From our inception, Rogers Towers' attorneys have embraced the valued tradition of community service begun by our founders. Our commitment to community service is a cornerstone of this firm. Improving the quality of life in our communities is a proud tradition in our firm. We believe that through community service our efforts, large and small, can create a ripple of change.
We have deep roots in the communities in which we live and work. We are dedicated to supporting charitable activities that result in building stronger communities. Although the firm has matured from its beginnings in the early part of the twentieth century, the character of the firm is still true to the dreams and visions of its founders. We are proud of our strong commitment to integrity and excellence in the practice of law as well as serving our community.
Jacksonville Public Library
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On June 1, 1905, the Jacksonville Free Public Library opened its doors as the first tax-supported library in Florida. Since the firm's founding, Rogers Towers' lawyers and staff have supported the library enthusiastically, through service on library boards and through gifts of books and money. Today, the JPL has 21 branches, including the beautiful four-story Jacksonville Main Library, located in the heart of Downtown. In celebration of the opening of the new Main Library and in recognition of the JPL's 100 years of service to the community, the Rogers Towers Foundation committed $100,000 to the Capital Campaign of the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation. |
United Way
Strong financial support from the lawyers and staff of Rogers Towers Bailey Jones & Gay continued in the 1970s as the United Fund became the “ United Way.”
As Reynolds Rogers & Towers commenced its third decade of service in the mid-1920s, Jacksonville's leading citizens launched the first Community Chest Campaign. The “one gift-one campaign” concept was heartily endorsed by the firm's lawyers who helped the Community Chest raise over $200,000 in that first campaign. William H. Rogers, the firm's Managing Partner, served as Chairman of the Community Chest in 1948. Mr. Rogers and his fellow community volunteers collected over $300,000 for charitable causes in that year. By the time C. D. Towers, Jr. directed the annual campaign in 1964, the Community Chest had become the “United Fund.” Annual gifts in that campaign swelled to more than $1,700,000. Strong financial support from the lawyers and staff of Rogers Towers Bailey Jones & Gay continued in the 1970s as the United Fund became the “ United Way.” In the late 1980's, the United Way of Northeast Florida established the Alexis de Tocqueville Society to recognize donors who give at least $10,000 per year to the United Way. With seven Rogers Towers lawyers currently qualifying as de Tocqueville donors, our firm is proud to have the highest number of de Tocqueville members of all North Florida law firms.
St. Augustine Lighthouse
With the help of Rogers Towers' lawyers, the St. Augustine Junior League negotiated a 99-year lease with St. Johns County to restore the historic St. Augustine Lighthouse.
The city of St. Augustine literally offers history around every corner. None of the Ancient City's structures is more strikingly beautiful than the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Its strong black-and-white diagonal day-mark stripes coupled with its stark-red light tower create a very strong presence for this light, as it really serves as the heart and center focus of this community. The lighthouse can be seen from many different locations around town and always seems to be watching over both the town and the sea. Remarkable as it may seem, however, without the timely efforts of the St. Augustine community, including lawyers at Rogers Towers, the lighthouse and surrounding facilities might not have survived in their present forms.
The lighthouse went into service in the second half of the 19th Century with a staff of three lampkeepers who lived with their families in the nearby Victorian-style residence. When the lighthouse was automated in 1955, the keepers moved from the grounds. The distinctive black and white stripes of the lighthouse began to peel away. In 1970 the United States Coast Guard conveyed the lightkeepers' house to St. Johns County. The day after the transfer transients set fire to the structure. For years, the once beautiful residence remained a pile of charred timber and crumbling bricks. Then, in the late 1970s, the St. Augustine Junior Service League decided to undertake a restoration of the building. With the help of Rogers Towers' lawyers, the League negotiated a 99 year lease with St. Johns County. After years of effort, planning, fund raising and hard work, the lightkeepers' house was fully restored and is now operated as a first class museum and community facility.
Just as the restoration effort began in earnest on the site, vandals used the lighthouse's historic and unique Aresnel lens for target practice. Again, with the help of Rogers Towers' lawyers, the League convinced the Coast Guard that it could fund the preservation of the historically significant lens rather than replace it with a modern alternative. As a result of the League's professionalism, with the help of Rogers Towers' lawyers, the Coast Guard ultimately entrusted the lighthouse itself to the League.