As some of you know, I have a philanthropic bent to my practice which can consume me at all the "wrong" times (at least from the metric of personal microeconomic gain). How is it that we seem to go through periods of time where we see with greater clarity what makes life important and then revert to actually answering phone calls from bucket shops with hot stock picks? (One sure way to try to get rid of those calls is to sell them YOUR services when they call you - "hey, I draft wills and trusts; do you have one? No? Look, that's really irresponsible, you know. What if something happens to you on the way home from work?" Click).
But charities have a way of drawing us in. First, if the cause is noble, we are in a fairly good position to actually help them. Although siblings find it incredible, customers and clients pay significant sums for professional services, participation in their lives and commitment - and, what really shocks MY siblings - our clients follow my advice. Second, the boards and committees that provide perspective on whether or not a charity is on the right track with their approach, or perhaps is missing an opportunity, or making bad strategic decisions given the current philanthropic climate can use 'outside' advisers from disparate industries from their mission. And third, enthusiasm for the success of our favorite charities fuels our enthusiasm for the success of our clients.
One recent event which The Myers Law Firm couldn't help but get behind is Habitat for Humanity East Bay's Builders' Ball. The Builders' Ball will be held at the Claremont Hotel on October 28, 2006. It is an opportunity to honor the participants in a "builer's blitz" in June that resulted in six (6) new homes for deserving families in Oakland.
Another of my business interests is the East Bay real estate community. More than a few families owe their entire wealth portfolio to successful real estate investments or developments, especially in the urban East Bay. Habitat's East Bay projects are beginning to really gel - homes are being built and sold to worthy families in 'extreme makeover home edition' style. Its no giveaway - the families pay for the homes, albeit at a reduced interest rate and financing charge. From the perspective of the "venture philanthropist," we want to see a clear exit strategy, so that in most instances we are reducing the recipient's economic dependence upon continued social service.
In other words, the home is sold, not maintained by inefficient government bureaucracies. OHA is nowhere in sight. This isn't subsidized (Section 8) housing, which I personally feel contributes to the cycle of dependency by providing permanent subsidized housing - at least so long as people remain poor and disenfranchised. Not my libertarian idea of good public policy.
The better solution is moving people from transience to ownership. The exit strategy is built into the model - the purchaser buys the home, and it is theirs. Certain restrictions are placed onto the home to ensure the good graces of volunteers are not exploited by profiteers. These include careful family selection and restrictions on resale that expire over time.
So I need you all to consider joining me at the Builders' Ball on October 28, 2006. If you have anything to do with East Bay real estate - broker, lender, lawyer, accountant, financial adviser, owner, contractor, architect or engineer - then this is going to become the annual event of our community. It will become a "be there or you are not relevant" event for developers and politicians, eager to support their public image, and "be with those who share the vision" for the rest of us.
Habitat includes a great dinner, live music, and a casino night as the entertainment. I don't know about you, but I have never seen a bunch of local politicians drinking and gambling, at least outside of the US Congress. And this time they have to use their own money! As for the contrators and people who actually do the work, we've always known how to have a good time.
Now for my blatant sales-pitch moment: Get your spouse and you together, and come over to the Claremont for what will surely be the party of the year for the East Bay real estate community. I am fairly sure we will sell out, because the Claremont has limited space and we have good interest. So don't wait until the last minute. You can sign up at their link, liberally interspersed throughout this blawg.
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