History

In 1985 while working full-time as a television news personality at Philadelphia's CBS affiliate, Elleanor Jean Hendley wanted to make a significant positive difference in the community by developing a program to empower adolescent girls. As a former New Jersey public school educator who created and directed an award-winning after school dance program for girls, Hendley knew first hand how enrichment activities help student achievement and build self-esteem.

Then as now, the Teenshop program, which officially began on June 15, 2005, was an innovative series of workshops, field trips, college tours, and community service projects. It was also designed to encourage academic excellence and promote abstinence, so membership was limited to students thirteen to eighteen who were not parents. Workshops were held every two weeks on Saturday mornings from September to June, and the adult presenters were experts in their diverse fields, including arts and culture, money management, social graces, and health and fitness.

Interest in Teenshop quickly grew and adults soon inquired about starting affiliated chapters. Ms. Hendley had never considered expanding Teenshop and had only planned the program as an activity for girls at her former church home. But after years of repeated requests, a new chapter was formed in 1990 and currently there are four Philadelphia chapters and one in Los Angeles, California, each under the leadership of five dedicated female volunteers. More than one hundred and twenty-five girls enroll annually and ALL graduates attend college or pursue other post-secondary goals. Through the years numerous Teenshop alumnae, now successful working women, have come back to work in leadership positions in their former chapters.

Teenshop's successful efforts in nurturing 'girls with goals' ® have been recognized nationally in the Los Angeles Times, Youth Today, and Ebony. The Ms. Foundation for Women cited Teenshop as "a program that works for girls".

On June 18, 2005 Teenshop celebrated twenty years of service with a cotillion-style gala at Philadelphia's First District Plaza. Program highlights included presentation of the Board of Directors Hall of Fame Award to Sharmain Matlock-Turner, President of the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, of which Teenshop is a partner program, and the Founder's Award to Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP our pro bono counsel, accepted by firm partner Stephanie Franklin-Suber, Esq.

Founder's Profile

Teenshop, Inc., is a partner program of the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition
Sharmain Matlock-Turner, President
www.gpuac.org