ORLANDO, Fla. – Andrea Eliscu, president and founder of Medical Marketing Inc., was recently honored by the Women’s Executive Council with the 2013 Women’s Achievement Award in Health & Wellness. These awards have been presented annually since 1972 and honor outstanding Central Florida women in the categories of Arts, Business, Community Service, Education, Government, Health & Wellness, Technology, Communications/Media and Emerging Achiever.
With a passion for community, empowerment of women and advancement of health and wellness, Eliscu has devoted her leadership, creativity, and countless hours to a number of Central Florida organizations. Her volunteer and philanthropic support of Orlando Health began in 1972 when she started working as a registered nurse but refused to take a paycheck, instead signing them over to the Nursing Scholarship Fund. In 1993, Eliscu became involved with Women Playing For T.I.M.E. (Technology, Immediate diagnosis, Mammography and Education) — an organization that has raised more than $8.5 million for cancer research and programs at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando.
WPFT’s annual golf and tennis events were successful; however, Andrea envisioned more. The answer: dragon boating — a sport of synchronization, teamwork and speed. With the support of philanthropist Harriett Lake, Andrea brought dragon boating to Central Florida in 2010, Orlando Health acquired two dragon boats, and the Orlando Health Foundation was named the charitable beneficiary of the Annual Walgreens Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival at Walt Disney World which has raised $187,000 to date.
Previously, Eliscu has received the “Good Citizenship Award” from the Orlando Police Department in 2012 and 2013, the 2011 National Philanthropy Day “Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser” Award from the Central Florida Chapter of Fundraising Professionals, the 2011 “Woman of Distinction” Award in Health and Wellness from the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council, and was a finalist for the Orlando Business Journal’s 2007 “Women Who Mean Business – Business Owner of the Year” award.
Eliscu has served on the Council of Governors of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando and as an advisor to the College of Health and Public Affairs at the University of Central Florida. She has also served on the Lt. Governor’s Task Force for Education, and various other boards, including the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Healthy Florida Foundation, Women Playing for T.I.M.E., Cornerstone Hospice, OneBlood and A Gift For Teaching.