UCI Women's Opportunities Center announces the winner of the 2000 Amelia Earhart Award

IRVINE, Calif. – April 26, 2000 – The UCI Women's Opportunities Center has announced that Maria Chavez Wilcox, the first woman president and CEO of Orange County's United Way, will be honored with the 2000 Amelia Earhart Award at its "Soaring Beyond" luncheon, Wednesday, May 24, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, at the Sutton Place Hotel, 4500 MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach.

Each year the Amelia Earhart Award recognizes an individual who exemplifies leadership, service and commitment to improving the lives of women in Orange County. This year's luncheon celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Amelia Earhart Award and the 30th anniversary of the Women's Opportunities Center.

"We are very excited about honoring Maria Chavez Wilcox at this 10th anniversary event," says Women's Opportunities Center Director Victoria Curtin. "She is not only committed to increasing opportunities and resources for women in every facet of her life, but is also such a dynamic and positive role model for women everywhere."

Wilcox, who began with United Way as an intern over 20 years ago, worked her way up in the organization in various parts of the country, until coming to Orange County's United Way in January 1996. As head of Orange County's largest philanthropic organization, she controls millions of dollars that go to improving the lives of people in the community every day -- 60 % of them women.

In the past four years, she has increased annual fund-raising from $17 million to $23.8 million -- an increase of 30%. At the same time she has cut overhead expenses in half -- from 22% to 11%. She has also obtained the first million dollar donations to the local United Way from two separate individuals. "I'm not here for the money or the glory," she says. "I'm here to make a difference."

Running her multi-million dollar nonprofit like a business, she expects measurable results for every dollar donated. "The money we invest in the community should make a difference," she says. "If there's a need out there, we have to figure out how to meet it." To define those needs, Wilcox initiated an unprecedented collaboration between UCI, CSUF, Chapman, the County of Orange and 12 foundations. They established a computerized geographic mapping system, the first of its kind in California, to identify where service gaps exist. The system is valuable for all funders and nonprofit human service providers in determining what programs to offer and where. The assessed needs resulted in four targeted areas -- children, families, healthcare, and independence.

Wilcox's background includes fleeing the communist country of Peru with her family at age 10, then just ten years later she was chosen to be valedictorian at Boston University, where she received her bachelor's degree in education, followed with a master's degree in public administration. "All I've ever wanted is the opportunity to make something of myself so I can create opportunities for others," she says.

Especially committed to increasing access and resources for women, she allocates more dollars to community agencies; hires, trains and mentors women; and involves them in networking with community power-players. As a role model for women, she says, "I want to be an example to women of what they can achieve when they show up, work hard, and do the best they can. If I can do it, any woman can."