August 2018 Edition
The SC Bar Foundation is starting our fiscal year 19 off strong by awarding annual grants to 25 law related nonprofits and welcoming 3 three board members. 

Whitney Harrison and Toya Hampton joined the Board for three year terms and our new ambassador chair is Alexis McCumber. Also at our May Board meeting, outgoing President, Rene Josey passed the gavel to FY19 President, Jim Sheedy. 

The Foundation has exciting plans for fiscal year 19 and we hope you will join us! We appreciate your support and look forward to working with you this year to help us build a foundation for justice! 

- Megan, Marisa & Ashley, Your SCBF Staff

Foundation Focus: 
Passing the Gavel 
FY19 President, Jim Sheedy with FY18 President, Rene Josey. 
At our May 2018 Board of Directors meeting, fiscal year 18 President Rene Josey passed the gavel to fiscal year 19 President Jim Sheedy. We are thankful for Rene's hard work and dedication to the Foundation over the last year. He helped establish new fundraising goals and tactics and increased visibility among the legal community. Under his leadership the Foundation increased donor participation and donations were the highest in Foundation history.   

We also want to thank Sidney J. Evering, Tommy Brittain and Beverly A. Carroll for their hard work and dedication to the Foundation. 

Please meet the fiscal year 2019 officers: President, Jim Sheedy; President-Elect, Chris Koon; Secretary/Treasurer, Jennifer Blumenthal. To meet our Board members click here. 

Robert S. Wells Recognition Campaign 
Thank you to outgoing SC Bar Executive Director Bob Wells and everyone that donated in his honor to the Robert S. Wells Recognition Campaign. Thanks to all of your support we raised $27,005 in Bob's honor. If you would like to honor Bob for his years of service to the Bar you can still donate. Please click here and selected the "Robert S. Wells Recognition Campaign" dropdown under "Apply My Donation To". 

2018 DuRant Distinguished Public Service Award 
2017 DuRant Award winner, Elizabeth Van Doren Gray and Jim Sheedy, SCBF President.
The 2018 DuRant Distinguished Public Service Award nominations are now open!

The DuRant Award was established in 1980 in memory of Charlton DuRant.  Mr. DuRant was a well-known Manning attorney who served as state senator and special associate justice of the SC Supreme Court. 

This award is one of the most prestigious statewide honors that members of the Bar can bestow on a fellow attorney.  Recipients are nominated and selected by their professional peers. The selection criteria include meritorious service to the law and the community. 

Nominate an attorney today! The deadline is Friday, October 26 at 5PM. 

Board Accomplishments 
We would like to congratulate two of our Board members for some recent achievements.  Byron Gipson won the Democratic primary for Solicitor in Richland and Kershaw Counties and George Cauthen was selected as the  2018 recipient of the Bankruptcy Distinguished Service Award given by the Inns of Court. We are so fortunate to have such dedicated members of not only the Board but of the community! 

Historical Society 
If you are looking to become more familiar with South Carolina's fascinating legal history, consider joining the Historical Society! You will enjoy sponsored events, published works associated with specific events or subject matters and an e-publication for members only. Become a member today >>

Grantee Focus: 
25 Reasons to Give to the SC Bar Foundation!
We are excited to present our 25 grantees for fiscal year 19! These nonprofits support the mission of the Foundation and we look forward to working with them over the next year.
Civil Legal Aid 
- Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services
- Center for Heirs Property Preservation
- Hopeful Horizons
- Lowcountry Legal Volunteers
- One80 Place
- SC Appleseed Legal Justice Center
- SC Legal Services
- SC Victims Assistance Network, Inc. 
- Sistercare 

Administration of Justice 
-Catholic Charities Office of Immigration Services
- Charleston Legal Access
- Midlands Mediation Center
- National Judicial College
- Richland County CASA
- SC Access to Justice Commission
- SC Bar Ask-A-Lawyer
- SC Center for Fathers & Families
- Transitions
- Turning Leaf Project 
- Upstate Mediation Center
Law Related Education
- Charleston Digital Media Initiative
- SC Bar Law Related Education
- SC YMCA Youth in Government 
- Spartanburg County Criminal Justice Youth Institute 
- USC School of Law Pro Bono Program 

Bank Focus:
First Citizens Bank
First Citizens Bank is a proud partner of the South Carolina Bar Foundation. Through the years First Citizens has grown their business on the fundamental principles of w orking hard, working with integrity, listening to what customers have to say and taking the long term view.

" First   Citizen s Bank is proud to support the South Carolina Bar Foundation's mission to promote justice by funding legal access and education," said Sharon Bryant, South Region executive vice president for  First   Citizen s Bank. "We're hopeful that our contributions help advance justice and make it possible for every person in our state to have access to the legal services they may need."
Donor Focus: 
Marie-Louise Ramsdale
Marie-Louise Ramsdale is the principal lawyer of Ramsdale Family Law. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School, a past president of the South Carolina Bar Foundation, and a member of the South Carolina Bar House of Delegates. Marie-Louise has been a dedicated and generous donor to the Bar Foundation through her years of practice. 

"When I give through the SC Bar Foundation, I know that my contributions are being put to good use by organizations with whom SCBF works closely both in terms of grant approval and oversight. I am also glad that beyond investing in well-established programs such as South Carolina Legal Services, SCBF also invests in newer, innovative programs like Turning Leaf here in Charleston-which is doing incredible work with the formerly incarcerated. And, as a mock trial coach of more than five years and a former mock trial participant, I am glad to see funds supporting legal education programs including mock trial and We The People." 
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