Wyche has entered a partnership with Liberty Fellowship as the capstone of the Greenville-based law fi rm’s year-long cel-
ebration of its centennial; above is its offi ce along Broad Street downtown. (Photo/Provided)
By Ross Norton
rnorton@scbiznews.com
Wyche is celebrating a century of practice with a philanthropic investment in one of South Carolina’s most prestigious and unique fellowship programs.
Wyche entered a partnership with Liberty Fellowship as the capstone of the Greenville-based law firm’s year-long celebration of its centennial. “The Challenge to Lead” calls on the business community to help build the next generation of leaders in South Carolina by investing in the fellowship’s rigorous leadership program.
Wyche is putting $55,000 into the program over the next three years and has issued a challenge to other regional and statewide businesses to match or exceed the firm’s commitment.
For Wyche the commitment is part of the firm’s celebration of 100 years of law practice in South Carolina, according to a news release. This and other contributions by Wyche over the past year are part of the firm’s Centennial Legacy Project, designed to reflect and renew Wyche’s commitment to its core principles of service to the community: advancing the business community, societal impact, community transformation and environmental stewardship.
Liberty Fellowship is the only state-based fellowship program of its kind in the United States, and there are more than 300 Liberty Fellows working collectively across South Carolina. The fellowship strives to activate individual leaders through a deeper understanding of a just, free and equitable society; serves as a convener for bringing together diverse perspectives to advance civil discourse; and provides infrastructure for taking action, according to the release. Liberty Fellowship is a nonpartisan, nonsectarian, non-dogmatic organization which operates independently of the positions and views of its funders.
“Liberty Fellowship is very aligned with the ideals that have shaped Wyche’s 100 years of practice, and that continue to be central to our unique approach to serving our clients and our community,” Tally Parham Casey, CEO and chair of Wyche, said in the release. “Wyche is honored to have the chance to join forces with the Fellowship to support future leaders in our state.”
Liberty Fellows are selected based on an extensive nomination and interview process, designed to assess candidates that will offer unique and diverse perspectives to address the most critical issues facing South Carolinians. Participants are chosen based on both merit and a demonstrated commitment to community.
“Wyche is known for its strong tradition of service,” said Ann Marie Stieritz, president and CEO of Liberty Fellowship. “The firm has a reputation for challenging its attorneys to tackle complex problems and to become leaders who fully engage in the community. We are honored to be a part of Wyche’s Centennial Legacy Project as we launch this exciting initiative to invest in future generations of leadership.”
Each Liberty Fellow is required to complete an 18-month seminar experience in the United States and abroad to explore and understand a wide range of perspectives and develop their personal and professional leadership. Through the fellowship’s affiliation with The Aspen Institute, all Liberty Fellows become members of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
As part of Liberty Fellowship’s focus on equal access to opportunities, the individuals selected for the program are not required to pay for their seminar experience. Wyche is investing $55,000 — the equivalent of one new Liberty Fellow’s initial 18-month seminar experience — and encouraging other businesses to do so through “The Challenge to Lead.”
“Both Wyche and Liberty Fellowship have had a profound impact on my leadership journey,” Meliah Bowers Jefferson, member of Wyche P.A., said in the release. “Without these two organizations, my story might not be possible. I am delighted ‘The Challenge to Lead’ will ensure future leaders have the same opportunity to discover diverse perspectives that challenge them to make an impact on South Carolina.”
With offices in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Columbia, Wyche is the South Carolina member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms.
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