SPrInG 2012

If You Weren’t There — You Missed Out!You may have seen recent Foundation news that the 2012 Gala generated in excess of $41,000 with a record-breaking crowd of 446 registered guests! Those totals mark the highest producing gala that the Foundation has ever held. In 2011, the gala proceeds just topped $26,000 making the 2012 party a true banner event.

The Foundation had the good fortune to combine the gala with the 2012 Bar Convention, which also exceeded past attendance levels. The event celebrated the Nifty Fifty of the South Carolina

Bar – the classes of 1961 and 1962. Gala 2012 marked the sixth year where the Bar Foundation honored the Nifty Fifty. The tradition began in 2007 when the first gala was held in the atrium of the Columbia Museum of Art. Many people inquired as to why the Foundation chose to honor two classes. The short answer is this – when the Foundation started honoring the Nifty Fifty, we were a year behind. Technically, the honorees were in their 51st year. As such, the Foundation utilized the Bar Convention pairing as the opportunity to “catch up.” Honorees were greeted by Chief Justice Jean Hoefer Toal and Foundation President Wallace K. Lightsey. Presenting Sponsor Collins & Lacy’s Joel Collins heralded each attendee.

The Foundation maintained the tradition of honoring several other outstanding lawyers. The Ellen Hines Smith Legal Services Lawyer of the Year was awarded to Jack E. Cohoon. Jack is the Lead Employment Law Attorney at South Carolina Legal Services. The SC Bar Pro Bono Program selected Brad Cunningham (Town of Lexington), Tom Runge (Ellis Lawhorne) and Sowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte as its award recipients. Brad’s record of service is exemplary as he averages six pro bono cases annually. Tom’s pro bono work with the St. Lawrence Place and the SC HELP Project helped earn him the recognition. Sowell Gray’s efforts with the residents of Hannah House were the impetus for the firm’s recognition.

Photo by Rob Sprankle From left to right – A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr., Biff Sowell, Brad Cunningham,

Chief Justice Jean Hoefer Toal, Jack Cohoon and Tom Runge.

Photo by Rob Sprankle The Nifty Fifty who were able to attend the gala take time for a group photo.

Photo by Rob Sprankle Joel Collins presents the Nifty Fifty

honorees to the gala crowd.

A neWSleTTer frOm The SOuTh CArOlInA BAr fOunDATIOnOur mission is to fund the advancement of justice by improving access, education and accountability.

Gala 2012 By the Numbers:

$41,271.83 ....... total money raised to support grantees

446 .................. total registered guests

50 ..................... Nifty Fifty honorees and their guests

6 ....................... donors honored for lifetime giving accomplishments

2 ....................... incredible grantee stories

66 ..................... items up for bid

$8,475.00 ......... funds raised by auction alone

Impact of your support through Gala 2012 —

PrICeleSS. Keep reading for more gala coverage...

Businesses Donating Goods/Services:Abacus Planning Group Blue Marlin in the Vista Brioso Fresh Pasta Charwood Country Club Columbia Antique Mall Columbia City Ballet Columbia Marriott Downtown Columbia Museum of Art Dems Fine JewelersDiprato’s Donna’s House

Anne Cooper Doherty PhotographyHampton Inn Downtown Historic District Hilton Columbia Center Historic Charleston Foundation Historic Columbia Foundation Hyatt Regency Greenville Imperial Transportation Services Mack.Home The Mad Platter Mast General Store

Miss Cocky Motor Supply My Gym Children’s Fitness Village of SandhillsPattiCakesThe Picture Place Pink SorbetA. William Roberts Jr. & Associates Ruth’s Chris SakiTumi SC Bar CLE Division

Sea Island BuildersSerenity Begins Within Sheraton Columbia Downtown Hotel Paul D. Sloan Interiors Texas Roadhouse Tom Sawyer Co. Town Theatre Uptown Gifts Workshop TheatreZorba’s Restaurant

Additional items donated by:Mark Buyck Jr.Darl DavidsonCraig K. Davis Anne EllefsonElaine FowlerJason FowlerJack D. GriffethKathy Hartzog Roger Hutchison Wallace K. LightseyRep. Walton J. McLeod IIIShannon Willis ScruggsMichael E. Willis

But… an auction is only as good as those who are making bids. The Foundation is grateful to these tenacious bidders for their support. They went home with some wonderful “goodies,” but it was their willingness to bid that made the auction a true success.

