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 long, 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 > > > has learning disabilities requiring an array of private tutors? > > > > > > The humiliated United Way rep, completely beaten, says, I'm 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 ever give any to you?