mentor has impacted your career by honoring them today or memorializing them tomorrow. The Bar Foundation also lists tribute gifts online at www.scbarfoundation.org.
Memory Hold the Door The South Carolina Bar Foundation is proud to continue its support of the South Carolina Bar and the University of South Carolina School of Law’s Memory Hold the Door program. Memory Hold the Door was established in 1958 to preserve “the spirit and high ethical and professional standards of past leaders of the legal profession.” The Foundation contributes funds to commemorate those selected by the 2015 Memory Hold the Door Ceremony Memory Hold the Door committee. The funds will be used to promote John Mann Photography the welfare of the legal profession by funding lectures and student scholarships as well as academic research and related programs. This year’s honorees were celebrated on Thursday, January 22, during the 2015 SC Bar Convention in Columbia.
Honorees
Isadore S. Bernstein Coming B. Gibbs Jr. G. Dewey Oxner Jr. D. Michael Parham H.F. “Pete” Partee Claude M. Scarborough Jr. Robert P. Wilkins Sr. Hon. Karen J. Williams Eugene N. “Nick” Zeigler
Individuals and law firms wishing to honor the selection of an individual to Memory Hold the Door may do so with a tribute gift to the SC Bar Foundation. A donation form is included below or you may make your gift online at www.scbarfoundation.org.
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
Columbia, SC Permit No. 104
PO Box 608, Columbia, SC 29202
Donor
FORM
Name:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ E-Mail:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Gift Amount: $____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Check: (please make payable to SC Bar Foundation and mail to address below) Credit Card: Card Holder’s Name:___________________________________________________________________________________________ Card Number:_________________________________________________________________________________________________ Exp. Date____________ Security Code: ___________ Zip Code:______________ Authorized Signature:_________________________________________________________________________________________ T H A N K YO U FO R YO U R S U P P O RT !
Designation (choose one): Apply my gift where it is needed most Children’s Fund Disabled Lawyers Fund Brewer Professionalism Fund Other information: My gift is a tribute gift in honor/memory of: Name__________________________________________ City________________________________State______ Tribute gifts are applied to the General Fund.
I have included the Bar Foundation in my will.
Three ways to remit payment 1. Credit card – complete form above 2. Online at www.scbarfoundation.org 3. Send a check, payable to the Foundation, to the address below: SC Bar Foundation, Attn: Ms. Shannon W. Scruggs, PO Box 608, Columbia, SC 29202
Spring 2015