Auction Item Winners:Brandon and Rhonda Benfield Sue BerkowitzDavid Bornemann and Sable BurgessJay and Leila BresslerJamie and Anne BruceDavid and Linda CantrellBev Carroll

Anthony Chibbaro and Eddie WeinbergJack and Kiley CohoonBruce and Debbie DeutchmannJane DowneyPete and Beth DworjanynRick Ellis and Robin BlumeSam and Elaine FowlerRaymond and Toyya Gray

George and Corky HarperPeter and Julie HearnMatt and Amy HillTrey Judy Rick and Cathy KennedyWallace and Marsha LightseyHonorable James Lockemy Angus and Tonya MacaulayMarc and Rose Manos

Bob and Mia MasellaJon and Amy Landers MayJoey and Julie McCueJohn and Jennifer MosserJack and Trudy MuenchSusan PalmerSteve and Jennifer SavitzPeter and Mary ShahidJohn and Elizabeth Sowards

Bobby SullivanStacy and Richelle TaylorChief Justice Jean ToalRob TysonTana VanderbiltScott WallingerDean and Brenda Wilson

Bronze SponsorsAbacus Planning Group

Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PASouth Carolina Bar

Southeastern Insurance Consultants, LLCWyche, PA

Table SponsorsAssociation of Corporate Counsel —

SC ChapterBB&T

Ellis Lawhorne & Sims, PALaw Office of Toyya Brawley Gray

Hearn & Hearn, PAMcNair Law Firm, PA

Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart, PCRobert & Susan Rosen

South Carolina Legal Services Board of Directors

Sowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte, LLCTurner Padget Graham & Laney, PA

University of South Carolina School of LawWillcox Buyck & Williams Law Firm

Couple SponsorsSue Berkowitz & Harrison Palmer

Dr. and Mrs. Anthony ChibbaroPatrick & Jennifer Fant

Jon C. & Amy Landers MayWalton J. & Julie H. McLeodAlice Paylor & Kit Regnery

Thomas & Shannon ScruggsJamie & Ricci Welch

Tom & Heather Young

Other SupportersColumbia Printing & Graphics

Crescendo Advertising SCBT

Senior Lawyers Division

Presenting Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Going… Going… GONE!

One component of the gala is the silent auction. This year, the auction alone generated almost $8,500. The generous people and organizations that donated to the auction are listed below. If you have an opportunity to support them, please be sure to thank them for their contributions to the event.

Gala 2012 would not have been possible without these tremendous supporters...

David A. Merline, a prominent Greenville attorney, was honored with the Bar Foundation’s 2011 DuRant Distinguished Public Service Award for meritorious service to the law and the community. The annual recognition is the most prestigious statewide award members of the Bar can bestow on a fellow attorney. The award was presented during the SC Bar’s Annual Convention plenary luncheon on Friday, January 20, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

At the presentation, Foundation President-Elect Jack D. Griffeth shared these comments about the honoree. The quotes were made by those whom Dave has mentored.

“ Throughout his career, Dave Merline has always represented what is best about our profession.”

“ Totally apart from the fact that he is a brilliant lawyer, Dave is a truly caring individual of the highest integrity… one who has made the world a better place because he is in it.”

“He is the example of all a lawyer should be.”

Dave is a shareholder with Merline & Meacham, PA; a firm he founded in 1970. He holds both his undergraduate degree and his law degree from the University of South Carolina. He is a Certified Specialist in both Tax Law and Estate Planning/Probate Law. He has been listed in Best Lawyers since 1987. In 2012, he is listed in the fields of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates Law. He has also been named the 2012 Tax Lawyer of Greenville, SC.

