Spotlight: Poway's Adrienne Wells Holmes Named ‘Woman of the Year’

Assemblymember Brian Maienschein has named Adrienne Wells Holmes the 77th Assembly District’s 2013 “Woman of the Year” for her work in founding the Toby Wells Foundation. Every year, each assemblymember gets to choose a woman to honor in recognition of their extraordinary public service accomplishments.

“I am proud to share the exceptional story of what Adrienne has done to help serve the residents of San Diego,” Maienschein said. “Under her leadership, the Toby Wells Foundation has raised an impressive $10 million in charitable investments since it was founded in 2001. This money has gone directly to support members of our community too often overlooked—underserved children, orphaned animals, and people living with disabilities.”

Adrienne is a third-generation San Diegan, and she attended California State University, San Marcos where she earned her undergraduate degree in business and a Master of Business Administration. As a member of a family of entrepreneurs, she helped work for her family’s construction company. With the unexpected passing of her brother, Toby, Adrienne and her family founded the all-volunteer, non-profit Toby Wells Foundation, which is committed to investing in a brighter future for people and animals.

“Adrienne embodies all the qualities of public service. She has admirably turned a personal tragedy into a foundation that offers members of her community a better life. On behalf of my district, I thank her, and I know her brother Toby would be very proud.”

Aside from her work on the foundation, Adrienne also instructs a weekly internship program in Introductory Equine Skills for several teens at the San Pasqual Academy. Adrienne serves on the Board of Directors for the Mission Valley YMCA, and she is an Honorary Board Member with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego and Canine Champions for Independence, Southwest Region. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and baby daughter, running half marathons, and riding horses.

Assemblymember Maienschein of San Diego represents the 77th Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the communities of 4S Ranch, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Carmel Valley, Clairemont, Del Dios, Del Mar Heights, Fairbanks Ranch, Kearny Mesa, Mira Mesa, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos, Rancho Santa Fe, Sabre Springs, San Carlos, San Pasqual Valley, Scripps Ranch, Sorrento Valley, and Tierrasanta.

-News release from Assemblyman Brian Maienschein's Office