Sam Dawson

I'm a philanthropist, activist, actor, and retired publicist. I've led a number of lives. Married young, I became the mother of three daughters before I was 27. In my 30s, I became an award-winning publicist and ran my own public relations company, specializing in the arts. I also wrote my first book, a source book on how to access free public service and public affairs time on radio and television. In my late 40s she married my second husband, a real estate developer, and devoted my time to his projects. I was widowed in my 50s and returned to the work world as a program officer for a large foundation. Retiring in my early 60s, I became an active volunteer for a number of nonprofit organizations focused primarily on the needs of and issues facing women and girls. Today, I'm a founding partner and grants chair of Impact Giving*, a woman’s collective giving organization that, in its first four years, has granted $475,000 to local and global nonprofit organizations. I am also the creator of Sam’s Salon, a bimonthly gathering of women that focuses on one topic of discussion to educate, enlighten, or just laugh.