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 l ong, 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 dreadful car
accident, leaving her penniless with a mortgage and three children, one of
whom is disabled and another that has learning disabilities requiring an
array of private tutors?" The humiliated United Way rep, completely
beaten,
says, "I'm so sorry, I had no idea." And the lawyer says, "So...if I
didn't
give any money to them, what makes you think I'd give any to you?"
