In 2002, at age 15, Girl Talk founder and executive director Haley Kilpatrick dreamed of a program that would help middle school girls deal with the pressures and anxieties of being a young teen. Inspired by her own middle school experience, her idea was simple. Her vision was high school girls mentoring middle school girls and helping build self esteem, develop leadership skills and understand the importance of community service. She believed that if girls’ emotional needs were addressed, they would excel academically.
Today, Girl Talk is one of the fastest growing nonprofit mentoring programs in the country. It has reached more than 30,000 girls in 36 states. Currently, Haley is working hard to ensure that Girl Talk has a Chapter in all 50 states by 2010.
Haley has been featured on NBC’s Today Show, NBC Nightly News, CNN, HLN, Montel and TBS. Haley was recently named one of Atlanta’s Power 30 under 30, as well as People Magazine’s “All-Stars Among Us.”
Haley graduated in 2007 from Kennesaw State University with her B.S. in Communication. She spends most of her time dedicated to the growth and expansion of Girl Talk. When she is not working, she travels the country speak¬ing and motivating youth, teachers and administrators on the importance of mentoring and character education. She has traveled to various states and has spoken to more than 22,000 youth and educators. In her spare time Haley enjoys traveling, volunteering, spending time with her family and friends and inspiring others to discover their passions through community service.
Additional Honors & Awards:
- Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 40 Under 40 (Youngest Recipient to Receive Award)
- HLN Morning Express “Breakthrough Woman”
- CNN’s “Young People Who Rock”
- Power 30 Under 30 (Apex Society)
- People Magazine’s “All-Star Among Us”
- President’s Volunteer Service Award
- Our Family Hero Award (American Family Insurance)
- Star of the South (Honoring Irish Americans)
- CosmoGirl of the Year (CosmoGirl Magazine)
- $10,000 Maybelline Scholarship Recipient
- TBS Pathfinder Award
- Confidence Coalition National Advisory Board
- Entrepreneur of the Month by the National Center for Rural Entrepreneurship
- Atlanta Falcon’s Community Quarterback Award
- Atlanta Community Service Award – 11-Alive (NBC)
- Atlanta’s 50 Most Beautiful People – Jezebel Magazine
- Georgia State Senate Resolution #330
- Girls Inc. Leadership Panel
- Georgia’s Youth Entrepreneurship Panel
- National Society of Collegiate Scholars
- HOPE Scholarship Recipient
- Volunteer Albany’s Volunteer of the Year
- Girl's Inc. Giving Girls Wings Bold Award (2009)