Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Irwin.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in Miami, surrounded by an extraordinary mix of cultures, languages, traditions, and people. Looking back, I think that experience shaped much of how I see the world today. But my earliest and most lasting lessons about people and community came from my parents.
My mother was the daughter of a coal miner from Jellico, Tennessee, and my father was the son of two journalists from New York. They came from very different backgrounds, but their paths eventually crossed in Miami, where they met as young adults and built a life together.
Neither came from wealth, but both believed deeply in helping others. Some of my earliest memories are of watching them give, not necessarily money, because there wasn’t always much to spare, but their time, their talents, and whatever someone needed. They volunteered at our church and school, opened their home to people who needed help, and sometimes did without so someone else wouldn’t have to. They taught me that generosity isn’t measured by the size of a donation. It’s measured by showing up.
That lesson stayed with me.
My professional life took me through several small businesses and, more recently, into real estate management, but community service was always part of the picture. During my career with a major retailer, I helped develop employee volunteer initiatives and was part of efforts that set fundraising records for United Way. Over the years, I also served on boards and committees supporting social services, education, and the arts.
My personal life has been an adventure as well. I married my childhood sweetheart, and together we built a life filled with experiences, opportunities, and a family I’m proud of, including our adopted son, who now serves in the military. Although that chapter of our lives eventually came to an end, I remain grateful for the journey and all that it taught me.
Like most people, I’ve also experienced seasons I never anticipated. Living with long COVID has been one of them. It changed my relationship with my own health and gave me an even greater appreciation for the connection between creativity, wellness, and quality of life.
My love of the arts eventually led me to open NOMA Gallery in Ocala, an experience that introduced me to an extraordinary community of artists and creative thinkers. It also reinforced something I had come to believe: the arts are not simply a luxury or a form of entertainment. They are an essential part of a healthy, connected community.
Today, much of my energy is devoted to The LILAC Foundation, which supports the arts, invests in emerging leaders, and works to expand opportunities for people in our community. I’m also the founder of Arts in Health Ocala Metro, an organization dedicated to bringing the healing benefits of creative expression to people who might not otherwise have access to them.
I suppose the common thread through all these chapters has been a desire to connect people, create opportunities, and help good ideas grow. My parents taught me that giving begins with what you have, not what you wish you had. I’ve been fortunate that what I have to give has changed over the years, but I hope the reason I give never does.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has anyone ever answered this question with a yes? If so, I’d love to meet them!
Of course, it hasn’t always been a smooth road. I’ve had an incredibly fortunate life, filled with wonderful people, experiences, and opportunities. But I’ve also learned that a beautiful life and a difficult life aren’t necessarily two different things. Sometimes they’re the very same life.
One of my greatest challenges has been learning that sometimes the right decisions are also the most difficult. After a long marriage, I found myself beginning a new chapter and reimagining a future I thought I already knew. There is a certain vulnerability in starting over, particularly later in life, when you assume you should have most things figured out by now.
Long COVID presented an entirely different kind of challenge. I’ve always been someone who likes to stay busy, solve problems, and make things happen. Suddenly, I had to learn that determination alone couldn’t always overcome physical limitations. Patience has never been my greatest virtue, so that has been quite a lesson!
I’ve also discovered that building organizations and supporting meaningful community work isn’t always as simple as having a good idea and the resources to pursue it. Nonprofit work requires collaboration, trust, patience, and occasionally the willingness to let go of your own vision so something better can emerge.
Through all of it, I’ve come to appreciate that resilience doesn’t necessarily mean being fearless or having all the answers. Sometimes it simply means being willing to begin again, even when you’re uncertain about what comes next.
I’m still learning, still making mistakes, and still occasionally wondering what on earth I’ve gotten myself into. But I haven’t lost my curiosity or my belief that there’s always something worthwhile waiting around the next corner.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I selected “Other” because none of the categories seemed to fit! I’m a college dropout who has spent much of her adult life following her curiosity, learning by doing, and occasionally jumping into things I knew absolutely nothing about. Fortunately, that approach has worked out more often than not!
Today, my primary focus is The LILAC Foundation, a private foundation I lead with a mission that is very close to my heart: “Rooted in Art. Focused on Futures. Open to All.”
Our work centers on three areas: Arts in Health Ocala Metro, Elevating Futures, and Opportunity for All. Although the programs are different, they’re connected by a common belief that creativity, opportunity, and human connection can change lives.
One of the things that makes LILAC a little different is that we don’t see philanthropy as simply writing checks. Alongside funding programs, we partner with emerging nonprofits to provide mentorship, resources, and support, helping great ideas grow and future nonprofit leaders succeed. I love being involved in that process, whether it’s helping someone navigate the challenges of running a nonprofit, connecting people who should know one another, or finding the resources to turn a promising idea into something real.
I’m especially proud of founding Arts in Health Ocala Metro, or AIHOM. What began as an idea about making the arts more accessible has grown into an organization bringing music, movement, visual arts, and storytelling to thousands of people throughout our community. We work with healthcare providers, social service organizations, and cultural partners to bring creative experiences to people who can benefit from them, often in places where the arts have traditionally been absent.
I’m also proud of the people and organizations we’ve been able to support through LILAC. There is something incredibly rewarding about watching someone discover their own potential, particularly when all they needed was a little encouragement, an introduction, or someone willing to believe in their idea.
My experience owning several small businesses, and more recently taking an active role in managing real estate, has taught me a great deal, often through trial and error. I bring that same willingness to learn and figure things out to my nonprofit work. I believe good intentions are important, but so are strong organizations, thoughtful planning, accountability, and collaboration. I also believe we accomplish far more when we stop worrying about who gets the credit and start thinking about what we can accomplish together.
If there’s anything that distinguishes my work, perhaps it’s that I don’t think of myself as simply a philanthropist. I’m a participant, a collaborator, an occasional instigator, and someone who genuinely enjoys bringing people together to make things happen.
And despite having dropped out of college, I don’t believe I’ve ever stopped being a student. In fact, I think I’m learning more now than ever before.
How do you think about luck?
I’ve always had a complicated relationship with luck. My former husband and I used to joke that he had all the good luck in our marriage and I had none! I’m not sure the Irwins were ever considered a particularly lucky bunch.
But the older I get, the more I question what luck really is. I’ve certainly been fortunate. I’ve met wonderful people, had opportunities I never imagined, and benefited from circumstances that I know aren’t available to everyone. I would never discount any of that.
Still, I believe much more strongly in hard work, perseverance, and showing up. I’ve never been particularly interested in waiting for something wonderful to happen. I’d rather roll up my sleeves and see if I can make it happen. And when something doesn’t work out, which happens more often than people might think, I try to learn from it and move on.
I’ve also come to believe that what we sometimes call luck is actually the result of relationships. Someone believes in you, opens a door, shares an idea, or introduces you to the right person at the right time. I’ve been the beneficiary of that kind of generosity throughout my life, and now I find tremendous joy in being able to do the same for others.
Perhaps that’s why my work with LILAC is so meaningful to me. Not everyone begins life with the same advantages or opportunities. If I can help create an opportunity for someone else, I’d much rather do that than wish them good luck.
So, do I believe in luck? I’m still not sure. But I absolutely believe in hard work, kindness, and the extraordinary things that can happen when people help one another succeed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lilacfoundation.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilacocala/
