Terry Hernandez
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Throughout her career, Terry Hernandez has had a significant impact on the lives of all Iowans, beginning with her work as public relations manager for Iowa Lutheran Hospital, and later as metro director of public relations and marketing for the YMCA of Greater Des Moines.
Her most exceptional accomplishments, however, came when Terry was hired in 1997 as first staff member and Executive Director for the Chrysalis Foundation, where she continues her work today. Under her leadership, Chrysalis expanded its board and staff, developed its community grant making programs, and created its signature program Chrysalis After-School in 1998, serving over 800 adolescent girls in 32 schools each year. Now in its 30th year, Chrysalis continues to fund the most effective programs ensuring that girls are confident, strong, and resilient; women have all the rights and opportunities men do; and every citizen values and supports the success of girls and women. Chrysalis community grant partners deliver shelter, job and life skills, financial literacy, and mentoring to over 13,000 girls and women each year. Under her direction, Chrysalis created a scholarship program that has awarded 60 scholarships to-date to young women moving from high school to college. |
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Believing that all girls and women need to be safe, secure, educated, and independent, Hernandez established the Chrysalis Women's Alliance, a partnership of more than 40 organizations learning and collaborating to support girls and women in Greater Des Moines. She led formation of what is now the Central Iowa Funders Forum, a partnership of public and private grant makers in central Iowa, to partner and explore issues and initiatives for community development and philanthropy.
Hernandez established a number of annual education and fundraising events for Chrysalis, involving local women leaders and nationally-recognized speakers including Dr. Angela Davis, Dolores Huerta, Dr. Tererai Trent, and Sheryl WuDunn.
Hernandez was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame in 2012, was recognized as a Woman of Influence by the Des Moines Business Record, received the Friend of Iowa Civil Rights Award, and testified before the United States Senate Committee on human trafficking.
Hernandez established a number of annual education and fundraising events for Chrysalis, involving local women leaders and nationally-recognized speakers including Dr. Angela Davis, Dolores Huerta, Dr. Tererai Trent, and Sheryl WuDunn.
Hernandez was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame in 2012, was recognized as a Woman of Influence by the Des Moines Business Record, received the Friend of Iowa Civil Rights Award, and testified before the United States Senate Committee on human trafficking.