SUPERPOWER: Fostering teamwork
Retired Executive Director, Legal Aid of West Virginia
Adrienne Worthy didn’t understand the influence that a well-run nonprofit could have in a community until she went to work for the West Virginia Citizen Action Group after college. When exposed to the fundraising and organizing she did there, her path became more clear. “It really rooted me in West Virginia,” says Worthy, an Ohio native. “And we’ve been here ever since—raised our kids, raised our family, and we’re retiring here.”
After nearly 30 years with Legal Aid of West Virginia as executive director, Worthy has certainly left her mark on the state and its people. She was one of the few leaders of Legal Aid nationwide who wasn’t a lawyer, which gave her a unique perspective, and she’s proud of the work she did to help low-income folks procure essential legal resources.
“When I left, the organization was bigger than it ever had been, offering a bigger variety of services with more staff,” she says. She notes that the current climate is a bit challenging for nonprofits but knows that the team will be up for the challenge. “I think we consistently had just amazing groups of people working for us,” Worthy says, adding that one of her biggest skills is helping people work well together. “I just got so inspired by the teamwork.”
She credits much of her success to the women in her life who have helped her along the way. “It’s been a huge motivating factor for me to make sure that my women colleagues have been heard and valued,” Worthy says. “I’ve always been a feminist, but I just saw how important it is to listen and support women, and I’ve tried to do that in my career.”
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER 2025 WEST VIRGINIA WONDER WOMEN
Learn more about our Wonder Women
Since 2014 WV Living magazine has been honoring West Virginia Wonder Women, amazing women who are raising the bar in their communities, serving as beacons of light in their industries, and forcing change for the greater good. WV Living is proud to celebrate these Appalachian mothers, millennials, and mavens proving that in a time full of uncertainty, divisiveness, and hate, love for one another is all we really need. No need for bulletproof bracelets or a golden lasso of truth—these women are creating a better West Virginia with their can-do attitudes and Mountain State spirit.
Leave a Reply