This November, the SC Bar Foundation is proud to be featured in SC Lawyer Magazine, showcasing the impactful work of legal professionals who are committed to serving their communities. These individuals are making a meaningful difference through pro bono efforts, embodying the Foundation’s mission of promoting justice and access for all South Carolinians.

Meet the changemakers highlighted in our ad, whose dedication is transforming lives:

Ann Marie Thompson – SC Legal Services, SCCADVASA, SCVAN, Project R.E.S.T., Upstate Mediation

“I honestly was unsure when I went to law school what I wanted to do with my degree. I dabbled in several areas of law but never felt fulfilled. I vividly remember two separate occasions that changed my life’s path and created the niche that I did not even know I was seeking. Not knowing the opportunities for pro bono and nonprofit services existed, they were literally placed in my path by zealous colleagues that are almost impossible to say ‘no’ to. I took a few cases, then a few more, then even more, and now it is the basis of my practice. I think everyone believes that the world needs change; however, that is such an overwhelming feat it causes most people to shy away from trying. I have come to realize that an individual can begin that change simply by making even the smallest impact on people’s lives, especially those without the means to help themselves or those to whom society or the justice system have failed. It’s not always easy, and is often an extremely uphill battle, not only for the clients but for the attorneys involved as well. But, when you succeed in changing even one life, the struggles and battles make it all worth it. Even if the outcome is not the ideal, those individuals feel heard, accepted, and are empowered to continue to move forward. It is mind-blowing how much change can occur when someone simply feels heard and acknowledged. Their battles, heartaches, triumphs, and successes become yours as well, as you truly walk with them each step of the way. It is, as many say, rewarding at times, but I believe it is even more importantly humbling. I have also found that those people I’ve been able to help then go on to help others who are similarly situated as they once were, as a way to give back. This is another step in stopping the cycles of domestic violence, cycles of poverty, cycles of injustice, and the beginning of much-needed societal change. The nonprofits I work with go above and beyond daily to help those in need. I count myself truly blessed to work side by side with them.”

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Rebecca R. Epstein – Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services

“We love working with the team over at CPBLS and don’t ever hesitate to say ‘yes’ when Alissa asks for help. There are so many benefits to giving back to our community, but getting to know the individuals we serve is by far the greatest benefit we receive.“

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Debbie Kasle – Time Served

“While visiting Bryan Stevenson’s Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama, I was struck by the statement that being indifferent to the mass incarceration of Black people today is comparable to the silence and complicity of bystanders during slavery and the Jim Crow era. When I moved to Greenville and learned about the work done by Time Served, I knew this was my opportunity to use my legal skills to make a meaningful impact in the fight for justice.“

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Chris Ocampo – SC Legal Services, Richland County Housing Court (Transitions)

“This program is well organized and allows volunteers to choose a time where they can provide direct assistance to qualified candidates. I truly believe that my time volunteering has provided a great service to the community and has also given me the opportunity to develop my own skills in client interaction, negotiations, and trial advocacy.“

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Celebrate Purpose and Passion with Us

The SC Bar Foundation is honored to share these powerful stories in the November issue of SC Lawyer Magazine. Each individual demonstrates that through pro bono work, legal professionals can drive positive change and create pathways to justice.

Thank you, Ann Marie, Rebecca, Debbie, and Chris, for your unwavering commitment to serving others. Your work inspires us all to continue making a difference—one pro bono case at a time.

On October 8th, 2024, the SC Bar Foundation hosted the fifth annual Charleston “Cocktails in the Courtyard,” bringing together community leaders, supporters, and legal professionals to celebrate and raise funds for a worthy cause. This year’s event raised an impressive $33,308, helping to support the Foundation’s mission of advancing justice through legal aid and education programs across South Carolina.

Recognizing Our Generous Sponsors

The success of “Cocktails in the Courtyard” wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our sponsors. We extend our deepest gratitude to those who contributed at various levels:

Supporting Our Grantees

The funds raised from this event directly benefit the SC Bar Foundation’s grantees, which include organizations providing legal assistance to low-income individuals, funding law-related education, and supporting programs that promote access to justice. These grants ensure that vulnerable populations across South Carolina have the legal resources they need to navigate difficult situations, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Three Events, One Mission

“Cocktails in the Courtyard” is one of three annual fundraising events held by the SC Bar Foundation, with similar gatherings hosted in Columbia and Greenville. Each event serves not only as a fundraiser but also as a vital opportunity to engage with supporters who share our vision of advancing justice throughout the state. Together, these events help sustain the Foundation’s mission and expand our reach.

