The IWA Founder

One cannot talk about IWA without talking about Doe Thornburg: Doe Thornburg IS IWA!

Doe believed that "person-to-person contacts can change lives in valuable ways that can never be completely measured."

Throughout her life, Doe believed in the goodness of humanity and that, when women across the world join hands, amazing things can happen. These values not only represent the original foundation of IWA but remain its driving principles today.

In 1978, while involved with the International Visitors Center of Chicago, Doe recognized the need for a separate organization focused exclusively on women of international backgrounds living in Chicago. As a result, she founded the International Women Associates (IWA).

Of all her many contributions to the city of Chicago, IWA was her proudest. Her vision was one of world unity in the face of cultural, political, and social conflict. She believed that bringing women of diverse backgrounds together created opportunities for appreciating what makes everyone a unique world citizen.

Born in Boston in 1922, she was the eldest of eight children. She was greatly influenced by her grandmother, with whom she traveled to Europe many times. At the outbreak of World War II, Doe joined the Red Cross as one of its spokespersons and organizers.

After Doe came to Chicago, she served on the Boards of the Lyric Opera Guild, Hull House, the Museum of Contemporary Art (Women's Board), the American Cancer Society, International House, the International Visitors Center, and the Chicago Tourism Council, as well as on committees for "Chicago Seminars on the Future," and "Know Your Chicago."

For many years, she was the National President of the English-Speaking Union. For her efforts to improve the relations between Great Britain and the United States, she was honored by Queen Elizabeth II as a "motivator of people" and was designated an officer in the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.).

The overall theme of Doe's life was "to promote understanding and cooperation among Chicago-area women of all nations."