Editing Maria Shriver (section)

===First Lady of California===
After Arnold took office, Shriver took on several key initiatives as First Lady, which included raising awareness of the contributions of women to the state, working on practical solutions to end [[Cycle of poverty|cycles of poverty]], and encouraging all Californians to engage in acts of service to their communities. Once Schwarzenegger was elected, Shriver had to cut back on her news reporting to avoid conflicts of interest.<ref name="parade">{{cite news|title=In Step With: Maria Shriver |publisher=Parade Magazine |date=April 10, 2005 |url=http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2005/edition_04-10-2005/in_step_with_1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605162809/http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2005/edition_04-10-2005/in_step_with_1 |archive-date=June 5, 2009  }}</ref>
[[File:Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver-mod.jpg|thumb|right|Shriver with her husband [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] at the 2007 [[Special Olympics]] in Shanghai, China]]
Shriver began leading the [[California Governor & First Lady's Conference on Women]] when Schwarzenegger took office in 2003. Under her leadership, The Women's Conference event grew into the nation's premier forum for women and, in 2010, attracted more than 30,000 attendees and 150 world opinion leaders over three full days. Each year, the event is held at the [[Long Beach Convention Center]] in October.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.presstelegram.com/breakingnews/ci_13661549 |title=Women's Conference's future in Long Beach uncertain after 2010 |access-date=October 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613195911/http://www.presstelegram.com/breakingnews/ci_13661549 |archive-date=June 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Luminaries have spoken at the conference including [[Oprah Winfrey]], Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court [[Sandra Day O'Connor]], U.S. Secretaries of State [[Condoleezza Rice]] and [[Madeleine Albright]], [[Barbara Walters]], [[Warren Buffett]], Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, former British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]], [[Richard Branson]], [[Bono]], [[Billie Jean King]], [[Gloria Steinem]], and the [[Dalai Lama]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2008/07/maria-shriver-announces-her-womens-conference-lineup.html |title=Maria Shriver Announces Her Women's Conference Lineup |magazine=Vanity Fair |date=July 14, 2008 |access-date=October 8, 2014 |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614141914/http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2008/07/maria-shriver-announces-her-womens-conference-lineup.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wowowow.com/post/maria-shriver-announces-star-studded-womens-conference-64914 |title=Maria Shriver Announces Star-Studded Women's Conference |date=July 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091103173509/http://www.wowowow.com/post/maria-shriver-announces-star-studded-womens-conference-64914 |archive-date=November 3, 2009}}</ref>

In 2004, Shriver created The Minerva Awards to honor and reward "remarkable California women" who have changed their communities, their state, their country and the world with their courage, wisdom and strength.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_13656556 |title='Remarkable California women' honored with Minerva Awards |access-date=October 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615024856/http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_13656556 |archive-date=June 15, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Minerva Awards are named after [[Minerva]], the [[Roman goddess]] who adorns the [[Great Seal of California|California State Seal]] and "who symbolizes the dual nature of women as warriors and peacemakers".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_10792605 |title=Betty Chinn accepts Minerva Award, wins over crowd |work=times-standard.com |access-date=October 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014155218/http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_10792605 |archive-date=October 14, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Minerva Awards are presented annually at [[The Women's Conference]] in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]] during a special ceremony. Recipients of the award also receive a grant to continue their work.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_14997778 |title='A tsunami of hope': Maria Shriver cuts ribbon on Eureka's first public shower facility |work=times-standard.com |access-date=October 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014155122/http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_14997778 |archive-date=October 14, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Past Minerva Awards recipients include former first lady [[Betty Ford]], [[Nancy Pelosi]], [[Gloria Steinem]], [[Billie Jean King]], [[astronaut]] [[Sally Ride]] and the late [[Eunice Kennedy Shriver]], Shriver's mother. The achievements of The Minerva Award winners are chronicled in a permanent exhibit at [[The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts]] in [[Sacramento]] and have become part of California's official state archive.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.californiamuseum.org/exhibits/minerva-awards |title=Minerva Award Exhibit |publisher=California Museum |access-date=March 23, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212220632/http://californiamuseum.org/exhibits/minerva-awards |archive-date=December 12, 2010 }}</ref>

In 2004, Shriver was in attendance at both [[2004 Democratic National Convention|the Democratic National Convention]] and [[2004 Republican National Convention|the Republican National Convention]], attending the first to watch her uncle Ted Kennedy speak, and the latter to watch her husband speak.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maria Shriver to Attend Democratic Convention |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jul-16-me-shriver16-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |agency= Associated Press |access-date=March 3, 2021 |date=July 16, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=California First Lady Gets a GOP Cameo |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-aug-30-na-maria30-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |agency= Associated Press |access-date=March 3, 2021 |date=August 30, 2004}}</ref>

