Building a Legacy: Q&A with Cathy Lawson, Trustee of the Lawson Charitable Foundation
Helping others has always been a guiding force for Cathy Lawson, co-founder and trustee of the Lawson Charitable Foundation. Alongside her husband, Tom Lawson, former CEO and chairman of FM Global, Cathy has worked to create a family foundation that reflects their shared commitment to giving back. In this exclusive Q&A, Cathy shares the inspiration behind the foundation, the personal experiences that shaped its mission, and her hopes for its future.
How Has Your Life Experience Helped Form the Cornerstones of the Foundation?
Special needs assistance is deeply personal to me. My background as a speech-language pathologist specializing in pre-speech and feeding programs, primarily with medically fragile children, showed me firsthand how the right resources can make all the difference in a child’s outcome. I worked within transdisciplinary teams supporting children with diverse abilities, which opened my eyes to the importance of specialized programming and adaptive equipment to ensure these children could reach their potential.
Veterans’ assistance became a focus for me because of my deep concern for how veterans, particularly those returning from war during my young adulthood, were received. I always felt they were not treated with the respect nor given the assistance they and their families deserved after sacrificing so much for our freedom. This always stayed with me, which is why I wanted to do my part to ensure that future generations of veterans will receive the care and resources they deserve.
Respite care for caregivers became a priority for me after spending my career working with medically fragile children and their families. Through this work, and volunteering after retirement, I saw firsthand how essential respite care is for families caring for loved ones. My own personal experiences further deepened my understanding of the challenges caregivers face, reinforcing the need to support this critical service.
Childhood mental health became a core focus of the foundation after witnessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The psychological toll on children and young adults continues to be staggering. Conversations with parents and healthcare professionals highlighted the growing need for mental health support, making it a natural extension of our mission.
Has Philanthropy Always Been in Your Family?
Philanthropy was never something I imagined as a formal part of my life, but the desire to help others was always there. In our early years, we didn’t have much, but we did what we could. As we worked and sacrificed and moved towards greater success, the means to do more became a reality, planting the seed for what would later become our family foundation.
When Did You Decide to Take the Leap and Start the Foundation, and What Challenges Did You Face?
Starting a foundation was never a lifelong dream for me. It wasn’t something I ever thought would be a possibility. Tom and I have always believed that with success comes responsibility, and after moving to Rhode Island, we worked hard, hoping to be able to give back.
Having retired from my career as a speech pathologist, I felt a deep urge to channel my energy into something meaningful, and philanthropy was the first thing that came to mind. Tom was fully supportive and eager to help formalize and support my passion. Together, we decided to make this commitment and begin the groundwork for developing the foundation.
The process wasn’t without challenges. It felt like learning a new language—navigating the legalities, financial responsibilities, and time commitments was more complex than expected. However, with our professional backgrounds and strong network, we were able to navigate those early hurdles.
For anyone considering starting their own foundation, my advice is to learn before you leap. It’s more complicated than you might think. Be clear about your goals, seek out resources, and don’t hesitate to ask others for support.
What Are Your Hopes for the Foundation Looking 10-20 Years from Now?
I hope the foundation continues to grow, both in its reach and impact. We plan to remain a family-funded foundation and hope to expand our giving year over year. Now, with the support of a formalized team, I believe this will come to fruition.
I also hope to inspire younger generations to embrace philanthropy. When I was younger, philanthropy wasn’t something people talked about. I want people to understand that you don’t need a million dollars to give back.
A Lasting Legacy
My journey with the Lawson Charitable Foundation continues to come from a place of love, resilience, and a deep commitment to making the world a better place. We simply wanted to contribute. Today, seeing our dream come to life is incredibly fulfilling.
Through our philanthropy, Tom and I strive to support those who are working hard to help themselves and others. We hope to be remembered as a family that paid attention to the needs of our community and stepped up where we could. The foundation ensures that our legacy of giving not only endures but continues to make a meaningful impact over time.
Lawson Family
Will, Cathy, and Tom (Left to Right)
