McGuireWoods’ Charlotte office has won United Way’s prestigious Spirit of North Carolina Award for the firm’s support of the local United Way and longstanding commitment to pro bono service and community engagement.
The firm received the award during United Way of North Carolina’s annual meeting on Feb. 21 at the Carolina Hotel – Pinehurst. McGuireWoods was selected as a winner among professional services firms with 201-500 employees.
In nominating McGuireWoods for this award, United Way of Central Carolinas noted that the firm was the most generous law firm donor in the Charlotte area. Charlotte lawyers and staff gave nearly $190,000 during the October 2017 United Way campaign, a 17.6 percent increase over the 2016 total. Overall participation also increased by 20 percent. As part of the campaign, lawyers and staff worked over two days to assemble and decorate more than 1,000 snack packs for A Child’s Place and the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs to help raise awareness of community needs.
“Our lawyers and staff understand the vital role United Way plays in improving quality of life for so many of our neighbors in this region, and it was inspiring to watch them step up and show their support in 2017,” said John McDonald, managing partner of McGuireWoods’ Charlotte office and chair of the firm’s United Way campaign.
The United Way award also recognizes McGuireWoods’ significant pro bono and community service work in the Charlotte region. In 2017, Charlotte lawyers provided over 5,100 hours of pro bono representation in a variety of areas, including child advocacy, domestic violence protection, consumer relief, veterans’ affairs, tax relief and estate planning. The firm’s lawyers and staff regularly assist community organizations such as the Children’s Law Center, Legal Aid of North Carolina, the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy and the Council for Children’s Rights.
McGuireWoods lawyers also volunteer on numerous nonprofit boards in the Charlotte community. Scott Vaughn, who preceded McDonald as Charlotte’s office managing partner, is on United Way of Central Carolinas board of directors and was vice chairman of the 2017 regional campaign cabinet.
McGuireWoods’ ties to United Way of Central Carolinas date to the organization’s founding. Fred Helms of Helms Mulliss & Wicker, which merged with McGuireWoods in 2008, served as the organization’s first president in 1932.