Danica Patrick isn’t the only woman making racing history.
A fearless female entrepreneur out of North Carolina is building a one-of-a-kind IndyCar that’s in a race to beat children’s cancer.
Tammy Whitworth, CEO of Window World®,and Chairman of its board of directors, America’s largest replacement window and exterior remodeling company, has commissioned the building of The Stinger, a priceless salute to a century of Indy 500 racing. The Stinger is a car built to look like the 1911 Marmon Wasp, the car that won the first-ever Indy 500. Whitworth has teamed up with racing great John Andretti, who is lapping the country with The Stinger to get every living Indy 500 veteran, including Danica Patrick, to sign it. The car, adorned with 249 racer autographs, will be auctioned May 25 ahead of the 100th running of the prestigious race. One hundred percent of the money raised goes to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.
“We’ve put a lot of years and a lot of love into The Stinger, and now as it nears completion, we are so proud to see the car go for such a worthy cause,” Whitworth said. “One of our company’s core values is to give back, so knowing we will help so many families conquer cancer is the perfect way to cross the finish line.”
Driving to Success
Window world was founded in 1995 by Leon Whitworth. Tammy took over role of CEO in 2010 after the passing of her husband, Todd. As one of the few women CEOs of a home improvement company, Whitworth has continued to set new standards in the industry. She has gone to great lengths to ensure Window World offers the best possible service to its customers. She oversees Window World University, a formal training program designed to help franchisees learn the fundamentals of design and energy efficiency. By taking the time to ensure each Window World owner is well informed, Whitworth can confidently say her company will do right by its customers.
Women at the Wheel
Whitworth strongly encourages women to take on leadership roles at Window World. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Meredith College, a women’s college, and believes women are key drivers for her company’s success. She believes women owners and employees often have phenomenal insight when it comes to window texture, design, color and energy efficiency capabilities. Whitworth is proud to say that a majority of Window World’s franchise locations are either owned by women or have women in leadership positions. Several locations are run by husband and wife teams.
Whitworth is much more than just a successful CEO. She is a mother and an active member of her community. In 2008, Whitworth co-founded Window World Cares®, a philanthropic branch of Window World that has become a corporate partner of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Whitworth felt a strong connection with the hospital’s efforts because of her experience as a mother. Her oldest child was premature, and she and her husband spent a great deal of time at children’s hospitals. She says working with St. Jude was a natural progression for herself and Window World Cares. Whitworth emphatically believes that giving back to children in need brings franchisees and customers together to fight for a common cause.
Whitworth is passionate about giving back because it not only helps build Window World’s brand nationwide, but it brings her great pride and personal joy. Window World’s philanthropic atmosphere brings her organization to a new level and develops trust and rapport with its customers and communities that far exceed monetary value.
The Stinger is yet another example of Window World Cares’ mission to continue the fight against childhood cancer. The IndyCar is a piece of history, a monument to the sport, and Whitworth believes the car will sell for $1 million or more. Whitworth anticipates that some heavy hitters in the racing world will bid along with some corporate giants who want to give back and show their philanthropic spirit.
“This is a one-of-a-kind piece of motorsports history built with passion for a great sport,” Whitworth said. “We at Window World are hoping people will recognize the value of The Stinger and bid their hearts out to help children in the battle for their lives.”