Alumna pledges $2 million for women's athletics

A Kansas businesswoman has pledged $2 million to help build a softball stadium at the University, Chancellor Robert E. Hemenway announced today.

Cheryl Womack's pledge to the Kansas University Endowment Association will support the park for the KU women's softball team. Pending approval from the Kansas Board of Regents, it will be named for Womack's father, Demostenes Arrocha, a Panamanian immigrant.

Cheryl Womack (in black sweater) was surrounded by members of the KU softball team and Coach Tracy Bunge after the announcement at Monday night's basketball game that Womack was donating $2 million towards construction of a new softball stadium at KU. Jeff Jacobsen/KUAC

"I'm pleased to be involved in a project that is all about achievement and hard work, qualities my father exemplified," the Mission Hills, businesswoman said. "This facility will enhance the quality of life and increase the level of confidence of the women athletes who use it, because it will raise the bar for them competitively and show them how much others believe in their ability."

Womack, d '75, also pledged $100,000 for the Williams Educational Fund, which provides scholarship support for student-athletes. Both gifts count toward the $500 million goal of KU First: Invest in Excellence, the university's third and largest fund-raising campaign.

"Cheryl Womack's generous commitment will provide women student-athletes a stellar opportunity to compete and give KU a new way to shine," Hemenway said. "Her generosity and leadership is an inspiration."

The KU softball team, 33-25 last year, has eight returning letter-winners who will be joined by seven freshmen, including two high school players of the year and a junior college transfer. Head Coach Tracy Bunge—a former KU All-American—said she believes the team has a good chance to finish in the top five of the conference.

"The new stadium will help our efforts to continue to recruit top level student-athletes into the program," said Bunge, '87. "Cheryl Womack's gift will give KU softball a home ballpark that our players, fans, and alumni will be proud of. It will enhance the entire program."

In the early 1980s, Womack founded the National Association of Independent Truckers, Inc; VCW, Inc., a specialty insurance agency; and Preferred Administrative Services, a third-party claims administrator. She sold the companies last April and is now chief executive officer of VCW Holding Company, L.L.C., which partners with and provides consulting and administrative services to a variety of start-up and growth companies.

Womack has been featured in such publications as Fortune, Forbes and USA Today. The worldwide business consulting firm, the STAR Group, recently named her one of the Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World, placing her in the ranks of cosmetics company founder Adrien Arpel, designer Donna Karan, diet company founder Jenny Craig and broadcaster Phyllis George. The recipients of the award come from all parts of the world, and only 20 percent have been from the United States.

Womack is a member of The Committee of 200, a group of women who own or run some of America's largest businesses. She serves on the board of Entrepreneurial Exchange, a group dedicated to promoting business growth in Kansas City. In addition, she serves on the KU School of Business Board of Advisors, the executive board of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and the boards of several local businesses. Womack is a past member of the National Women's Business Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the board of directors and Small Business Council of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Womack, one of 11 children, grew up in Kansas City, Kan. After graduating from KU, she briefly taught elementary school and then started her business career with a local insurance company before moving on to found her own businesses. She married and is the mother of two sons, Andrew and Ryan Elliott.

KU Endowment is conducting KU First on behalf of KU through 2004 to raise funds for scholarships, fellowships, professorships, capital projects and program support. KU Endowment is an independent, non-profit organization serving as the official fund-raising and fund-management organization for KU.

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