News

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Elizabeth Smith Owen, a partner at Morton & Gettys, is the newest member of the York County Community Foundation Board of Trustees.

The foundation was established in 1988 with a goal of increasing the charitable resources available in the community. What began 28 years ago with one, $10,000 grant has grown to 82 funds worth a combined $15 million.

Its 17-member board includes professionals from throughout the county, from school officials to attorneys to financial experts. The trustees are tasked with overseeing all activities of the foundation, including fund-raising and finance, communications and operations.

The board also supervises an annual grant program that awards money to organizations throughout York County. Last year, $28,900 was awarded to organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of York County for summer camp scholarships, RideAbility Therapeutic Riding Center to buy adaptive saddles and the Rock Hill Parks Foundation to buy bicycles for the “Let’s Get Riding!” Program.

Additionally, the foundation manages more than 100 college scholarship funds that award about $1 million annually to both undergraduate and graduate students.

Owen’s membership on the Board of Trustees dovetails perfectly with her passionate interest in community and education issues. She also serves on the board for the Early Learning Partnership of York County and volunteers with other family-oriented organizations.

At Morton & Gettys, Owen’s practice focuses on family law, education law and personal injury cases. She is a veteran divorce lawyer who handles a range of related issues such as custody, child support, visitation and alimony and spousal support.

She also represents juveniles charged with felonies and misdemeanors, cases that fall under the jurisdiction of Family Court in South Carolina.