Women in Development: 2006 Young Philanthropist Award

Local Teen Wins Prestigious Philanthropy Award

Boston, MA, May 9, 2006 - Although just 14-years-old, Weston resident Tallen Kendall Sloane is a seasoned philanthropist who has made a tremendous commitment to helping young people less fortunate than herself. Today, she was honored at a luncheon reception in Boston for her extensive charitable efforts, as the recipient of the 2006 Young Philanthropist Award from Women in Development of Greater Boston (WIDGB). Tallen was selected for the prestigious award because of her work on behalf of The Home for Little Wanderers, a child and family services agency headquartered in Boston.

Betsy Kamborian (WID President), Tallen Kendall Sloane, and her parents, Debra and Jonathan Sloane, at the Young Philanthropist Award Presentation on May 9th.

WIDGB selected Tallen as the recipient of the 2006 Young Philanthropist Award for her extraordinary dedication to inspiring and leading both her peers and adults alike to join her in creating meaningful improvements to residential care facilities for children in The Home’s network. As a teen, Tallen realized that, although she could not contribute to the organization financially, she could mobilize her peers and their families to tackle simple projects at care facilities that would make a big impact on the young residents.

Entirely on her own, Tallen has coordinated two comprehensive clean-up days, her first being known as "Tallen’s Team Challenge" at the Baird Center in Plymouth, a year-round residential school and summer camp for boys. On May 15, 2005, Tallen single-handedly amassed a team of 25 children and 25 adults, who, using donated supplies, spent a day at the camp working on a massive improvement project, during which they raked, scrubbed, sponged, washed, sprayed, and swept.

Tallen's second "Team Challenge" was held eight months later at the Home's Knight Center in Boston, where twenty families gathered to paint and supply new bedding for children's rooms. She also secured corporate sponsors that donated area rugs and new robes and slippers for the residents. Because of Tallen's efforts, when a child leaves the Center, he or she can take the new bedding, robe, and slippers to his or her next destination.

Tallen has also created "Tallen's School Challenge," through which she is developing partnerships with her peers at other area schools to take on similar projects for the Home. To date, Dana Hall, St. Mark's, and Southfield have signed on to do such projects.

If you want to learn more about supporting Tallen's work, visit her Web site at http://tallesteamforthehome.com.

Since 2003, Women in Development of Greater Boston Young Philanthropist Award has recognized and celebrated the contributions of young philanthropists, male or female, who make a difference in advancing the spirit of philanthropy in the greater community. The goals of the Young Philanthropy Award are to recognize a young leader who inspires philanthropy, to highlight a model of philanthropic practice for future generations, and to illuminate the vital contributions made by a young philanthropist that advance the mission of a nonprofit organization.

Past Recipients of the Young Philanthropist Award include:

2005: Alexandra Azzolino, Acton, Founder, Kids Kount!, a 501(c) 3 organization raising funds to support organizations fighting childhood diseases.

2004: Jenny Whitcher, Topsfield, Founder of Habitat for Humanity, New York City Youth United Program, New York, New York

2003: Rory Conroy and Alexa Gambal, Wellesley, Co-Founders of the Afghanistan Sister School Project, Dana Hall School, Wellesley, Massachusetts

Women in Development of Greater Boston is a nonprofit professional association of nearly 1,000 members whose mission is to promote and support the advancement of women in the development profession and the importance of philanthropy. Today it is one of the largest organizations of advancement professionals in Massachusetts. WIDGB offers a variety of programs, services, and opportunities for volunteer involvement. Members help one another develop and improve professional skills, share information about employment opportunities, and foster a climate which promotes professional achievement.

For further information, please contact Women in Development of Greater Boston at (617) 489-6777 or visit the Web site at www.widgb.org.