Wendy Adams established the Rise Up Foundation in order to respond to the ongoing needs of families and children living in poverty and difficult circumstances. The Rise Up Foundation focuses on creating collaborations to empower people to make lasting changes in their lives.

After retiring from a successful career in the metals recycling industry, Wendy started the Rise Up Foundation to enable her to use her time, experience and resources to help individuals and organizations rise above their circumstances to actualize their full potential.

Wendy has spent her life being active in broad and varied community service and philanthropy, but the overarching thrust of her efforts has been on organizations and initiatives that help families and children. A major part of her time is spent on partnering with UNICEF and World Vision on projects that directly impact the lives of impoverished children, including areas of microfinance and advocacy and awareness of the impact these organizations are making. In addition, Wendy is in the process of developing a course on Social Entrepreneurship for Chapman University which will be launched in Spring 2010.

Wendy started in a family scrap metal business in California more than 20 years ago after graduating from the University of Southern California in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

After obtaining her Certified Public Accounting license in 1986, Wendy became Chief Financial Officer of Adams Steel. Alongside her siblings, Wendy oversaw the growth and success of the business as it transformed from a small family business to SA Recycling LLC, one of the largest and most successful regional metal processing firms on the West Coast.

Wendy has three sons and lives in Orange County