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A Promise Planted, A Mission Grown
Meet The Founder | Richard Williams
Rooted in Legacy, Guided by Love
As founder Richard didn't set out to start a nonprofit—he set out to keep a promise. What began as a personal commitment to his mother has blossomed into the Catherine Rose Foundation, a bold vision that honors legacy, cultivates hope, and builds a self-sustaining future for communities across Texas.
The foundation is named for Richard’s mother, Catherine Rose Ham—an educator, mentor, and philanthropist whose life was a testament to service, encouragement, and the belief that communities thrive when people are empowered to read, work, and lead.
In 2009, Catherine asked Richard to return to the family land in Douglass, Nacogdoches County—over 100 acres where she was born and generations of their family had lived, worked, and built community. She entrusted him with a simple, transformative request: move to Texas and farm this land.
That promise became Richard’s personal why.
From Promise to Purpose
What started as a commitment to family, faith, and farmland has grown into a visionary model for rural renewal. Richard saw beyond the soil—he saw an opportunity to create a self-sustaining ecosystem where a working vineyard and winery fund 100% of charitable programs serving Veterans, Youth, and Families across Texas.
Under his leadership, the Catherine Rose
Foundation is building a future where:
- Veterans' growth through horticulture and gain new skills in sustainable agriculture.
- Youth learn STEM, agriculture, and leadership in a hands-on outdoor classroom.
- Families connect around nutritious food and wellness education.
- Communities are nourished through dignified food access and intergenerational support.
A Leader Shaped by Ambition & Heart
Richard’s professional journey includes time at SpaceX, where he learned to think ambitiously, solve complex challenges, and lead world-class teams—lessons he now applies with a practical, people-first approach to community building.
A dedicated Toastmasters member and natural visionary, Richard has been recognized as a leader since childhood. He brings that same clarity, conviction, and compassionate drive to every aspect of the foundation.
The Vision Ahead
Richard’s long-range goal is clear: to make Douglass, and communities like it across Texas, thriving modern rural hubs that give back to their people. Through the Catherine Rose Foundation, he is planting the seeds of that transformation today—vine by vine, program by program, life by life.
“We aren’t just growing grapes. We’re growing opportunity, healing, and hope. Every vine we plant, every program we launch, is a step toward a future where community sustains itself—and everyone has a place at the table.”
— Richard Williams
Founder & Executive Director, Catherine Rose Foundation
Interested in connecting with Richard or learning more about the foundation’s vision?
Contact Us
TAX DISCLAIMER: The Catherine Rose Foundation, Inc. is a Texas nonprofit corporation. We have NOT applied for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the IRS. Contributions are NOT tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes. No goods or services were provided in exchange for this contribution.
© 2026 Catherine Rose Foundation "Cultivating Community, Harvesting Hope." - All Rights Reserved.
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