The Shriver Report – Patricia Kempthorne
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Patricia Kempthorne

Founder & CEO, The Twiga Foundation

A lifelong Idahoan, Patricia Kempthorne has dedicated her work life and her life’s work to building a family-consciousness in her family, workplace, and community. After graduating with a degree in business management from the University of Idaho and as a young mother she chose to build her career in the not-for-profit sector and community service work.

A community champion for families and children, she was able shine a spotlight on the issues closest to her while serving as the first lady of Idaho from 1999 to 2006.  Mrs. Kempthorne volunteered her time to ensure that Idaho continues to be the best place to raise a family.

In 2005, she created The Twiga Foundation, Inc. as a non-profit corporation dedicated to inspiring, promoting, and maintaining a family-consciousness in the family, the workplace, and the community. From 2005-2012 The Twiga Foundation was a partner to promote the Alfred P. Sloan Award for Excellence in Workplace Effectiveness and Flexibility in communities nationwide. In addition, Mrs. Kempthorne participated in the implementation of Workplace Flexibility 2010, a public policy initiative at Georgetown University Law in Washington, DC to develop a range of public policy solutions on workplace flexibility that work for both the employer and employee.  She also serves on the selection committee for the Best of Congress Award presented by Corporate Voices for Working Families and Working Mother Magazine.

Mrs. Kempthorne’s experience and expertise has been called upon by the Congressional Management Foundation as a respondent for their study on “Life in Congress.”  In collaboration with the Arizona State University College of Law, she has also submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Labor for their proposed rule changes affecting lactation in the workplace and the Family Medical Leave Act.

Additionally, the Twiga Foundation is the exclusive licensor of BLOCK Fest,™ developed by the University of Idaho.  BLOCK Fest™ raises awareness of early math and science learning opportunities by offering hands-on block play experiences to families of young children thus helping to develop the workforce of the future.

A leading advocate for women, families, and children, Mrs. Kempthorne works with a number of national boards. She serves on the Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free Foundation Board of Directors, a unique coalition of Governors’ spouses and emeritus spouses, federal agencies, and public and private organizations dedicated to prevent the use of alcohol by children ages 9 to 15.   She also serves on the Parents as Teachers National Board of Directors, A Women’s Nation Advisory Council, St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital Board of Directors, and the University of Idaho College of Business and Economics Advisory Board.

Mrs. Kempthorne and her husband, Dirk, were married in 1977, have two grown children and two grandchildren.

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