Deborah Lawson serves as the Director of Development at United Way Emerald Coast, where she leads donor engagement and drives fundraising initiatives that strengthen the community across Okaloosa and Walton counties. She is passionate about building meaningful connections through philanthropy, cultivating partnerships, and advancing membership groups that create lasting local impact.
An active advocate for mental health, Deborah first connected with United Way Emerald Coast through Women United, a membership group focused on the mental health of women and girls. Her own diagnosis in her mid-thirties fueled a deep commitment to breaking stigma and creating inclusive spaces for others to thrive.
With a background spanning public service and community, Deborah continues to champion causes close to her heart. She serves on the Board of Directors for Operation Table Top, supporting veterans' mental health, and is a committee member for the Walton Area Chamber Young Professionals.
Outside of work, you can find her making music in the North Okaloosa Community Band, kayaking local rivers with her family, or spoiling her rescue pup, Georgia Brown.