Pamela Rainey Lawler, Founder of Philabundance and Social Impact Advisor: “The Power of an Idea”

Pamela Rainey Lawler

Putting Praxis into Practice: A 42-year journey and vital lessons along the way

Although best known in the region as the founder of Philabundance – the leading organization in the region dedicated to eliminating hunger and food insecurity – Pamela Rainey Lawler has had a diverse career as a communications professional specializing in employee and management communications, public affairs, and corporate social responsibility. She has been a small business owner and in 1991, as the Consumer Party candidate in the General Election, she had the distinction of being the first woman to run for mayor of Philadelphia.

Philabundance was founded in 1984 with an investment of $1,500. Today it serves thousands daily and the more than $26 million budget underwrites an array of programming – from food distribution, to culinary training, to healthful meal production and delivery. One of the first in the nation to successfully distribute surplus perishable foods safely and efficiently, Philabundance served as a model for other cities and food banks to access a previously untapped source for emergency food.

Eight years after its launch, Philabundance had both a strong business model and a recognizable brand. To move the organization to the next level of growth and beyond the ‘founder’s stage,’ Ms. Lawler hired an executive director to take over day-to-day operations and took her place on the board of directors. Since that time, she has worked actively with others in guiding the organization through key developmental stages such as the purchase and renovation of Philabundance’s first warehouse in South Philadelphia and the merger with the Greater Philadelphia Food Bank in 2005 when she co-chaired the board committee overseeing the effort.

Social Entrepreneurship Mentor & Advisor

Because of her in-depth experience guiding Philabundance from concept to sustainability, Ms. Lawler regularly advises founders on the challenges of managing an organization’s growth stages, its life cycles and key planning strategies, as well as on the imperative of staying focused and true to mission. She continues to work with foundations and community groups on food security collaborations and efforts to develop innovative cross-sector solutions.