Elleanor Jean Hendley continues to wear many different hats, but her most rewarding endeavor is that of mentor and champion for girls.

For more than twenty-five years Ms. Hendley worked at CBS 3 TV in Philadelphia, PA. where she held several positions including eyewitness news education reporter, producer/host of City Lights, a weekend primetime magazine show, and director of public affairs. Previously she was a New Jersey public middle school teacher during which time she created an afterschool dance and charm club for girls.

In 1985 while working full-time in television news, Ms. Hendley founded Teenshop, Inc.® a nationally-recognized college preparatory and life skills nonprofit weekend program that prepares ‘girls with goals®’ for college and careers.

Teenshop has five chapters in three states – California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania – and more than eight thousand girls have been enrolled, all of whom matriculate to college. Teenshop was the catalyst for Girls Achieve® , a school day workshop series Ms. Hendley created in 2005 after leaving television news. Girls Achieve offers curriculum-support and enrichments workshops. The Girls Achieve® brand has expanded to include the Girls Achieve® Activity Book and a line of consumer products.

Ms. Hendley has received numerous awards for excellence in broadcasting and community service. They include an Emmy Award, CBS 3 TV in Philadelphia, PA; Take the Lead Award, Girl Scouts of Southeastern Pennsylvania; Woman of Distinction Award, The Philadelphia Business Journal; Most Influential African Americans, The Philadelphia Tribune.

A graduate of Ohio’s Central State University, Ms. Hendley further studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, France. Active in community and civic affairs, she’s a member of the Forum of Executive Women, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and The Links; Co-Founder of the Pennsylvania Coalition of 100 Black Women, and a Charter Member of the National Association of University Women of Suburban Philadelphia. Her hobbies and interests include studying jazz piano, doll collecting, and world traveling.

 “When I was growing up, my dreams were limited by what I did not see. There were no women in television news who looked like me, so I could never have imagined that one day I would become an Emmy Award-winning journalist. When I decided to start Teenshop, I wanted to ensure that girls of color would meet successful women of color in diverse careers, and that this exposure would encourage them to dream big.”

Teenshop in NBC10 Video
Elleanor Jean Hendley
Teenshop in NBC10 Video
Elleanor Jean Hendley
FacebooktwitteryoutubeinstagramflickrmailFacebooktwitteryoutubeinstagramflickrmail