Dave served as the president of the South Carolina Bar from 1996 to 1997. In this position, he created a Task Force on Diversity and Inclusiveness. The results were impressive in bringing many more women and minorities to participate at all levels of Bar leadership. Not only has he been involved as a leader in the state bar, he also has been involved with the Greenville County Bar Association since 1968. In 1982, he served as the president.

For a full listing of Dave’s many accomplishments in the legal community and beyond, please visit www.scbarfoundation.org.

About the Durant AwardSelection criteria include meritorious service to the law and the community. Established in 1980 to honor living members of the South Carolina Bar, the DuRant Award recipient is nominated and selected by his or her professional peers. The Foundation established the award in memory of Charlton DuRant, a well-known Manning attorney who served as state senator and special associate justice of the SC Supreme Court.

Photo by JL Mann Dave Merline receives the well deserved award following remarks by Jack Griffeth.

Photo by JL Mann Last year's DuRant winner, Gov. Dick Riley, celebrates with

Dave Merline and Chief Justice Jean Toal.

And the award went to …

The Durant legacyDavid W. Robinson, 1980Walton J. McLeod Jr., 1981Robert M. Figg Jr., 1982Thomas H. Pope, 1983J.D. Todd Jr., 1984Hugh L. Willcox, 1985C. Bruce Littlejohn, 1986Heyward E. McDonald, 1987

Charles W. Knowlton, 1988E.P. “Ted” Riley, 1989Augustine T. Smythe, 1990Harry M. Lightsey, 1991Terrell L. Glenn, 1992A. Frank Lever, 1993Morris D. Rosen, 1994Ellen Hines Smith, 1995

Claude M. Scarborough Jr., 1996Julius W. McKay, 1997A. Lee Chandler, 1998I.S. Leevy Johnson, 1999William L. Pope, 2000H. Simmons Tate Jr., 2001Joseph H. McGee, 2002Alex M. Sanders Jr., 2003

Eugene N. “Nick” Zeigler Jr., 2004Ernest A. Finney Jr., 2005Leo H. Hill, 2005Julian J. Nexsen, 2006B. Henderson Johnson Jr., 2007David L. Freeman, 2008G. Dewey Oxner Jr., 2009Richard W. Riley, 2010

IN mEmORY OF…James C. AndersVictor Shaw Evans Jr.Hon. James W. Johnson Jr.Dr. Harry m. Lightsey Jr.Hon. Daniel R. mcLeodGrady L. Patterson Jr.Joseph D. ShineJames Spencer Verner

John P. “Jack” Wilson

Charlie E. BakerEmma T. Dean

Roy D. BatesLeslie A. Cotter Jr.R. Read GignilliatWilliam C. McDowWalter B. Todd Jr.

Stephen BatesRobert D. Robbins

Vera BeltonRoger B. Jellenik

Kathryn Anne BockmanD. Michael Henthorne

Capers BoutonDavid M. Yokel

Hon. Walter B. Brown Jr.Catherine S. Hendrix

Hon. mary E. BuchanW. Andrew BeesonNancy A. ChilesHon. Timothy H. PogueDonald E. Rizer

James S. Chandler Jr.Amy E. Armstrong

Col. Charles R. CountsHerman S. Caldwell Jr.

John Bruce FosterCharles P. Edwards

Hon. Samuel Norwood GasqueHon T. L. Hughston Jr.

Julian H. GignilliatR. Read Gignilliat

mary Elizabeth “Polly” Goldsmith

Jack D. Griffeth

C. Cotton Harness IIIJohn D. Roven

Leo H. HillE. Brown Parkinson Jr.

Robert D. JenningsHon. and Mrs. Howard P. King

Hon. Jamie Lee murdock Jr.Joseph T. McElveen Jr.Debbie S. Mollycheck

Hon. marion D. myersJoseph T. McElveen Jr.

John L. “Jack” NettlesThomas E. Rogers Jr.

