Vinson & Elkins Donates to Four National Charities in Honor of GivingTuesday

In recognition of GivingTuesday 2024, Vinson & Elkins announced today that it has made a $100,000 donation split evenly among four national charities:

• Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children diagnosed with critical illnesses;
• Feeding America, which provides food to millions through a network of food banks and community programs;
• The Nature Conservancy, a global organization focused on protecting the environment through science-based conservation efforts; and

• Save the Children, which is dedicated to improving children’s lives through education, health, protection, and emergency relief.

In announcing the donations, the firm’s Executive Committee — Partners Keith Fullenweider, Hilary Preston, Michael Holmes and Jim Fox — said:

“Our culture is rooted in a commitment to both our profession and our communities. We view our work as an opportunity to serve, and that service extends beyond our professional sphere to our dedication to community impact. From philanthropic support to providing pro bono services to scholarship programs, our combined efforts as a firm remain a testament to our strong culture of supporting others.”

Vinson & Elkins donates to more than 250 charitable organizations every year with missions focused on health care, education, the environment, arts and culture, youth and family, legal justice, poverty, and hunger, to name a few. Additionally, the firm’s lawyers contribute their time and resources by serving on non-profit boards and holding leadership roles in these organizations, such as our work with Friends of the Children.

The firm’s passion for giving back also infuses its robust pro bono program, which helps ensure that individuals and organizations without resources receive effective legal representation. Vinson & Elkins lawyers donate more than 30,000 hours of free legal services annually to hundreds of pro bono clients.

In its efforts to pave the way for aspiring law students, Vinson & Elkins sponsors various external programs to introduce students to the profession. The V&E Scholars Program, for example, offers college scholarships to deserving high school students in Houston, Dallas, and Austin. Since it was created in 1990, the program has awarded 196 scholarships, totaling about $2 million. Vinson & Elkins is also a founding sponsor of The University of Texas School of Law’s Pipeline Program, which provides workshops, mentorship, and networking opportunities to aspiring law students from low-income or first-generation backgrounds.

Additionally, as the holiday season approaches, Vinson & Elkins’ community spirit will again be evident throughout the firm, as lawyers and business professionals renew their commitment to the Adopt-an-Angel program, buying and wrapping holiday gifts for families in need.