Dr. Maurice Lee Makes Waves in Philanthropy

The need for philanthropy couldn’t be more prevalent than it is now. In a time where discussions about advancement, unity, and making a long-term social impact are openly discussed, finding people who are making humanitarian tidal waves is not only refreshing, it’s critical to the progression of society. Not surprisingly, millennials are taking the lead on blazing bolder paths towards social justice, education, empowerment, and advancement for all people. From launching multimillion-dollar companies to leading marches and protests, Generation Y’ers are making their names and contributions widely known.

[Related: Millennial Seeks To Boost Local Economy Through Blogging]

Such is the case for Dr. Maurice A. Lee, a successful black pharmacist filling more than prescriptions from doctors. Through the Maurice A. Lee Scholarship Fund (MALSF), Dr. Lee is helping students fulfill their educational goals regardless of the financial disparities they may face. He has raised and dispersed more than $60,000 in scholarships since the inception of his fund in 2006. He started the fund to commemorate his 30^th birthday, thus proving that millennials are not only capable of thinking outside of the box, they’re also strongly committed to their values and seeing society’s positive potential.

Social responsibility is a major factor in the decisions millennials make. It appears that creating new standards, bridging gaps, and increasing access to opportunities and resources is at the forefront of their missions–professionally and personally. Dr. Lee is the first black male pharmacist from Eutawville, South Carolina. When he first began pursuing his career, the pharmacy industry didn’t see a lot of representation from African American males.

“It has become a responsibility of mine to be an example to others,” Dr. Lee says of the decision to pursue his career despite its lack of diversity. “If they can see me advancing and progressing, then they can strive to be like me or better.”  His vision for raising the bar, while reaching out to uplift anyone with the passion to see the “bigger picture,” is shared amongst his peers.

There are a few things that millennials like Dr. Lee bring to the table that we can learn from:

1. They balance their personal achievements with the desire to give back. It’s important for millennials to make a name for themselves, but it’s equally important for them to build a community of thriving people who set out to get things done and improve their quality of life.
2. They seek long-term resolutions, versus settling for immediate answers.
   Millennials are bold and passionate people who get frustrated with repetition. They don’t let their passions die and they constantly seek answers. Creating a long-term solution helps them to avoid repeating the same problem over and over again, making them feel like they’re wasting their time.
3. The status quo is unacceptable. Period. Millennials thrive on making measurable changes. This means that accepting things the way they are doesn’t sit well with them. They dig deeper in order to surface better solutions that positively shape our perspectives of the world.

Continue reading on the next page…

Due to these ideas and efforts, millennials like Dr. Lee are being recognized by their peers, as well as people and organizations that encourage social progression. Dr. Lee has been honored by the state of South Carolina, for his contributions. The Orangeburg Chapter of Links awarded him for outstanding service performed by the youth for the community, and he has received the Key to the City of Columbia. This year’s MALSF gala is organized to surpass previous donations and make larger scholarship awards, but in order for that to happen Dr. Lee and his team are counting on the

support from other movers & shakers and people with a philanthropic heart to contribute to the fund. Financial woes can deter students from post-secondary education, and the funds raised from the MALSF gala will be used to alleviate this problem.

Making tidal waves in society isn’t easy, considering the fast-paced world we live in where it’s easy to be distracted and discouraged. Somehow millennials like Dr. Lee are determined to build their legacies and create opportunities for others to let their “lights” shine. In the end, their dreams and goals are about navigating though bumpy paths in order to maintain long-term effects for the world in which we live.  Dr. Lee sees the goal and pushes himself and others to think about the social impact they can make, “I want to encourage people to propel themselves to higher dimensions in spite of the number of obstacles that life often presents. That’s what this 10-year celebration is about. Moving the vision forward.”

The MALSF will be hosting its annual gala to raise money and form partnerships that spread the availability, and opportunity, the scholarship fund provides. The gala will be hosted by actor Leon (Cool Runnings, The Five Heartbeats, and Waiting to Exhale

among others), who will lead the mission to increase donations and sponsorship, as well as present the thriving millennials who have benefited from the scholarship fund. Celebrity choreographer/actor Darrin Henson (Soul Food, Stomp the Yard, The Hustle among others) is the national spokesperson for the organization. These two contributors, along with Dr. Lee’s board of directors, cement his beliefs that when the arts, humanitarianism and education collide, society sees a greater impact for its people and the quality of work they contribute, “The arts impact education because it is an integral part of the development of each human being. This often re-ignites the love and passion for learning in people who may be tired of just learning facts.”

Celebrities and humanitarians who support the MALSF mission and will be attending the gala that weekend include actresses Brély Evans (Born Again Virgin), AJ Johnson (Baby Boy) and techpreneur Everette Taylor along with a host of others. The kick-off events for the celebration will begin on July 30, 2015 with the actual gala being held on August 1, 2015 in Orangeburg, South Carolina. You can learn more about the festivities and purchase your tickets at www.maleescholarship.org.