Hon. matthew J. Perry Jr.Leslie A. Cotter Jr.Robert W. Foster Sr.Rebecca LaffitteLangdon D. Long

Professor Charles H. Randall Jr.Joseph Russell Cross Jr.Robert W. Foster Sr.

William B. ReganHon. and Mrs. Howard P. KingJoseph T. McElveen Jr.

Donald V. Richardson IIILanneau Wm. Lambert Jr.Thomas E. Rogers Jr.

melvin L. RobertsHon. David G. Guyton

Hon. Wyatt T. Saunders Jr.Hon. Frank R. Addy Jr.Langdon D. LongJames G. Padgett III

Grant SingletonRobert D. Robbins

Roy mcBee SmithCharles P. Edwards

IN HONOR OF…Grady L. BeardElizabeth Van Doren GrayWesley m. GraybillRebecca LaffitteThornwell F. Sowell IIIRobert E. Steppmonteith P. ToddRobert E. Tyson Jr.Robert S. Wells

J. Calhoun Watson

Joe E. Berry Jr.Leigh J. Leventis

Bradford T. CunninghamLouis T. RungeSowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte, LLC

George B. Cauthen

Anne S. EllefsonDean Robert M. Wilcox

Jack D. GriffethJoel W. Collins Jr.Greenville County Bar AssociationSC Upstate Paralegal Association

Jack H. LynnRichard V. Davis

David A. merlineAbacus Planning GroupDiane C. BagwellSusan B. BerkowitzDavid Merline’s proud childrenMerline & Meacham, PAMary S. Rose

Julian J. NexsenJulian J. Nexsen Jr.

A. marvin Quattlebaum Jr.J. Calhoun WatsonDean Robert M. Wilcox

SC Bar Foundation StaffShannon Willis Scruggs

Claude m. Scarborough Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Stephen G. Morrison

Shannon Willis ScruggsJohn P. “Jack” Wilson

Frances Ricci Land WelchRaymond E. Owens Jr.

The Bar Foundation gratefully acknowledges those who have made gifts in tribute of a colleague or friend of the Bar for the period October 1, 2011 through January 31, 2012. Names in bold denote the honoree.

Important Notice Re: Grant Cycle 2013 Despite a very successful gala, the continued low ceiling on interest rates keeps IOLTA income at a critically low level. As such, the Bar Foundation determined that it must limit the organizations from which it would accept grant applications. Only those entities that received funding for the 2012 cycle may apply for 2013 funding.

It is with deep regret that the Foundation must “close” the grant cycle to new applicants. The reality is, however, that the Foundation is not able to meet the needs of the current grantee pool. Interest rates are projected to remain at current levels until 2014. When interest rates increase, IOLTA income should also rise, increasing the funds available for grants in future years.

Waving the White Flag? The results of Gala 2012 as well as other Foundation special resource generating efforts (see “Greenville Goes Gaga…”) indicate that it is

not time to give up. In fact, it is time to work even harder. Rather than resigning ourselves to a bleak outlook, the Bar Foundation is dedicated to seek additional sources of revenue to fund grants to legal services and law related education. One way to compensate for this crisis in legal aid funding is the use of cy pres awards to generate desperately needed resources for our state’s most vulnerable. The Bar Foundation has studied court award models in other states and examined legal precedents for court awards for legal aid. We now are working to educate judges and lawyers about the positive impact court awards can have on funding for civil legal services.

The Foundation has recently completed a toolkit designed for lawyers, judges and others involved in our legal system who are interested in employing various court award strategies to support civil legal aid in South Carolina. A copy is available for download via www.scbarfoundation.org. If you would like a hard copy, please contact the Foundation office and one will be mailed to you.

If you are in the position to help determine an appropriate recipient for the residual funds that remain in a class action settlement, please consider the SC Bar Foundation.

Tribute Gifts

The Reality

On December 6, the Foundation held its first ever regional joint fundraising event. Almost 100 attorneys gathered for a free breakfast and CLE presentation at the West End Community Development Center in Greenville. In addition to receiving 0.5 ethics credit hours, guests had the opportunity to hear from staff and volunteers associated with three of the Foundation’s grantees – the Upstate Mediation Center, the Greenville office of South Carolina Legal Services and the YMCA Youth in Government program.