Relive the Evening

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Charleston! We invite you to enjoy the video recap of the event and browse through the photo gallery to relive the evening’s highlights. Your support makes a difference, and we look forward to seeing you at the next “Cocktails in the Courtyard” event in Columbia!

Susan Dunn, longtime legal director of ACLU of South Carolina, is the 2024 DuRant Distinguished Public Service Award recipient for meritorious service to the law and community.

The South Carolina Bar Foundation announced the honor at the recent annual Bar Convention in Charleston.

“Ms. Dunn has had a long and distinguished career as a practicing lawyer, and I could spend all afternoon listing her accomplishments and honors,” said Foundation Board President John K. DeLoache. He went on to cite the praise in her commendation packet, including this passage: “She is brilliant, tenacious, and effective. She’s also a wonderful mentor. She always makes time for a call, and she freely shares her knowledge of the court system and her advice. Despite all of her work, Susan remains one of our community’s unsung heroes.”

The DuRant Distinguished Public Service Award was established in 1980 in memory of Charlton DuRant, a Manning attorney who served as state senator and special associate justice of the S.C. 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 by their professional peers and selected by the South Carolina Bar Foundation Board.

“Charlton DuRant was, without a doubt, a lawyer’s lawyer,” said Dunn in accepting the award. “He shared his talents with Manning, his hometown, and with the entire state. I am honored to receive this award, which carries on his legacy. And I am humbled to be added to the list of elite attorneys who have been chosen by the SC Bar Foundation for this award.”

Susan Dunn retired in 2021 after 12 years as legal director of the ACLU of South Carolina and more than 40 years as a civil rights lawyer in South Carolina.

Before joining the ACLU, she worked in private practice in Charleston. She was the 1998 recipient of the Jean Galloway Bissell Award, presented annually by the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association.

“Thanks to Susan, the ACLU of South Carolina has been at the forefront of the most important civil liberties fights of our time,” said Frank Knaack, executive director of the ACLU of South Carolina, upon her retirement. “Susan has made South Carolina a more just and equitable place for all.”

The South Carolina Bar Foundation is pleased to welcome Sydney Gardner as its new director of finance & development.

It’s a new position at the Foundation, combining responsibility for both raising funds and managing them, according to Executive Director Olivia S. Jones.

“I’m excited about this dual role,” she said. “The most important thing that we do is manage funds and award grants to organizations making a difference in the lives of South Carolinians.” Both that and development are “very critical to our purpose and our mission.”

Gardner, who started with the foundation on Feb. 1, grew up in South Carolina, and graduated from Presbyterian College with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in history in 2017. In 2021, she earned a master’s degree in public service and administration, graduating summa cum laude from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.

She has worked since 2021 with the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, rising through the ranks to serve as both event manager and office manager. Before graduating from the Bush School, she was a summer volunteer recruitment and training intern with Richland County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).

“We’re really fortunate that we found her, because she has the background in finance, in addition to development, and has worked at nonprofits,” said Jones. “We want everyone to know what the Foundation is, and why it matters for people who are marginalized, forgotten – people who are outsiders. Sydney is the right person to help us make that happen.”

Columbia, SC | January 5, 2021 – The South Carolina Bar Foundation is proud to announce that David M. Beasley, executive director of the UN World Food Programme, is the recipient of the 2020 DuRant Distinguished Public Service Award. The award was presented to Governor Beasley in a small ceremony Jan. 4 at the South Carolina Supreme Court, and the recorded event will be shared during the SC Bar’s annual convention taking place virtually later this month.

In 1980, the South Carolina Bar Foundation established the DuRant Distinguished Public Service 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. This award is one of the most prestigious statewide honors that members of the Bar can bestow on a fellow attorney.

Recipients are nominated by their professional peers and are selected by the SC Bar Foundation Board of Directors. Selection criteria include meritorious service to the law and the community.

Jennifer Blumenthal, the SC Bar Foundation president stated, “Governor David Beasley is the epitome of what it means to be a DuRant Award recipient. He has dedicated most of his personal and professional life to serving and advocating for those in need. He continues to bridge political, religious, and ethnic boundaries to champion economic development and education around the world. It is clear Governor Beasley does not just lead the World Food Programme, he lives its mission.”

Governor Beasley was selected for numerous reasons not the least of which has been his absolute dedication to public service and his tireless work as the executive director for the United Nations World Food Programme since 2017.

