Cecilia Abbott is a philanthropist, an educator, and the First Lady of Texas—the first Hispanic First Lady of Texas. The granddaughter of immigrants from Mexico, Mrs. Abbott was raised in San Antonio by parents who were both educators, and who instilled in her, her sister, and two brothers a love of learning and helping others, fostering a Catholic ethos.
Mrs. Abbott earned three degrees from the University of St. Thomas in Houston and then devoted her life to service to others. Her strong Catholic faith and upbringing heavily influenced her life, leading her to work as a teacher and principal at several Catholic schools in Texas. She was awarded the "Spirit of Francis Award" by Catholic Extension for her dedication to Catholic education and philanthropy. Later, she went on to another noble calling, working in senior health care services. Her faith inspired her husband, Governor Greg Abbott, to convert to Catholicism.
The model of a servant leader, Mrs. Abbott has devoted her professional life to helping others, as she has her personal life. She currently serves on the board of several educational organizations and is an active member of many philanthropic groups.
Mrs. Abbott, in true gospel spirit, bears witness to the Church’s teaching to be of service to others. Her signature initiative as First Lady combines the two things that she is most passionate about — Texas and philanthropy. She calls it Texanthropy and promotes volunteerism and service to others across Texas. Mrs. Abbott has also partnered with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) on a similar initiative— Network of Nurture—to raise awareness about how Texans can support the children and families in the state’s child welfare system. She also collaborates with the Governor's Child Sex Trafficking Team, DFPS, and a diverse group of faith leaders across Texas, working together to develop effective strategies to end human trafficking through the Governor’s Response Against Child Exploitation (GRACE) initiative. Mrs. Abbott strives to live her Catholic faith in practice to integrate faith, culture, and life.