Upstate Mediation Center Board Chair Stuart Mauney gave an overview of the mission and programs of UMC. Volunteer mediator Chip Price provided insight as to how UMC has helped his practice. On behalf of Youth in Government, Director Mary Capers Bledsoe introduced Youth Governor Alan Lee. Alan

told his moving story about how, as a Korean immigrant, he was able to utilize the offerings of YIG to realize his dreams of sharing his voice. Well-known attorney Tom Bruce of South Carolina Legal Services briefly discussed how low income persons have legal problems at a higher rate and with more severity than middle income persons. He shared that the work of legal services lawyers is to try to find stability and security in an ever-changing, evolving landscape. He also emphasized that SCLS attorneys are active in many courts, including Federal, Common Pleas, Probate, Bankruptcy, Master in Equity, Family, Administrative Law and Magistrate.

The event also honored upstate attorney Ronnie Cole for his establishment of the Ronnie M. Cole CLE Scholarship fund. (Visit www.scbarfoundation.org or see the Summer 2011 issue of Foundation Brief for more information.)

In true Foundation style, attendees were asked to consider a gift. And give they did! As of this publication, it is estimated that the Greenville Grantee Gathering will result in $15,000 in gifts that will be equally split between the three participating organizations. Perhaps more important than the dollar amount given, however, was the opportunity to share the excellent work that is being done by Upstate Foundation grantees with members of the Greenville legal community.

The “experiment” seemed to work as many participants indicated they would like to see the event repeated next year. The Foundation intends to have similar events in other locations in the state with the next event planned for Charleston in the summer of 2012.

Greenville Goes Gaga for Our Grantees!

Special Thanks to Our Table CaptainsMaggi Fields Bailey

Rita Bolt BarkerNeil BataviaTom Bruce

George CauthenEric EnglebardtJon HammondRusty InfingerStuart Mauney

Danielle MitchellCarl Muller

Andy SatterfieldAmos Workman

Thanks to Our Sponsors

West End CommunityDevelopment Center

Collins & Lacy

More gala pictures available at www.robsprankle.com/Barfoundation

Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________________________________________________________________

Email: _______________________________________________________________________________________

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q Apply my gift where it is needed most.

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Give online via scbarfoundation.org

PO Box 608, Columbia, SC 29202

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Not only did Gala 2012 allow the Foundation to celebrate award winners, the Foundation had the chance to publicly thank some of its donors whose consistent gifts qualified them for the Foundation’s highest donor recognition levels. The Foundation honored Mark Buyck, with Willcox Buyck and Williams Law Firm, Shannon Willis Scruggs, the Foundation’s Executive Director, as well as Southeastern Insurance Consultants. Mark, Shannon and SIC were congratulated as the newest donors in the Liberty Legacy of giving. Their gifts, which have added up over time, now meet or exceed $5,000. Jim Gilreath and Jennifer Rubin also recently achieved the Liberty Legacy status.

The Foundation added new donors to the Justice Legacy level of giving. Foundation Directors Bev Carroll and Elaine Fowler were honored as well as Cal Watson, a former Foundation President and member of the Bar Board of Governors. Bev, Elaine and Cal were celebrated for lifetime gifts which have now added up to $10,000.

For most of the Foundation’s higher level donors, slow and steady wins the race! Achieving the higher levels comes one gift at a time; bit by bit. For a full listing of Liberty and Justice Legacy donors, please visit www.scbarfoundation.org.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

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You may:• Call the Foundation at 803-765-0517 with your credit card information• fax this form to 803-779-6126 • email a PDF to shannon.scruggs@scbar.org• mail to: SC Bar Foundation, PO Box 608, Columbia, SC 29202

SC Bar Foundation • PO Box 608 • Columbia, SC 29202The SC Bar Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 charitable organization

and all contributions are tax deductible within the limits of the law.SPRING 2012