Vinson & Elkins to Distribute Nearly a Half-Million Dollars in Hurricane Harvey Relief Funds to Local Non-Profits

HOUSTON, Dec. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Vinson & Elkins LLP announced that it will direct donations of nearly a half-million dollars from its Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund to local non-profit organizations that are directly assisting storm victims and repairing damage to Houston and its surrounding areas.

"We hope that these donations will benefit our city as it continues to recover from Hurricane Harvey's devastating impact," said Scott Wulfe, Managing Partner of the firm. "V&E has a long history of giving back to our communities and these funds are being directed to organizations making an impact helping in the recovery efforts."

The V&E Fund, established in August following the storm and maintained by the Greater Houston Community Foundation, received a total of 370 individual donations from lawyers, staff, alumni, clients, vendors and friends of the firm from across the globe. The firm matched those donations.

"V&E has been a proud member of the Houston business community for 100 years, and we want to do everything we can to give back during what has been one of the most trying periods in the city's history," V&E Chairman Mark Kelly said. "We are so grateful to everyone in the V&E family for their generosity."

In connection with V&E's 100th anniversary, and based on greatest need and the ability to make the biggest impact, the firm is allocating four distributions of $100,000 each to the following organizations:

Texas Access to Justice Foundation. The pro bono legal assistance provider works directly with local volunteer agencies to provide free legal assistance to low-income storm survivors including securing FEMA benefits, insurance claims, home repair contracts, replacing wills and other important documents and mortgage/landlord problems.

United Way of Greater Houston. Through partnerships with local organizations such as Catholic Charities, Crisis Assistance Center, Houston Food Bank, Interfaith Ministries, Jewish Family Service and San Jose Clinic, the United Way will allocate 100% of V&E's donations to helping local residents recover from Hurricane Harvey, focused on those with the greatest need – the elderly, disabled and low-income families.

Theater District Houston Foundation. Downtown Houston's cultural centers were hard hit as a result of the hurricane. No theater was untouched by flood waters, and numerous repairs are still underway with performances relocated or canceled. The donation to Theater District Houston Foundation will help preserve arts and culture by assisting venues as they repair and rebuild, including Alley Theater, Houston Ballet Center, Jones Hall, Wortham Center and Houston Grand Opera.

Houston Parks Board. The Board oversees development and maintenance of the Bayou Greenways and related parks and trails, working with Harris County Flood Control District. Houston's bayous and parks offer flood management as natural channels for water flow into the Gulf. Further developing our bayou systems and keeping them cleared of debris are important investments for future flood prevention.

V&E will contribute the additional money raised by the Fund to organizations that directly assist local low-income families and individuals -- including senior citizens and special needs residents -- in need of housing assistance and home rehabilitation. These organizations include Houston Habitat for Humanity, Avenue CDC, The Center and Texas Appleseed.

As an international law firm with approximately 700 lawyers across 16 offices worldwide, V&E is deeply committed to empowering all of the communities it serves through pro bono work for the underserved, devoting significant time and resources to those who cannot afford legal services. In addition to funds raised for Hurricane Harvey relief, the firm contributes more than $2 million annually to hundreds of charitable, educational and cultural organizations across the world.

For more information, please contact Jeremy Heallen at +1.713.758.2079.

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SOURCE Vinson & Elkins LLP