A prominent charitable trust based in Baldwin County, and well known to Foley residents, has taken legal action against two of its key administrative figures in federal court, alleging violations governed by federal labor and benefit laws.
The Snook Foundation filed a civil lawsuit against Thomas Lee and Heather Lee on Oct. 12, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. The action, assigned Case No. 1:2026cv00419, invokes federal question jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331 regarding regulations under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and Fair Labor Standards.
According to public tax filings and foundation documentation, Thomas Lee and Heather Lee served in key administrative capacities, handling grant processing and day-to-day administrative operations at the foundation’s Foley headquarters.
A Half-Century Philanthropic LegacyManaging approximately $23.5 million in assets, the Snook Foundation is one of the most visible grantmaking organizations in coastal Alabama. Its history is tied directly to the growth of local telecommunications. In 1929, Ward Snook founded the Gulf Telephone Company, providing early phone service across southern Baldwin County.
Ward’s son, John McClure Snook, established the Snook Foundation in 1972 to support civic improvements in the area. Following John Snook’s death in 1994, his wife, Marjorie Younce Snook, took over as president of the board of trustees. The foundation’s endowment and grantmaking scope expanded substantially following the sale of Gulf Telephone Company in 1999.
The foundation directs its funding to non-profit organizations, municipal projects, and educational institutions operating within the historic service area of Gulf Telephone, extending from Loxley south to the Gulf Coast. Key initiatives supported include:
- Education & Youth: Capital grants for regional public and private school upgrades, area libraries, after-school care, and Snook Christian Academy.
- Healthcare & Wellness: Funding for local health centers, community medical initiatives, and wellness facilities.
- Community & Emergency Relief: Financial contributions supporting regional food banks, volunteer fire and police departments, veterans assistance programs, and localized disaster relief effort.
- Historical Preservation: Ongoing support for local historical preservation groups, municipal public works, and the operation of the Snook Telephone Museum.
The legal action remains pending in federal court.
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