Under his leadership, the World Food Programme’s needed financial support has grown and the public awareness for the global fight against hunger has increased substantially. The fight against hunger become even more urgent due to persistent conflict, climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic. Under Governor Beasley’s leadership the World Food Programme mobilized the resources needed to reach more people with the goal of 138 million in 2020. In addition, he is highlighting the WFP’s work on how longer-term development can bring peace and stability to troubled regions. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized all of this hard work and as a result awarded the World Food Programme with the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize.

Prior to joining the WFP, Governor Beasley spent a decade working with leaders in over 100 countries to foster peace, reconciliation, and economic progress. His work in organizing, leading, or participating in conferences and missions in as many as 30 countries a year helped him develop deep relationships with leaders around the world.

His ability to lead started from a very young age. He was first elected to public office when he was 21. During his service in the South Carolina State House of Representatives, he was the youngest pro tempore and majority leader in the nation.

He was elected as governor of South Carolina in 1995. During his tenure, he was the first governor to make a public push to remove the Confederate battle flag from the state capitol dome. This decision was nationally recognized, and he received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award as a result.

Governor Beasley worked towards his undergraduate degree at Clemson University and earned his bachelor’s from the University of South Carolina. He continued his studies and earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

David Beasley is the epitome of what it means to be a DuRant Award recipient. He has dedicated most of his personal and professional life to serving and advocating for those in need. He continues to bridge political, religious, and ethnic boundaries to champion economic development and education. It is clear David Beasley does not just lead the WFP; he lives its mission.

In his remarks during the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, he stated “I don’t go to bed at night thinking about the children we saved. I go to bed weeping over the children we could not save and when we don’t have enough money, nor the access we need, we have to decide which children eat and which children do not eat — which children live, which children die.” He ended his remarks with a plea: “Please don’t ask us to choose who lives and who dies… Let’s feed them all.”

To learn more about the DuRant Award and view a complete list of past recipients, click here.

COLUMBIA, S.C. | December 4, 2020 The Tuesday following Thanksgiving, is a global day of giving known as GivingTuesday. The South Carolina Bar Foundation participated for the fifth consecutive year, and at a time more crucial than most. With the COVID-19 pandemic, and the canceling of many events, including our Cocktails in the Courtyard Spring and Fall events, we needed to rely on the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage giving and to celebrate generosity to help boost our fundraising endeavors.

Our donors were incredibly generous, and well exceeded our initial goal of $5,000. With three matching hours of up to $1,000, as well as the $10,000 donation from the Law Office of Kenneth E. Berger, the Bar Foundation received a total of $31,210!

We cannot fully express the excitement and gratitude we have for such a successful fundraiser. Thank you for your generosity!

The South Carolina Bar Foundation (SCBF) is a non-profit organization whose main purpose is to fund law-related programs throughout the State of South Carolina. The SCBF grantees provide civil legal services, law-related education opportunities and promote the administration of justice to improve and increase justice for all South Carolinians.

The SCBF is seeking a Director of Marketing and Development to be responsible for the coordination of development and marketing functions using innovation and best practices to provide effective communication of the mission of the SCBF and its grantees.

The ideal candidate should have experience in developing comprehensive marketing plans, a working knowledge of a variety of social media platforms, website functions, and video production. In addition, the ability to identify and create strategies to identify a variety of potential donors is a plus.

The position reports to the Executive Director of the SCBF.

Responsibilities
– Build and cultivate ongoing and new donor relationships
– Develop and implement advertising strategies for fundraising efforts
– Along with the Executive Director, establish a comprehensive marketing plan
– Distribute bi-monthly e-blasts using Constant Contact
– Create social media plan as part of a marketing plan
– Create, coordinate, design and distribute marketing and communication materials
– Develop donor recognition program and track effectiveness
– Create and execute foundation fundraising events alongside the executive director
– Website development and design
– Create an annual report

Minimum Qualifications
– BA/BS degree in public relations, marketing or a related field or a degree plus related work experience.
– Experience with Adobe Creative Suite
– Nonprofit marketing/development experience a plus
– Experience using various social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram
– Experience with website design and development (specifically WordPress)
– Strong verbal and written communication skills
– High attention to detail

Salary and Benefits
This is a full-time position (35 hours/week) located in Columbia, SC. A competitive
compensation and benefits package will be offered based on the successful applicant’s
qualifications and experience.

To Apply
Email a resume, cover letter, writing sample and three references to Megan Seiner at mseiner@scbar.org by Friday, January 18, 2019. For more information about the South Carolina Bar Foundation, please visit our website: www.scbarfoundation.org

The SCBF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate with regard to hiring, assignments, promotion or other conditions of staff employment on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, veteran status, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual preference or a disability.