Staff: Judy Cara

Judy Cara is delighted to become the Executive Director of Friends of the Children in Colorado Springs. Not only is this career opportunity a great fit with Judy’s skills and experience, but it also continues Judy’s desire to serve in positions where she can have a positive impact on others.

After leaving a position with the State Department at the U.S. Embassy in her native England, Judy lived in Nebraska for seven years before arriving in the Pikes Peak area. Since then, Judy has contributed to the community in many ways both through job-related activities and her engagement with numerous nonprofit organizations. Those affiliations include board positions with the YMCA, the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, Girl Scouts of Colorado, the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, Urban League, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Children’s Museum, Performing Arts for Youth Organization, and the Colorado Springs Science Center. Nationally, Judy has served on boards with Project Lead the Way, the Council on Foundations, and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Foundation.

Judy’s personal and professional accomplishments have received extensive recognition. In addition to the prestigious Athena award, Judy has been recognized as the Unique Woman of Colorado by the Denver Post, Lockheed Martin, and the Women’s Foundation of Colorado, a Woman of Distinction by Girl Scouts of Colorado, and a Woman of Influence by the Colorado Springs Business Journal.

Judy’s professional career has included working for several non-profit organizations such as Kaiser Permanente, Mental Health America of Colorado, and Western Union Foundation. Most recently, Judy was a member of the management team who launched the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs.

These professional and personal engagements have provided Judy with many opportunities to positively impact others, particularly girls and under-represented minorities.

Judy has been married to her wonderful husband, Jim, for 24 years and is the proud stepmother of Kim and Kelsey. The other family member is Milo, a 2 year-old rescue Lab/Border Collie mix.