Since 2012, Karen Lambert has served as president and chief executive officer of The Peyton Anderson Foundation in Macon, Georgia. Established in 1988 through the estate of Peyton Tooke Anderson, Jr., the foundation serves to honor Mr. Anderson’s wishes to meet the needs and improve the lives of citizens from his hometown by initiating projects, responding to requests from charitable organizations, and providing college scholarships to promising students with financial needs. Since its inception, the foundation has invested more than $70,000,000 in the Middle Georgia community.
Lambert is a Macon native and graduated from Mercer University with a degree in business administration. Prior to joining the Peyton Anderson Foundation, she served as president and CEO of Macon’s award-winning International Cherry Blossom Festival, and as executive director of Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful. Earlier in her career, she was executive director of Macon’s historic Grand Opera House.
Lambert is a member of Southeastern Council of Foundations, Georgia Grantmakers Alliance, Macon Council of Foundations, and City of Macon Sister Cities Commission. She is vice chair of NewTown Macon, serves on the implementation committee of OneMacon, and on the board of directors of the Museum of Aviation. Formerly, she was a director of the Macon Rotary Club and the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce.
Lambert is a 2012 Hull Fellow and a 1999 graduate of Leadership Macon. A devoted community advocate, she has served numerous civic, professional, and cultural organizations during her career. She has six children and five beautiful grandchildren.