Gwendolyn Mae Shelley Floro was born in a farming community near Farnam, Nebraska in 1913. The oldest of six children, she spent her childhood and received her education in rural schools in the area. She attended Stockville High School, graduating in 1930 at the beginning of the Great Depression. In 1934, she married Clarence Floro of Stockville and together they managed a general store. Nine years later, the couple created a family by adopting three children at once. Within the year, they sold their business and made plans to move the family to California.
Gwen began volunteering for the Red Cross. She later described this activity as her "most rewarding" experience. "I believe in hard work and that success is directly linked to effort," she said. Throughout her life she made herself available to those who needed help. Gwen's kindness and generosity did not stop with her death in 2002. It will continue for countless years through a generous gift from her estate to the Santa Barbara Foundation. Investment return from the gift of approximately $2.3 million is used every year to benefit Santa Maria area nonprofit organizations and high-achieving students with a strong record of community service. Gwen's gift was the largest ever received from the Santa Maria area.