In 2005, Shriver launched her WE Connect Program, which connects working families in need with money-saving programs and support services. WE Connect brings together community organizations and businesses, government agencies and state leaders, congregations and schools as partners in responding to the needs of the millions of individuals and families who are struggling to make ends meet. Through a partnership with ''[[La Opinión]]'', the nation's largest Spanish-language newspaper, WE Connect has developed three editions of a 24-page, full-color, bilingual supplement that has been circulated to over 20 million Californians in need. In December 2009, Shriver, in partnership with The Women's Conference, created the WE Connect–Million Meals Initiative.<ref>[http://www.ebcf.org/press-room/217-one-million-meals-for-families-in-need One Million Meals for Families in Need] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514104431/http://www.ebcf.org/press-room/217-one-million-meals-for-families-in-need |date=May 14, 2010 }}</ref> Through this initiative, The Women's Conference made a donation to The California Association of Food Banks to provide more than one million meals to California families in need.<ref>{{cite web |author=Thadeus Greenson |url=http://www.times-standard.com/ci_13975658 |title=California first family hosts Betty Chinn, encourages outreach |publisher=Times-Standard Online |access-date=March 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100506001817/http://www.times-standard.com/ci_13975658 |archive-date=May 6, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The donation was allocated to the food bank's 44 member organizations who then distributed the food to California families through its more than 5,000 community-based organizations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abc7news.com/archive/7164016/ |title=Gov. visits Bay Area in effort to feed the hungry |work=ABC7 San Francisco |access-date=December 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311150009/http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news%2Flocal%2Feast_bay&id=7164016 |archive-date=March 11, 2014 }}</ref> In March 2010, Shriver held a three-day Community Resources Fair in Fresno and Los Angeles through WE Connect. The fairs provided vital programs and free support services such as tax preparation, housing and home foreclosure assistance, job assistance, flu shots, healthy food distribution and more.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kmph-kfre.com/Global/story.asp?S=12179884 |title=Maria Shriver At "We Connect Weekend" In Fresno |date=March 21, 2010 |access-date=October 8, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014150243/http://www.kmph-kfre.com/Global/story.asp?S=12179884 |archive-date=October 14, 2014 }}</ref> Event organizers estimated that over 40,000 individuals took advantage of free services during the course of the two weekends, and hundreds of thousands pounds of food were distributed.<ref>[http://www.knx1070.com/pages/6669173.php? Maria Shriver Talks About 'We Connect Weekend'] {{dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref>

