The United Way realized that it had never received a donation from the
city's most successful lawyer.
So a United Way volunteer paid the lawyer a visit
in his lavish office.
The volunteer opened the meeting by saying, "Our research
shows that even though your annual income is over two
million dollars, you don't give a penny to charity.
Wouldn't you like to give something back to your community
through the United Way?"
The lawyer thinks for a minute and says, "First,
did your research also show you that my mother
is dying after a long, painful illness and she has huge
medical bills that are far beyond her ability to pay?"
Embarrassed, the United Way rep mumbles, "Uh... no,
I didn't know that."
"Secondly," says the lawyer, "my brother, a
disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair
and is unable to support his wife and six children."
The stricken United Way rep begins to stammer an
apology, but is cut off again.
"Thirdly, did your research also show you that my
sister's husband died in a dreadful car accident,
leaving her penniless with a mortgage and three
children one of whom is disabled and another has
learning disabilities requiring an array of private tutors?"
The humiliated United Way rep, completely beaten,
says, "I'm sorry, I had no idea"
And the lawyer says, "So... if I didn't give any
money to them, what would make you
think I'd ever give any to you?"
city's most successful lawyer.
So a United Way volunteer paid the lawyer a visit
in his lavish office.
The volunteer opened the meeting by saying, "Our research
shows that even though your annual income is over two
million dollars, you don't give a penny to charity.
Wouldn't you like to give something back to your community
through the United Way?"
The lawyer thinks for a minute and says, "First,
did your research also show you that my mother
is dying after a long, painful illness and she has huge
medical bills that are far beyond her ability to pay?"
Embarrassed, the United Way rep mumbles, "Uh... no,
I didn't know that."
"Secondly," says the lawyer, "my brother, a
disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair
and is unable to support his wife and six children."
The stricken United Way rep begins to stammer an
apology, but is cut off again.
"Thirdly, did your research also show you that my
sister's husband died in a dreadful car accident,
leaving her penniless with a mortgage and three
children one of whom is disabled and another has
learning disabilities requiring an array of private tutors?"
The humiliated United Way rep, completely beaten,
says, "I'm sorry, I had no idea"
And the lawyer says, "So... if I didn't give any
money to them, what would make you
think I'd ever give any to you?"