Meet Lily Fox | Executive Director of Women’s World On Wheels

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lily Fox and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lily, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
The most important lesson my career has taught me is patience. Early on, I worked so hard behind the scenes, planning everything to the last detail to make sure events ran perfectly. But no matter how prepared I was, something unexpected would always come up. I’d feel drained and think I hadn’t done a good job. Then, I’d hear from the women in my organization about how much fun they had, how an event impacted them, or how they made forever lasting friendships. That feedback was a reminder that the true success wasn’t in perfection but in creating meaningful experiences.

What I learned is that things won’t always go as planned—and that’s okay. I’ve realized that if I am well-prepared I can handle any challenge with the help of my team. Now, instead of stressing about things going wrong, I focus on being part of the experience myself. I let things roll off my back, adapt on the fly, and make the most of each moment. It’s made my work more rewarding and helped me enjoy the journey.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It is the blend of life experiences and academic pursuits that have shaped my career. Growing up with a single mom in who has been a full-time wheelchair user my entire life gave me a front-row seat to the challenges and triumphs that wheelchair users face daily. This personal connection definitely drives me towards the work I do now with Women’s World On Wheels (Women’s WOW).

Leading a nonprofit was never part of my original plan, but now I can’t imagine being anywhere else. While I didn’t anticipate working in the nonprofit sector, I always knew I wanted to be involved in the adaptive world. This role has allowed me to build a network within it that will benefit me in whatever I choose to pursue in the future. I’ve had the opportunity to run strategic meetings, hire staff, organize large-scale events, and form meaningful partnerships. Balancing these responsibilities has challenged me to grow in ways I never expected, developing leadership, time management, and problem-solving skills that I may not have gained if I had taken a different path.

As much as I learned in school, nothing could have prepared me for the rollercoaster of real-life experiences that come with running a nonprofit. It has not always been easy. Building relationships, fundraising, dealing with rejections, managing time, and running events where things don’t always go as planned has been a steep learning curve. Every success is earned after several failures or setbacks, and I’ve had to overcome biases about my age and experience while balancing the large visions and goals of a team with what is realistic and achievable. Learning patience, embracing humility, and constantly being reminded of what I can improve on have been invaluable lessons.

What sets me apart is the ability to draw from both the personal and professional aspects of disability advocacy. Having a close family member in a wheelchair has made me not only empathetic but also strategic in understanding the barriers women wheelchair users face. This fuels my passion and dedication to the cause.

As for Women’s World On Wheels, the unique value we provide is our focus on creating a space exclusively for women who are full-time wheelchair users. Many adaptive organizations cater to specific disabilities or serve mixed-gender groups, but we recognized the need for a women-centered community where participants could share experiences and form connections in a safe environment.

Our approach is different because we don’t provide physical resources like wheelchairs or medical equipment. Instead, we focus on fostering relationships and leveraging existing resources through partnerships. This allows us to fill the gaps that other nonprofits may not address. Our mission is to complement, not duplicate, the work of other organizations by offering the community, support, and unique programming that focuses on women’s needs. We believe that by working together with others in the adaptive space, we can have a greater impact and better serve women wheelchair users.

In short, what distinguishes me and Women’s WOW is the personal passion behind the mission, the focus on women’s specific needs, and the collaborative, non-competitive approach we take to amplify our impact.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Day 1
* Morning: Arrive in Denver, grab brunch at Bacon Social House (Sunnyside location).
* Afternoon: Stroll through Union Station for coffee and explore nearby shops.
* Evening: Dinner at Larimer Square.

Day 2
* Morning: Go to Rocky Mountain National Park; enjoy a scenic hike (Lake Haiyaha is a personal favorite)
* Afternoon: Explore Estes Park and check out local shops in the town
* Evening: Return to Denver for dinner at Tavernetta with their delicious Roman Pasta Flight.

Day 3
* Morning: Peaceful walk around Sloan’s Lake or Washington Park.
* Afternoon: Explore the Denver Botanic Gardens or the Denver Art Museum.
* Evening: Concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (a must-see experience!)

