Attorney donates $1M to food bank
Charleston attorney Paul Hulsey has donated $1 million to the Lowcountry Food Bank, and the bank's new facility in North Charleston will be named in his honor.
The organization that helps feed poverty-stricken families in the coastal counties has operated for seven years in a free building on the former Charleston Naval Base, but the lease is up, and the organization must move out to make way for redevelopment.
Hulsey's generosity, the largest single donation to the food bank so far, will help pay for another building the organization purchased for $3.7 million. Renovations are under way, and the former Cameron & Barkley Co. warehouse on Azalea Drive will become the Lowcountry Food Bank's new home, perhaps as early as October. It will be named the Paul Hulsey Community Food and Nutrition Center.
Food bank Executive Director Jermaine Husser said he could think of only one word when he learned of the donation. "Wow," Husser said. "It's definitely a tremendous gift that will leave a legacy for this community for many years to come."
Hulsey, 57, of the Isle of Palms, knows a little something about hunger. He grew up in poverty in Kansas as the oldest of seven children.
"It wasn't unusual for us to go to school without any breakfast, and sometimes we had no dinner. The food bank has always had a soft spot in my heart because of that," Hulsey said. "It's a dream come true. I always hoped to be in a position to do something like this."
Hulsey moved to the Lowcountry in 1986. The trial lawyer is a former senior partner at Ness Motley law firm in Mount Pleasant. In 2003, he founded the Hulsey Litigation Group in downtown Charleston. The firm's name was changed last year to the Hulsey Law Group.
Hulsey sponsors the food bank's Kids Cafe program and is a Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital advisory board member. He is married to Belinda Hulsey, and the couple has two grown children.
The second-largest donation to the Lowcountry Food Bank comes in the form of a $500,000 pledge from the city of North Charleston. The city is donating $100,000 a year for five years and has made two of those annual payments so far, Husser said.
Reach Nadine Parks at 937-5573 or nparks@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
ForPnC (anonymous) says...
Now THIS was a nice thing to do. We need more stories like this one. It's a good way to start the day.
August 20, 2008 at 4:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Very nice thing to do in deed. Lawyers at Ness/Motley must make a ton of money.
Hey I was purusing over the new phone book yesterday and man the lawyer section is the biggest section. And restaurant section... Whats that say about our society!?
August 20, 2008 at 6:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tammie (anonymous) says...
That was sweet of him.
August 20, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oldglory (anonymous) says...
Thank you, Mr. Hulsey, for being so aware. Also thanks to Mrs. Hulsey, who did the wifely things to enable you :)
Mr. Hulsey, I would impose upon your generosity to ask that you promote a checks and balance with regard to SC agencies that handle funds for the poor (not necessarily referring to the food bank, of course). It is heart-rending to see such funds disappear, never reaching the intended people.
August 20, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
summerville_guy (anonymous) says...
Some people need help, and Mr. Hulsey realized that and took action. Bravo, Mr. Hulsey!
August 20, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mkris (anonymous) says...
Makes ya want to re-evaluate your opinion of lawyers.... sounds like a great human being. I'm impressed.
August 20, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
wpc3iop: I thought so too, obviously no one stepped up to offer them a facility adequate in size and/or amenities needed to house the tons of food that goes through the food bank annually.
I've been there as a member of an outreach program and I am here to tell you that either the current facility needed to be remodeled (not an option since the owners wanted it back) or a new facility had to be found.
I have knowledge of the desire of the organization to recieve a donated building that would be deeded to them (unlike the current building) however there are instances where resources HAVE to be expended in order to provide and/or expand services.
This organization seems to be a fine example of charity done right.
I wish them well in all of their future endeavors.
August 20, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
I am glad to see that Mr. Hulsey has remembered his roots. Too many people that become rich and successful in life seem to forget that life was not always so good.
Thank you, Mr. Hulsey, for your most generous gift.
August 20, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
martin (anonymous) says...
Coldbeer, hopefully, by identifying himself, he can inspire more attorneys and MDs and bankers and real estate developers to follow in his footsteps.
I'm sure many of them give tons to their rich alma maters (the gladiator, whoops, athletic departments), but this, and plenty of other charities, is where it's needed.
August 20, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blaze (anonymous) says...
It is certainly better that he gave it to the Food Bank instead of Limehouse.
August 20, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MooMoo (anonymous) says...
Spot-on Coldbeer!
I do commend Mr. Hulsey, however, I concur with you. The classiest of all donations are those that are anoymous, because it means means that the mere satisfaction of doing good is its own reward for the giver.
August 20, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MooMoo (anonymous) says...
I know Jermaine Husser personally, and he too is a class act. This is a worthy organization and I am truly delighted for them.
August 20, 2008 at 6:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kellye3 (anonymous) says...
Hulsey is not remembering his down trodden roots as he would like one to believe. Instead he is preparing for his next big trial:. The one he has already lost. I must say Hulsey is good at thinking ahead and boy does the Post and Courier have him in their good graces. It must be nice to have the only paper in town in your back pocket.
For those you who think Hulsey is a saint, he was found guilty in February and hit with a 7.4 million dollar lawsuit for defamation and slander against local businessman and philanthropist himself, Lawton Limehouse, Sr... Despite ruining this man's career and reputation and that of his son, Hulsey has yet to pay a dime. Furthermore, Hulsey has another hearing in September when another jury will decide what Hulsey should pay Lawton Limehouse, Jr. (he has already been found guilty) for slander and defamation against him as well. The paper forgot to note "the man of the hour" has not only made the second largest donation to our local food bank, but he has also been found guilty of one of the largest (if not the largest) awards for this type of lawsuits locally and statewide.
According to Hulsey himself (documented in court) he is worth more than 80 million dollars. So not only is he cheap when it comes to his donations, he is also a coward when it comes to fulfilling his obligations as an attorney and a man. He should be ashamed of himself for causing one family so much misery; in addition he should be disbarred for not paying what a competent jury has determined he is responsible for paying Mr. Limehouse.
Don't be fooled, humble beginnings are not what spared on this small gesture of good well. The Mazarati, Mercedes, Lamborghini, Hummer, the house on front beach at Wild Dunes, the house downtown, the house in Aspen, etc:. say much more about the true Hulsey. He is a little man who lets his pride and greed rule his life. It is all about the limelight and showboating. All I can say is thank goodness the food bank benefited from his selfish actions nonetheless.
August 20, 2008 at 9:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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