Cynthia “Cindy” Flores, R.Ph. WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2012

In the late 1970’s, even before the explosive growth of the healthcare industry and professions like pharmacy, Cindy was already out in the inner city convincing high school students to pursue careers in healthcare. Her most memorable adventure was at the Benito Juarez High School on Ashland and Cermak, where after her talk she was escorted by scary looking tough guys to the bus stop. These young men kept asking her about drugs without being necessarily interested in pharmacy. Taking public transportation, she kept going back to the school until she had met with all the seniors. As you can see our Woman of the Year is not easily intimidated. Her commitment to the community continued with the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, Eisenberg Unit, which happened to be based in the Little Italy neighborhood of Chicago, where she and her husband, Joe, has lived for forty years. At Eisenberg she served as Treasurer and member of the Board of Managers, at a time of extensive fund raising, which led to massive upgrade of facilities and programs of the Unit. She received the “Outstanding Dedication Award” for six consecutive years (1989-1995) from the Club. Her volunteerism finally found its way into the Fil-Am community when she joined the Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Chicago in the 1980’s, becoming its president for two consecutive terms and helping organize two trade missions to the Philippines, one of which was joined by officials of the Illinois World Trade Center. Several Filipino businessmen outsourced their call centers to Manila as a result of the missions. 

    Two decades later she is still active with the Chamber, currently as chair of its membership and networking committees. The Chamber has given her the “Distinguished Service Award” for three consecutive years (1990-2000). As you can see our Woman of the Year is persistent. In the past Cindy has served as adviser to Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Guiannoulias’ Community Affairs Council; Treasurer of the Asian American Alliance, a coalition of Asian/American community organizations; over-all Chairperson of the Asian-American Hall of Fame and the Filipino American TV Hall of Fame (2000-2004); Vice-Chair for FACC Kasarinlan (2003); one of the committee chairpersons of the Philippine Reef Gala at the Shedd Aquarium (2003); co-chairperson of the Legacy Campaign and the Cardinal’s Millennium Campaign for her parish, Notre Dame de Chicago. She and her husband, Joe, also participated in fund raising for the St. Joseph Hospital in Joliet, Illinois, by sponsoring a trauma room in a new hospital wing. Cindy’s career started with Walgreens in 1976, where she stayed as Chief Pharmacist until she started her own, Cindy’s Pharmacy, in 1990. 

    Her warm and caring attitude, combined with personalized service, attracted a strong customer base not only in the Filipino community but also in the elderly population of the retirement homes along Foster and Sheridan Road on the north side of Chicago. She retired in 2008, sold out to Walgreen’s, and joined her husband’s business, Jaydee Elder Care Corporation and Harvest Guest Home Assisted Living, a 25-bed facility for frail elderly, in Richland Center, Wisconsin. But the story of our Woman of the Year does not end here. Grateful for the education she received from the University of Illinois, she now serves as a board member of the College of Pharmacy Alumni Association, in the Dean’s Diversity Advisory Council. And true to her entrepreneurial nature, she also serves as Treasurer of the Federation of the Philippine American Chambers of Commerce, currently based in Portland, Oregon. She is also a co-chair of the National Federation of Filipino American Association (NaFFAA) for Cook County, Illinois. As you can see our Woman of the Year is determined in serving our community. Anyone who has known Cindy over the years cannot fail to be impressed by the time, effort and enthusiasm she gives all her endeavors for the community. And that with a full time job too! She performs community service and works for betterment out of the goodness of her heart, her beliefs, and her Filipino culture. She also knows she has the ability to accomplish goals and reach out to others. All these motivated Cindy, without hoping for an award or recognition, for almost four decades. But it is also fitting that she be recognized for her achievements.