25 Years of Giving

This is an anniversary year. It was 25 years ago this fall that I passed the bar and commenced the practice of law with Vinson & Elkins. As I embarked on my new career, I had no awareness that leaders in our bar were at the same time establishing the Houston Bar Foundation, an organization designed to fund pro bono legal services to those less fortunate in our community as well as the education of citizens about the law. This year, I have had the privilege of celebrating my 25th year of practice by serving as the chair of the Houston Bar Foundation as we celebrate its 25th year.

We have a great deal to celebrate. Thanks to the original founders, a succession of fine leaders, and, most of all, the financial support from many of you, the Foundation has been a success. From an original $5,000 seed grant in 1982, the Foundation’s invested assets have grown to over $8.5 million. Over the same period of time, the Foundation has paid out $6,632,000. These outlays have gone principally to fund the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program, which provides pro bono legal services to low-income and indigent residents of Harris County and promotes volunteerism among the local legal community. Foundation grants have also supported educational projects and assistance to lawyers in distress.

Demands on the Foundation increase every year. Over the last five years, the Foundation’s annual contributions to the HVLP increased from $325,000 to $594,992, as HVLP services increased. To keep up with these demands, the Foundation relies on the annual Harvest Party, which it co-sponsors with the Houston Bar Association and the Houston Bar Association Auxiliary. This year, the Harvest Party generated $472,500 in pledges - another record year. Thanks to those of you whose support made this possible.

In addition to the Harvest Party, the Foundation is funded through its Fellows program. Traditionally, there were three levels of Fellows, involving two ten-year period commitments of annual contributions. As we received more and more calls from lawyers who wanted to continue supporting the Foundation after their periods of commitment expired, it became apparent to the board that two successive periods was not sufficient. Consequently, this year we rolled out a fourth Fellows level, so that now there are 35 years during which a lawyer can support the Foundation. Although a few have expressed concern about the resulting change in Fellows designations, the overwhelming response has been positive. Everyone retains their existing Fellow designation under the revised system, and, in the end, whatever the label attached to a Fellow’s current period of commitment, the important point is that the lawyer is recognized for his or her continuing support of the Foundation’s important mission. The Fellows program has contributed over $2,983,000 to the Foundation.

The Foundation board is actively engaged in stewarding the Foundation’s invested assets. After many years of investing with a single style investment manager, in March of this year, the Foundation transferred its portfolio to UBS Securities for management on a more diversified basis. The board concluded that a more diversified portfolio would lessen the negative impact of volatility in the market; something we have witnessed at remarkable levels over the last several months. I am pleased to report that the latest report from UBS shows our portfolio beat the composite index against which it is measured. While it is too soon to draw any long term conclusions, at least we are off to a good start.

So how do we commemorate the Houston Bar Foundation’s 25 years? The Board decided that the best way to celebrate was with an event that focused on the reason the Foundation is here to begin with—pro bono service to the poor. On January 12, 2008, the Foundation is sponsoring “A Day of Giving” by holding ten pro bono clinics throughout Harris County. Each clinic will be sponsored by law firms and corporate legal departments, and we anticipate that well over 300 volunteers will participate. If you have not already signed up, let us know that you would like to participate by contacting Stewart Gagnon at Fulbright & Jaworski at sgagnon@fulbright.com.

We also intend to mark the anniversary at our annual luncheon on January 24, 2008, at the Four Seasons Hotel. We have a tremendous speaker, Dr. Mark Kline, Professor of Pediatrics, Chief of Retrovirology at Baylor College of Medicine and President of the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative at Texas Children's Hospital. As the founder of an organization that establishes pediatric HIV/AIDS clinics in Eastern Europe and Africa, Dr. Kline provides an inspiring example of the tremendous impact a professional can have by using his skills to give back to those most in need. We think it will be a great way to kick off the next 25 years of the Houston Bar Foundation’s important mission. 

2007 Foundation Chair, Karl S. Stern

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