Giving back

I’m not at the point where I even consider retirement. But I’m told it goes like this: You get a gift, perhaps a watch, a plaque, some small token of appreciation. And you get a pension, though those are disappearing fast.

But the point is: As you walk out the door, you get something for your efforts.

When Bill Botts walks out the door of the agency he’s led since 1984, he won’t be the one receiving.

He’ll be giving. $100,000, in fact.

Botts has worked at Rappahannock Legal Services for 31 years. He’s directed the legal aid agency for 26  years. So Botts knows more than anyone how much the nonprofit struggles. In the past year, the agency’s caseload has increased 53 percent while its income has decreased 20 percent.

So Botts is giving part of his retirement savings to Rappahannock Legal Services. This isn’t new for Botts, who tithed his income to the agency and usually started with his own salary when budget cuts needed to be made.

Here’s a story we ran earlier this month about Botts’ retirement. Look for another story soon about his gift.

Bott’s donation will allow the agency to keep its staff of six attorneys. Without the $100,000, Rappahannock Legal Services would have to cut two positions. The agency laid off one attorney in February.

Earlier cuts included: freezing salaries through 2012, reducing fringe benefits, starting furloughs, moving to cheaper office space and having staff take over cleaning duties.

Botts challenges the community to match his donation to keep the legal services’ staff through the following year too. To donate, send checks to 618 Kenmore Ave., Suite 1–A, Fredericksburg, Va. 22401. Write “matching campaign” on the memo line. For details, call 540/371-1115.

Permalink: http://news.fredericksburg.com/doinggood/2010/12/20/1265645400/