POWER PROFILE
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She walks the talk
Raised in a supportive community, former high-powered executive Sue Parks helped raise $10 million for a wonderful cause.
By Jerry HicksPublished: September 01, 2010
Sue Parks was raised in a family that believes in supporting the community you call home. ‘Get involved, see the impact, and you’ll want to do more.’ Little did she know that her impact would amount to about $10 million.
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Orange County United Way has been a leader among nonprofits when it comes to recruiting successful women to help in their efforts. But staff members will tell you that they have an advantage: They’ve got Sue Parks.
They are so happy to have her – about $10 million in happiness.
Parks – who runs her own Laguna Hills-based business, WalkStyles Inc. – is a leader among a growing legion of women who are putting their business acumen to work philanthropically.
“I was brought up with the belief that you support your local community and help where, when and how you can. When you do get involved, and you find out the impact, you want to do more,” she says.
Parks is a star in two worlds. But she will tell you her twin passions have the same goal: helping others to help themselves.
In one world, Parks wants you to move. She doesn’t care if it’s running, rowing, biking, hiking, swimming, hitting the gym or, her own preference, heading up a walking trail. Her WalkStyles Inc. is designed to get people thinking more about their health. But she also gets entire companies to organize exercise plans for their workers.
“The healthier your employees, the more productive they are,” Parks contends.
Combine her talent for organizing with her executive background – a top administrator at Gateway, No. 2 at Kinko’s – and you’ve got United Way looking in her direction.
In 2001, the national United Way decided to promote self-sufficiency for disadvantaged women through women donors. In 2002, local United Way execs attended a national summit on this topic in Washington, D.C. The summit’s goal: to excite United Way centers to start their own Women’s Philanthropy Fund.
“We came away inspired and motivated,” says United Way Director of Philanthropy Carla Vargas Rivas. “We just needed the right leader.”
Sue Parks was their choice – if they could win her over. At the time, she was flying around the country as the executive vice-president of operations at Dallas-based Kinko’s (now FedEx Office). She rarely got to stay with her husband, Dennis, in their South Orange County home.
Click here to see a list of notable nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to women's causes.
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Sue Parks was raised in a family that believes in supporting the community you call home. ‘Get involved, see the impact, and you’ll want to do more.’ Little did she know that her impact would amount to about $10 million. • • • Orange County United Way has been a leader among nonprofits when it comes to recruiting successful women to help in their efforts. But staff members will tell you that they have an advantage: They’ve got Sue Parks. They are so happy to have her – about $10 million in happiness. Parks – who runs her own Laguna Hills-based business, WalkStyles Inc. – is a leader among a growing legion of women who are putting their business acumen to work philanthropically. “I was brought up with the belief that you support your local community and help where, when and how you can. When you do get involved, and you find out the impact, you want to do more,” she says. Parks is a star in two worlds. But she will tell you her twin passions have the same goal: helping others to help themselves. In one world, Parks wants you to move. She doesn’t care if it’s running, rowing, biking, hiking, swimming, hitting the gym or, her own preference, heading up a walking trail. Her WalkStyles Inc. is designed to get people thinking more about their health. But she also gets entire companies to organize exercise plans for their workers. “The healthier your employees, the more productive they are,” Parks contends. Combine her talent for organizing with her executive background – a top administrator at Gateway, No. 2 at Kinko’s – and you’ve got United Way looking in her direction. In 2001, the national United Way decided to promote self-sufficiency for disadvantaged women through women donors. In 2002, local United Way execs attended a national summit on this topic in Washington, D.C. The summit’s goal: to excite United Way centers to start their own Women’s Philanthropy Fund. “We came away inspired and motivated,” says United Way Director of Philanthropy Carla Vargas Rivas. “We just needed the right leader.” Sue Parks was their choice – if they could win her over. At the time, she was flying around the country as the executive vice-president of operations at Dallas-based Kinko’s (now FedEx Office). She rarely got to stay with her husband, Dennis, in their South Orange County home. Click here to see a list of notable nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to women's causes. |
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