Latina of Influence | Lucy Santana-Ornelas
Community Advocate Lucy Santana-Ornelas is one of Hispanic Lifestyle’s 2014 Latinas of Influence. Follow all of our 2014 Latinas of Influence on twitter with the tag #HLTVLC14
Lucy Santana is the CEO of Girls Incorporated of Orange County, the oldest girl-centered organization in the U.S., which has been transforming girls’ views of themselves and their opportunities for generations through programs that focus on leadership, academic success, health & financial self‐sufficiency.
Since 2002, Lucy has led the organization’s growth to expand program services and operations through a collaborative outreach model of program delivery that has dramatically increased its services to Orange County girls. She is responsible for the day‐to‐day management and operations of the Orange County Chapter, overseeing a staff of 35 and various consultants, placing over 1,800 volunteers annually, and serving as liaison to a 20‐member Board of Directors.
Our entire list of Hispanic Lifestyle’s 2014 Latinas of Influence are invited to participate in our Latina Conference scheduled for April 2, 2014.Under Ms. Santana’s leadership, Girls Inc. has gone from serving 1,500 girls with a budget of $750,000 in 2001 to serving just over 5,000 girls at the Girls Inc. Youth & Family Center in Costa Mesa and through 52 outreach sites throughout Orange County with a budget of $3.1 million.
Ms. Santana has earned a number of leadership awards for civic, business and community leadership in the 20 years of service to the Orange County community. In 2008, she was selected as one of 50 Latino graduates in celebration of the 50th anniversary at California State University, Fullerton. In 2011, Lucy was named Woman of the Year and awarded the Community Pillar Award by Assemblyman Jose Solorio of California’s 69th District. In October 2012, she was honored as a “Woman of Courage, Taking a Leap” by Farmers and Merchants Bank. Most recently in April 2013, she was honored to be the recipient of the inaugural Spirit of Service award by Senator Mimi Walters of California’s 37th District.
Lucy holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from California State University, Fullerton. She actively participates and is a member of a variety of women’s leadership groups. She has served on the Girls Inc. national Board of Directors from 2005‐2012 and is currently a member of the Girls Inc. National Latina Initiative Advisory Council. Ms. Santana also currently serves on the Latino Leadership Council for Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino County and is Vice President of the board at Relampago Del Cielo, a folkloric dance organization. In 2013, she was selected to participate in Leadership California, a statewide program focusing on California Issues and trends on complex national and regional issues.
