Oh, dear. I’m late with my report to the State of Maryland re my pro bono obligations. Of course, if I’ve been doing nothing but earning money, they have a convenient list or organizations, and a suggested amount to donate to somebody else’s pet project…..
I’ve done officialized pro bono work, before, in Illinois. All we did is give a young man an excuse to stay unemployed while he waited for his trial (he was savvy enough to figure out that he needed damages) instead of doing the right thing — finding a better job.
As it happens, I do a lot of pro bono work these days, underbilling, paying ahead, stretching my limits for clients that are worth sheltering, and I resent the reporting requirements of the State of Maryland. My charity is not their business.
I have been amazed and gratified by the response of professionals in all walks of life toward genuine need. They are wonderful. And I am certain that very little of it gets reported because that would raise questions within their many respective firms. They just do it, God bless the good-hearted people of this country, who kick in their time and their effort generously when they encounter a worthy cause.
