The premier leadership organization
in executive volunteering.
- Envisions a world of engaged executive volunteers as a way to provide excitement and understanding one person, one neighborhood at a time, in a value driven and measured way
- Utilizes key insights from pop culture and emerging technology to provide tangible solutions for the modern world in the areas of health care, education and cultural transformation
- Delivers epic experiences combining the power of community with executive insight and resources to solve some of the most difficult problems in society
- Collaborates with teachers, nurses, students and other community ambassadors to identify the critical issues at hand and then delivers timely and meaningful solutions
- Works systematically with executive leaders to share their individual and collective knowledge, experience and financial treasures with a hopeful world
World Forward Foundation, Inc. is organized exclusively for charitable purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Uniquely Positioned
Our Vision
- Global executive cross-industry volunteer network
- Known for our operational ability to “get stuff done” from inception to launch
- Ability to convert leading edge ideas into tangible results
- Capacity to integrate modern technology into real world environments
Global citizenship
Our Values
- Global perspective & insight
- Health & wellness
- Freedom & movement
World Forward in the News
Global Newsroom
Our Leadership Team
Shannon Block
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Shannon Block is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of World Forward Foundation. Shannon was born in Edina, Minnesota, the only child of two physicians. She graduated from George Washington University in 2001 with a B.S. in Physics and B.S. in Applied Mathematics. After graduating from George Washington University, Shannon moved to Boston to pursue a M.S. in Physics from Tufts University and graduated in 2003. She served in leadership roles at both PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Deloitte and Touche LLP where she developed a specialty in global innovation. Shannon became an executive at Denver Health Medical Center in 2010 and later became the Chief Executive Officer of Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers overseeing 21 locations providing medical, radiation and surgical oncology care. She was then recruited to become the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Denver Zoo. At Denver Zoo she served over 2.3 million guests annually, cared for over 4,100 animals and directed the zoo’s robust international conservation program. Shannon is also serving as the ED and COO of Skillful helping bringing the future of skills to the future of work.
Shannon has served in leadership positions on numerous Boards including the Regional Board of Directors for Young Presidents’ Organization, International Elephants Foundation, VISIT Denver, Women’s Forum, Children’s Hospital Quality & Safety Committee, CEOs Against Cancer, Go Red for Women, Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center Advisory Council, Colorado Cancer Research Program and Data Management International. She also has been a member of Colorado Concern and Colorado Forum.
Shannon has received numerous awards including the Top 40 under 40 Award from the Denver Business Journal in 2016. Shannon also was a Power Book Finalist from the Denver Business Journal, CEO of the Year Finalist from the Colorado Technology Association, and was a 2017 nominee for Outstanding Woman in Business. She has received an Outstanding Performance Awards for her successful work in mergers and acquisitions, pricing and profitability and governance and risk management.
8 Things You Might Not Know About Shannon
- She considers herself a global citizen who believes we all have a responsibility to improve the state of the world through innovation.
- Shannon loves animals. She has lead world class conservation safaris with elephants in Africa and polar bears in Canada.
- She is known for fearlessly fighting for meaningful causes.
- Her nickname in high school was “Shiny” because she was always smiling.
- In 2018, she became the youngest Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Forum in Colorado.
- She was an early participant in the ice bucket challenge.
- She was the first to bring the Special Olympics polar plunge challenge to Denver Zoo. She jumped into freezing water each year on her birthday for this important cause.
- Shannon attributes her success to the love and support of her family.
