The Donahue Institute for Equity & Social Justice serves as a campus hub for global consciousness at Lasell University, thanks to funding, leadership, and inspiration from its founder, Nancy Lawson Donahue ’49 P’78 H’98.

Donahue and her late husband, Richard, have long supported a variety of educational institutions, cultural organizations, human services agencies, and educational institutions throughout Massachusetts.

“I feel fortunate that I have been in a position to help people,” Nancy explains. “I have seen numerous examples of how a helping hand — be it a financial contribution or some other type of involvement — can really make a difference in an individual’s life. It makes the person receiving the support feel valued and reminds them that there are people willing to help them.”

Donahue traces her altruism to the values she learned as a child in her hometown of New Britain, Connecticut. Her parents, Raymond and Alice, were active in civic and church organizations and modeled the benevolent, community-minded spirit that Nancy came to embody.

“My parents didn’t talk about giving back to the community, but I saw them do it and I just absorbed it,” Nancy remembers.

As a teenager, Nancy volunteered as a candy striper at the local hospital and participated in the Victory Farmerette program during World War II. At Lasell Junior College, Donahue was president of Bragdon Hall, served as class secretary, captained the crew team, and volunteered on Saturday mornings at a day care center in Boston’s North End. She majored in fashion merchandising.

“I had a wonderful experience and loved every minute of my time at Lasell,” she recalls.

Donahue, who married Richard in 1953, said material possessions were never important to her and her husband.

“We never cared about having things or acquiring things,” she says. “We derived great joy and satisfaction from helping others.”