Gene Deems roped me into this amazing event. And I thank him for doing it.
About 9 months ago, I was having lunch with Gene somewhere (probably Mission BBQ) and he told me with excitement that he was going to co-chair the Great Give this year. I vaguely recognized the name of the event from years past but I quickly asked him for more detail and explanation. He told me that it was a 24 hour fundraising event for Anne Arundel County nonprofits. Last year all of these nonprofits had raised about $675,000 collectively. I told him that one of my goals was to get even more involved in the community that I grew up in. Being a part of the Great Give seemed like a great match.
The next time Gene and I met for lunch he asked me if I would be interested in being on the Planning Committee for the Great Give. Without a second thought I said “Yes, of course.”
Many months went by and many planning meetings went by. I enjoyed attending the nonprofit video making session put on by Doug Wirth, Stephanie Goldberg and Julian Jaques. Josh Davidsburg of Eye Candy Productions heroically helped with filming the Great Give despite a leg injury. The nonprofits produced some high quality videos which surely drove more donations for them. Congratulations to STAIR of Annapolis, a program that helps second graders who are having reading difficulties, for winning the Great Give video contest! Here is their video.
When the Great Give started at 6 pm on May 5th, there was a lot of social media buzz (go to #ggaac on Twitter to see it) going on all around Anne Arundel County. (There were multiple donation stations set up at restaurants across Anne Arundel County.) That first hour brought in the most money for the Great Give. I previously talked about the Great Give Happy Hour that I attended here. Thanks again to Sam’s on the Waterfront for hosting us and enabling us to get donations for our station.
That night I went to bed worried since it didn’t seem like we were close to our goal of $750,000. I woke up worried because the number hadn’t change too drastically over night. I got out of bed and went to Chevys Fresh Mex Restaurant where the Samaritan House was hosting a “Burritos for Beds” Breakfast Club fundraiser. The Breakfast Club is an award for the most donations for a nonprofit in the breakfast hour from 8-9. With Margo Speciale, Kevin Washington and Lea Hurt’s passion, energy and enthusiasm, the Samaritan House was able to win the Breakfast Club and secure an extra $1,000 for Sam House. (Samaritan House also ended up raising over $72,000! This number more than doubled their total from 2014.) Key School gave them a challenge for the Breakfast Club award but lost that battle. (Subsequently, Key School won the overall money award with about 6 big donations at the 11th hour. Key School has won the award for most money raised the last two years.) Donna Cole of Annapolis Creative was supporting an impressive amount of nonprofits, including Samaritan House, the Key School, the Ballet Theatre of Maryland and Sustainafest.
The money being raised was steady throughout the day but no significant jumps. #GGAAC was trending on Twitter from all the social media buzz and chatter that the 186 nonprofits were contributing too.
I got to the Great Give party at the Loews Hotel in Annapolis right at 5pm. I immediately saw Gene Deems there with a Great, Great Give Tie on. He whispered to me, “We did it!” Meaning that we had surpassed our $750,000 goal. This was great news!
Gene also told me of how he just met a woman from a nonprofit who began to cry when she found out how much money was raised for her nonprofit and how much that money would positively influence her nonprofit. He had made a big impact on her life.
After a technical hiccup, we found out that the Great Give had really surpassed all of our expectations and had raised $907,997.00 for 186 Anne Arundel County nonprofits.
Having the opportunity to meet and help all of these nonprofits in the county I have grown up in means so much. Anne Arundel County is the best place to work, play and live.
The Anne Arundel County Community Foundation has accomplished so much under Bess Langbein’s leadership as the Executive Director there. Bess stepping down is a huge loss for Anne Arundel County and I can only hope someone can come close to filling her shoes. I have known Bess since high school. She was the fearless Captain of the field hockey and lacrosse teams at that time. We are going to sorely miss her leadership at the helm of the Anne Arundel Community Foundation. Thank you, Bess!
I’m excited to be involved in this magnificant event for years to come! 🙂
The Maryland State Bar Association Young Lawyers Section had a fantastic meal at Wit & Wisdom in Baltimore this past Tuesday. Lacy Durham of the American Bar Association was our guest of honor. Judge Reed of the Baltimore City Bar and Judge Brown of the Maryland Bar were in the house as well. Executive Chef Zach Mills greeted our table and we enjoyed many delicious creations of his. A fun night was had by all!
Press Release for Scott MacMullan Law, LLC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2014
Scott W. MacMullan appointed to the American Bar Association’s Commission on Homelessness & Poverty for the 2014-2016 term.
The American Bar Association (ABA), founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA’s most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools and the formulation of model ethical codes related to the legal profession. The ABA has 410,000 members. Its national headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois; it also maintains a significant branch office in Washington, DC.
About Scott MacMullan Law, LLC
Scott MacMullan Law, LLC provides general legal services in the State of Maryland the District of Columbia. The firm provides counsel and advocacy in a wide range of civil and criminal matters. Specifically, helping people who have been injured through no fault of their own. The firm’s motto is “Local Knowledge You Can Trust.”
For more information contact 443-494-9775 or [email protected]
The American Bar Association (ABA), founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA’s most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation of model ethical codes related to the legal profession. The ABA has 410,000 members. Its national headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois; it also maintains a significant branch office in Washington, DC.
This is the American Bar Association’s mission: To serve equally our members, our profession and the public by defending liberty and delivering justice as the national representative of the legal profession
The ABA achieves its mission through tireless work toward four goals.
Goal I: Serve Our Members.
Objective:
- 1. Provide benefits, programs and services which promote members’ professional growth and quality of life.
Goal II: Improve Our Profession.
Objectives:
- 1. Promote the highest quality legal education.
- 2. Promote competence, ethical conduct and professionalism.
- 3. Promote pro bono and public service by the legal profession.
Goal III: Eliminate Bias and Enhance Diversity.
Objectives:
- 1. Promote full and equal participation in the association, our profession, and the justice system by all persons.
- 2. Eliminate bias in the legal profession and the justice system.
Goal IV: Advance the Rule of Law.
Objectives:
- 1. Increase public understanding of and respect for the rule of law, the legal process, and the role of the legal profession at home and throughout the world.
- 2. Hold governments accountable under law.
- 3. Work for just laws, including human rights, and a fair legal process.
- 4. Assure meaningful access to justice for all persons.
- 5. Preserve the independence of the legal profession and the judiciary.
I’m looking forward to participating in the Anne Arundel County Homeless Resource Day for the second year in a row! I’m committed to helping my client and the community at-large.
I had the distinct pleasure of having a 2 hour breakfast the other day with Maryland’s Dan Clements, a prominent Plaintiff’s attorney in Baltimore. In short, volunteering is good on a personal level as well as a professional networking level. Here are some takeaways from the breakfast where we talked about being active in the community and volunteering or doing pro bono work for various groups.
If you join a group remember to be known as a someone “who does what they say they are going to do.” So many times in volunteer organizations people have good intentions and say “Yes” they will be able to do something and then don’t do it. “No” is a better answer than saying “Yes” and not doing it. Also, remember if anyone ever gives you a hard time in one of these associations, turn to them, look them in the eye, and tell them “I’m a volunteer.” That will shut them up quick.
Simple, yet effective concepts: Be reliable and don’t say you can, when you can’t.
Does anyone else have any practical tips for lawyers on getting active/participating with bar associations, specialty groups, rotary clubs, church groups or any other community groups?