The town’s most successful lawyer

The staff at a local United Way office realized that it had never received a donation from the town’s most successful lawyer.

The person in charge of contributions called him to persuade him to contribute and said,

“Our research shows that out of a yearly income of at least $50,00,000 you give not a penny to charity.

Wouldn’t you like to give back to the community in some way?”

The lawyer mulled this over for a moment and replied,

“Firstly, did your research also show that my mother is dying after a long illness and has medical bills that are several times her annual income?”

Embarrassed, the United Way representative mumbled,

“Um… No.”

“Or,” the lawyer continued,

“that my brother, a disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair?”

The stricken United Way representative began to stammer out an apology but was interrupted when the lawyer added,

“Or that my sister’s husband died in a traffic accident,”

The lawyer’s voice rising in indignation,

“Leaving her penniless with three children?”

The humiliated United Way representative, completely beaten, said simply,

“I had no idea…”

On a roll, the lawyer cut him off once again and said:

“So if I don’t give any money to them, why should I give any to you.”