(CHARLOTTE, N.C.)—Craig T. Lynch, Partner at Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, was named the 2010 Hope Award recipient for philanthropic service and community leadership by the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. This is the highest honor and most prestigious award given by the National MS Society.
“Mr. Lynch is a servant leader of the highest caliber and has made an enormous and positive impact on the community at large, and even more so on the lives of people living with multiple sclerosis,” said Lori Hurd, President of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter. “Over 17 years on the chapter and national boards, Mr. Lynch has served as officer, board chair and chair of numerous committees and task groups. Beyond his gift for strategic leadership and direction, he is uniquely innovative and persistent to ensure a strong human touch to benefit the lives of people living with MS. Most recently, he created and launched a highly impactful volunteer led service day project in the Mid Atlantic Chapter that is being replicated in 30 states across the country.”
Mr. Lynch received the Hope Award at an MS Gala event at The Atrium at Two Wachovia in Charlotte on August 14, 2010. Co-Chairs of the event, which drew more than 500 guests, were Brevin and Deena Knight.
Joyce Nelson, National MS Society CEO, describes Mr. Lynch as “one of the most engaging and talented trustees I have ever had the pleasure to work with. He brings valuable insights and creative energy to every process and discussion. We are grateful for his leadership and congratulate him on receiving the Hope Award.”
“Craig Lynch is simply the most deserving person to receive this high honor,” added Jeff Lax, Board Chair for the Mid-Atlantic Chapter. “Hands down, he has led, nurtured, created, coached, groomed and more. The next generation of leaders is fortunate to be standing on the shoulders of a giant! Craig is an inspiration to us all.”
Past MS Hope Award recipients include Humpy Wheeler, Herman Stone, Lynn & Skipper Beck, Rick Hendrick, Jerry Richardson, George Shinn, Jim Martin, Stuart Dickson, John Belk, Dr. Robert Albright, Pete Sloan, Dr. Billy Wireman, Hugh McColl, Bonnie Cone, Dr. Richard Hagemeyer and Bill Lee.
At Parker Poe, Mr. Lynch represents clients in Real Estate & Commercial Development and Banking & Capital Markets, including buyers, sellers, developers, owners, tenants and landlords in connection with the acquisition, disposition, development and leasing of real property. Mr. Lynch also represents lenders and borrowers in loan transactions secured by real property. He focuses his commercial real estate practice on national franchisees, health care entities, foreign entities and developers. Complementing his counsel of real estate clients, Mr. Lynch has more than six years of commercial litigation experience.
In 1995, Mr. Lynch received the Charlotte Business Journal's 40 Under 40 award. Other community leadership roles have included serving on Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Land Use Committee since 1999, and the UNC School of Law Alumni Board of Directors. Craig and his wife, Mitzi, live in Charlotte. They have two sons, Devin and Ryan.
In addition to recognizing the contributions of local leaders, the yearly fundraising MS Gala event is pivotal to the National MS Society's vision of creating a world free of multiple sclerosis. More than 15,000 people in the Carolinas live with MS, with symptoms that can range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The National MS Society serves people with MS by providing comprehensive support services, health-care provider education and medical research grants. To learn more, please visit the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National MS Society online.
About Parker Poe
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP has 225 lawyers in six offices located in major markets across North Carolina and South Carolina. The Firm provides legal counsel to large commercial and public organizations on litigation, corporate and regulatory matters. It has been recognized in recent years as one of the fastest growing law firms in the United States and as an award-winning leader in the use of technology to provide better and more efficient service to domestic and international clients.