Mary Lazarus is a civic and philanthropic leader who has used her voice and philanthropy to further social justice in our community. Her major purpose in life has been to help others: her family, her community, women and children, the homeless, friends, and neighbors.

Mary has provided leadership and vision to Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio and is the past president of Action for Children. She was instrumental in the agency’s expansion with the building of the Cecilia Cullman Center for Children. Her civic affiliations include work with Thurber House, Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio, Mount Carmel Hospital, and the Ohio Ethics Commission. She is a co-founder of Columbus Metropolitan Club, and has also been involved with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus, and countless other organizations. She is a co-founding chair of the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio. In 1994 she was honored with the YWCA Women of Achievement Award and was inducted into the Columbus Hall of Fame in 2015.