As First Lady, Shriver worked to promote service and volunteerism. As Honorary Chair of [[CaliforniaVolunteers]], Shriver conceived of and launched the largest statewide volunteer matching network at CaliforniaVolunteers.org. Shriver was instrumental in inspiring Governor Schwarzenegger to establish the nation's first state cabinet-level Department of Service and Volunteering.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/26calif.html|title=California Creates Cabinet Post to Manage Volunteers|first=Jennifer|last=Steinhauer|date=February 26, 2008|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=February 10, 2017|archive-date=January 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103003827/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/26calif.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She also pioneered and promoted a statewide disaster preparedness program called WE Prepare that encourages and educates Californians to be ready for an emergency or natural disaster. In addition, Shriver established WE Build and WE Garden, a children's playground and community garden-building initiative. "Try growing Tomatoes, I' beans don't grow," she exclaimed.  Through CaliforniaVolunteers, Shriver has built 31 playgrounds with gardens in lower-income communities around the state in partnership with [[KaBOOM! (non-profit organization)|KaBOOM!]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2009/06/68367527/1Michelle#.Ycy1BGjMLIV|title=Obama and Maria Shriver: Making space for play – for all generations |work=USA Today |access-date=December 29, 2021 |date=June 22, 2009 |archive-date=October 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008030206/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2009/06/68367527/1Michelle |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2008, Shriver launched her WE Invest Program, which provides training, mentoring, support networks, microloans and other resources to help women launch or grow their businesses. In June 2009, she expanded WE Invest nationally through a partnership with [[Kiva (organization)|Kiva]], creating the first-ever online peer-to-peer microlending program in the U.S.<ref name="usatoday.com">{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist/abrams/2009-06-12-microlending-maria-shriver_N.htm |title=Strategies: Shriver's big on small loans, for good reason |access-date=October 8, 2014 |work=USA Today |first=Rhonda |last=Abrams |date=June 12, 2009 |archive-date=November 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125063559/http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist/abrams/2009-06-12-microlending-maria-shriver_N.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Shriver is credited with coming up with the idea to bring Kiva's international [[micro-lending]] model to the United States.<ref name="usatoday.com" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/06/10/kiva-brings-microlending-home-to-us-entrepreneurs-in-need/ |title=Kiva Brings Microlending Home To U.S. Entrepreneurs In Need |date=June 10, 2009 |work=TechCrunch |access-date=October 8, 2014 |archive-date=October 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004092440/http://techcrunch.com/2009/06/10/kiva-brings-microlending-home-to-us-entrepreneurs-in-need/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Shriver is co-chair of The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.californiamuseum.org/ |title=Home Page &#124; California Museum |access-date=October 8, 2014 |archive-date=October 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009010253/http://www.californiamuseum.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and she has been credited with revitalizing the state museum during her tenure. Shriver created the [[California Hall of Fame]] in 2006<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.californiamuseum.org/exhibits/halloffame/history |title=History |publisher=California Museum |access-date=March 23, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212213234/http://californiamuseum.org/exhibits/halloffame/history |archive-date=December 12, 2010 }}</ref> at the Museum to honor legendary Californians such as [[Cesar Chavez]], [[Clint Eastwood]], [[Walt Disney]], [[Amelia Earhart]], [[Ronald Reagan]], [[John Steinbeck]], [[Rita Moreno]], [[Earl Warren]], [[Julia Morgan]], [[Leland Stanford]], [[Dorothea Lange]] and others.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-nov-26-la-me-cap26-2009nov26-story.html |work=The Los Angeles Times |title=California Hall of Fame inductees range from excellent to just OK |first=George |last=Skelton |date=November 26, 2009 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |archive-date=January 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103015946/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/26/local/la-me-cap26-2009nov26 |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2008, Shriver launched the California Legacy Trails, a first-of-its-kind web-based multimedia learning tool designed to help students learn California history.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200811/111708CaliforniaMuseum.html | title=California Museum and Maria Shriver Unveil 'A Museum without Walls' | publisher=Adobe | date=November 17, 2008 | access-date=July 23, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803130810/http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200811/111708CaliforniaMuseum.html | archive-date=August 3, 2012 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/videos/maria-shriver-touts-new-online-learning-tool/ |title=Maria Shriver Touts New Online Learning Tool |work=CNET |access-date=December 29, 2021 |archive-date=October 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006045023/http://cnettv.cnet.com/maria-shriver-touts-new-online-learning-tool/9742-1_53-50004507.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On February 3, 2008, Shriver endorsed Senator [[Barack Obama]] for the [[2008 Democratic party presidential primaries|2008 Democratic presidential nomination]]. The endorsement was given at a [[University of California, Los Angeles|UCLA]] rally featuring [[Caroline Kennedy]] (Shriver's cousin), [[Oprah Winfrey]], [[Stevie Wonder]], and Obama's wife [[Michelle Obama]].<ref name="thecaucus.blogs.nytimes">{{cite web|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/maria-shriver-backs-obama/|title=Maria Shriver Backs Obama|first=Adam|last=Nagourney|date=February 3, 2008|access-date=February 3, 2008|archive-date=February 5, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205192601/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/maria-shriver-backs-obama/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/CPcT |title=Breaking: California First Lady Maria Shriver Endorses Barack Obama |work=Organizing for Action |access-date=October 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814020119/https://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/CPcT |archive-date=August 14, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Governor Schwarzenegger had endorsed Senator [[John McCain]] for the [[2008 Republican Presidential Primaries|Republican presidential nomination]] a few days earlier on January 31, 2008.<ref name="thecaucus.blogs.nytimes" /> Later that year, as in 2004, Shriver was in attendance at [[2008 Democratic National Convention|the Democratic National Convention]] when her uncle Ted Kennedy spoke.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |title=TED GETS PARTY STARTED |url=https://nypost.com/2008/08/26/ted-gets-party-started/ |website=New York Post |access-date=March 3, 2021 |date=August 26, 2008}}</ref>

In May 2009, Shriver planted the first edible garden at a state capitol in what once was a flower bed. She teamed up with [[Alice Waters]] on the project.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=40501 |title=Capitol edible garden arrives with star power |date=May 21, 2009 |work=Politics Blog |access-date=October 8, 2014 |first=Wyatt |last=Buchanan |archive-date=May 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528035500/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=40501 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The food grown in the organic garden is distributed to local food banks.<ref>[http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/7952 Shriver Gets Her Hands Dirty] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722080309/http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/7952 |date=July 22, 2011 }}</ref> Shriver has been an advocate for edible gardens and chairs the California School Garden Network that has doubled the number of gardens in state schools from 3,000 to 6,000 since 2004.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-mar-27-me-garden27-story.html |title=Maria Shriver says edible garden will be planted in Capitol Park flower bed |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=December 29, 2021 |first=Mary |last=MacVean |date=March 27, 2009 |archive-date=October 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024042843/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/mar/27/local/me-garden27 |url-status=live }}</ref>