[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”26815″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_border_circle_2″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1679601429301{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]This past March, marks Teresa Lawwill’s tenth year on Northwest Association for Blind Athletes’ Board of Directors, and currently serves as the Board’s secretary. Help us celebrate Teresa and all that she’s done for NWABA.
Teresa met Billy Henry and became involved with Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA) at the 2012 dinner and auction held at the Pearson Air Museum. She fell in love with the organization through the passion and commitment of an 18-year-old who wanted to provide opportunities for others like him, through sports and physical activity. And then Teresa also helped Billy find love by introducing him to his wife, Ashlyn.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1679601351135{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]With Teresa’s long-standing history of community service and her connections in the community, she felt she could help NWABA with its fundraising efforts and growth. She’d spent 10 years working with the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce as their Community Partnership Director where she was instrumental in creating and executing their annual Women in Leadership Lecture Series. Prior to her decade with the GVCC, her long list of accomplishments include positions with the Port of Vancouver, Thomas Edison High School in Portland, Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest, and the Bureau of Land Management. She’s also given her time to many community service organizations and held leadership roles with the YWCA, growing its membership and organizing events, fundraising for Friends of the Children’s Center, the Portland Symphonic Girls’ Choir, the Camas School District PTA, and the Camas Educational Foundation, along with the Kearney Breast Center and Holtzman Twins Special Care Nursery at PeaceHealth. Teresa presided as President of the Columbia Mothers of Twins Club, was a Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) member; and she also served on the board and helped raise funds for the Jack, Will and Rob Youth Center in Camas.
In addition to all that Teresa has accomplished in her career and as a community servant leader, she is the mother of three daughters has been married to her husband, Mark, for 37 years, and has five (soon to be six) grandchildren.
Teresa’s involvement with NWABA now has a more personal meaning, as well as professional. When she became involved, she did so because she thought she could make a difference. What she did not know was that eight years later, she would have a grandson born visually impaired. Reece has Lowe Syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects his eyes.
Teresa believes that everyone, no matter their abilities, wants to belong. Everyone wants to be wanted and to feel like they are enough just as they are. She is drawn to NWABA because, “No one should be relegated to sit on the sidelines because of their impairment when there is an opportunity and possibility to adapt and play.” And NWABA supports her belief with its mission of providing opportunities for children, youth and adults who are visually impaired through sports and physical activity.
When asked how much longer Teresa plans to remain on NWABA’s Board of Directors, her reply was, “As long as Billy will let me.” Let’s hope it’s for another ten years! Thank you, Teresa, from all of us at NWABA for all you do!
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