Featured Legacy Donors: Karen and David Telleen-Lawton—Making a Difference

CEC's Livable World Legacy Society is delighted to welcome Karen and David Telleen-Lawton among its newest members. As a Southern California native, Karen led Dave, a Midwesterner, to Santa Barbara in 1980 after both earned industrial engineering degrees from Stanford University. Once here, they quickly established themselves as active contributors to our community through volunteering and building diverse careers with broad societal impact.

After earning his master's degree from Stanford, David joined an early Santa Barbara tech company that provided the links between computers and the ARPANET (the early foundation of the Internet). He went on to build a 40+ year career as a consultant and employee developing sustainable and successful businesses. He recently retired from UC Santa Barbara where he helped launch the Master in Technology Management Program.

Karen earned multiple advanced degrees in management, economics, and environmental policy from California Lutheran University and the University of Colorado. She built her career around civic engagement (assistant to Mayor Sheila Lodge) and financial and environmental stewardship (financial advisor, local columnist, nationally syndicated writer). She is the author of an important book about one of Santa Barbara's iconic landscapes: Canyon Voices - The Nature of Rattlesnake Canyon . Currently, Karen serves as Vice President of Santa Barbara Channelkeeper's Board of Directors.

David and Karen share many interests, among them a passion for environmental stewardship, cooking, travel, and music. Both volunteer regularly for environmental organizations including Earthwatch, SB Channelkeeper, SB Botanic Garden, Channel Islands National Park, Channel Islands Restoration, as well as participating in local trail maintenance projects. They are active members of their church, raised two children, and enjoy their three grandchildren.

"We greatly appreciate the awareness the Community Environmental Council has brought over the years to threats to our environment - locally and regionally," say Karen and David. "We have witnessed the leadership provided by CEC and the actions taken by the organization's staff and volunteers to build our community climate resilience. We made our legacy pledge to help CEC continue to be an important partner with the Santa Barbara community for many years to come."

CEC is deeply grateful to Karen and David for designating a portion of an IRA as a legacy gift. Their generosity is a tangible expression of their longstanding commitment to the environment and to a sustainable future.

Including a legacy gift in your will or trust is an easy and effective way to support CEC's critical mission of fighting climate change. Please contact Karl Hutterer ([email protected]; 805-458-162) for more information or assistance.