(WASHINGTON, June 2, 2010)—Independent Sector is pleased to announce the selection of the 2010 cohort of American Express NGen Fellows. Now in its second year, the American Express NGen Fellows Program honors 12 under-40 leaders at IS member organizations.  This selective program is part of IS’s NGen: Moving Nonprofit Leaders from Next to Now initiative, which helps build the next generation of nonprofit and philanthropic leaders.

The 2010 American Express NGen Fellows are:

• MacArthur Antigua, Director, National Recruitment and Expansion, Public Allies
• Janella Franklin, Vice President, Development, Communities In Schools
• Ruben Gonzales, Deputy Vice President, Resource Development, National Council of La Raza
• Tine Hansen-Turton, Vice President for Health Care Access and Policy, Public Health Management Corporation
• Andrew Ho, Member Services Manager, Council on Foundations
• Tanya Clay House, Director of Public Policy, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
• Lynsey Wood Jeffries, Executive Director - DC Metro, Higher Achievement
• Casey Lozar, Director of Corporate and Tribal Development, American Indian College Fund
• Jethro Miller, Vice President, National Campaign, American Red Cross
• Ruth Rechis, Director of Evaluation and Research, Lance Armstrong Foundation
• Jennifer Ford Reedy, Vice President, Strategy and Knowledge Management, Minnesota Community Foundation and The Saint Paul Foundation
• David Smith, Executive Director, National Conference on Citizenship

"We are pleased to partner with Independent Sector on the NGen Fellows Program as a vital part of our commitment to supporting leadership development for emerging leaders in the nonprofit sector.  We commend this year's Fellows and look forward to seeing the impact of their work as they build and hone their leadership skills," said Timothy J. McClimon, president of the American Express Foundation, the lead sponsor of the American Express NGen Fellows Program.

The American Express NGen Fellows Program offers these 12 professionals a rare opportunity to magnify their impact and accelerate their careers.  They will have online and in-person opportunities to collaborate with other talented emerging voices, interact with seasoned leaders, and contribute to addressing the critical challenges facing the nonprofit and philanthropic community. Over the course of their fellowship, they will also embark on a keystone project that will positively impact the sector.

“These outstanding professionals are contributing so much to make sure that we achieve the greatest possible impact,” said Independent Sector President and CEO Diana Aviv. “Individually, each has already established a record of great achievement, and their collaboration throughout the American Express NGen Fellows program will accelerate their capacity to advance the common good for years to come.”

The program runs July 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011, anchored by the IS Annual Conference in Atlanta, October 20-22.

To learn more about the American Express NGen Fellows Program, visit: http://www.independentsector.org/ngen_fellows_program

To read bios for each of the 2010 American Express NGen Fellows, visit: http://www.independentsector.org/2010_NGen_Fellows

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Independent Sector is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of approximately 550 charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs, collectively representing tens of thousands of charitable groups in every state across the nation. Its mission is to advance the common good by leading, strengthening, and mobilizing the nonprofit and philanthropic community. 

American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, twitter.com/americanexpress and youtube.com/americanexpress.