Kennedy Krieger Receives $2 Million to Establish Lawless Family Endowed Chair

Kennedy Krieger Institute announced today that Robert J. Lawless, former chairman, president and chief executive of McCormick & Company, Inc., has pledged $2 million for an endowed chair to enhance the Institute's longstanding history of helping children with special needs.

The Lawless Family Endowed Chair will be presented to Michael F. Cataldo, Ph.D., Director of Kennedy Krieger's Behavioral Psychology Department. For 35 years, Dr. Cataldo has steered a department that expanded under his leadership to include innovative programs and services that meet the needs of thousands of children who come to the Institute each year. As the recipient of the Lawless Family Endowed Chair, Dr. Cataldo will continue his research into effective treatments of certain problems of child behavior, including severe forms of aggression and self-injury.

Lawless and his wife, Cathy, are long-time supporters of Kennedy Krieger. In 2002, they were honored with the Zanvyl Krieger Award - an award given annually to a friend of the Institute who embodies its namesake by giving a lifetime of service to the children of Kennedy Krieger. Lawless served on the Institute's Board of Directors from 1997-2009, when he was elected a Director Emeritus for Life.

"The Lawless Family Endowed Chair speaks to Bob and Cathy Lawless' commitment to Kennedy Krieger's important mission," said Dr. Gary Goldstein, President and CEO of Kennedy Krieger Institute. "Dr. Cataldo, as the first recipient of this chair, will ensure that their commitment strengthens our ability to unlock the potential of children with special needs."

Dr. Cataldo also serves as a Senior Vice President at Kennedy Krieger and a Professor of Behavioral Biology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in Child Development and Psychology from the University of Kansas.

About Kennedy Krieger Institute

Internationally recognized for improving the lives of children and adolescents with disorders and injuries of the brain and spinal cord, the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD serves more than 13,000 individuals each year through inpatient and outpatient clinics, home and community services and school-based programs. Kennedy Krieger provides a wide range of services for children with developmental concerns mild to severe, and is home to a team of investigators who are contributing to the understanding of how disorders develop while pioneering new interventions and earlier diagnosis. For more information on Kennedy Krieger Institute, visit www.kennedykrieger.org.

Elise Welker
(443) 923-7330
welker@kennedykrieger.org