 Lawrence's work with cancer patients attracted the interest of William Donner, a Philadelphia industrialist and philanthropist, whose son had died of cancer.Donner contributed funds for construction of Donner Laboratory, at the Northeast corner of the Berkeley Campus that was dedicated in 1942.In June of the same year, he married Amy McNear Bowles, daughter of George McNear Bowles, Sr. and Beatrice (Nickel) Bowles of 
San Francisco.