Day 4
* Morning: Sleep in and relax at my apartment
* Afternoon: Spend the day at the pool and grill
* Evening: Go to Wynkoop Brewing for some friendly competition in pool, darts, and foosball

Day 5
* Morning: Head to Boulder for a hike in the Flatirons.
* Afternoon: Lunch at Avanti and walk along Pearl Street Mall for shopping.
* Evening: Dress up and spend the evening at 54thirty Rooftop for stunning city views

Day 6
* Morning: Spend the day at Chatfield Reservoir to paddle board, swim, play volleyball, etc.
* Evening: If it’s baseball season, catch a Rockies game at Coors Field. If not, a quiet evening out exploring a different part of town like LoHi or RiNo for food.

Day 7:
* Morning: Drive to St. Mary’s Glacier for a hike.
* Afternoon: Picnic at the glacier and jump in the freezing water
* Evening: Have a laid back evening at Hello Darling

Alternative Activities to pick and choose from in the Winter
* Strawberry Hot Springs – Steamboat
* Ice Skating on Evergreen Lake followed by pizza with honey at Beau Jo’s
* Walk to Ball Arena for a Nuggets or Avalanche game
* Stop in Breckenridge to see the village and get crepes from Crepes A La Cart. Spend time in Vail for a day or two and ski

Throughout the week, I’d introduce my best friend to my Denver community. My apartment crew knows how to keep things fun and laid-back, my run and bike group friends are always ready for a spontaneous outdoor adventure, and my longtime Colorado friends are the ones you want for an energetic night out!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people I could shout out. My friends and family have been so supportive, and this community is incredible. The people in the adaptive world are truly inspiring and kind. There’s no sense of competition that I’ve encountered, just collaboration and a shared passion to increase the impact we can all make. I’ve also been lucky to have so many mentors like Kellie O’Keefe and other experienced individuals in the nonprofit world who are always willing to share their advice and guide me through challenges. I’m so grateful to have people I can lean on when I feel stuck. I also want to give a special shout-out to Karen Crumback, our philanthropy advisor at Women’s WOW. Her guidance and expertise have been invaluable in helping us shape our fundraising strategies and strengthen our mission.

I’d also like to give a special shoutout to my mom, who has been my greatest inspiration in leading an organization for full-time women wheelchair users. This cause is so close to my heart because my mom has been paraplegic and wheelchair-bound for my entire life. She’s always been fully independent and for the most part, my childhood was no different from anyone else’s. Although, I’ve always navigated the world from two perspectives when it comes to height and ability. Many people don’t realize the daily challenges wheelchair users face, things like using public transportation, maneuvering through crowds, or even something as simple as finding an accessible bathroom stall or navigating rough terrain like snow or sand.

In 2018, my mom attended a camp for women wheelchair users in Empire, Colorado, and I had the privilege of volunteering that summer. I saw firsthand how transformative it was for the women there and how strong the connections were. The camp was handed over to my mom to run, but when COVID hit, the camp was forced to shut down, which was heartbreaking for everyone. I knew how much it meant to the women involved, and the impact was undeniable.

A few years later, while I was studying Legal Studies and Entrepreneurship at the University of Miami, I asked my mom how she felt about bringing the camp back. She admitted she didn’t know how to run a nonprofit, but when I offered to reinstate and manage it, she was all in.

None of this would have been possible without Karen Crumback and Anna Aranda, who were involved in the original camp long before my mom and I. Their dedication, support, and connections were instrumental not only in reviving the camp but also in helping it grow into what it is today. This camp exists because we all shared the same passion and saw an opportunity. Karen and Anna deserve huge recognition for their tireless efforts, as the camp wouldn’t have been revived or thrived without them.

Together, with our shared vision and support, the four of us rebranded the nonprofit as Women’s World On Wheels (Women’s WOW).

Website: https://www.womenswow.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womensworldonwheels/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/womensworldonwheels/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womensworldonwheels

Other: Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-fox/

Image Credits
Sarah Hertwig