Taylor Ann Bozydaj

This is a first for Women Making Moves. This post is dedicated to an 11-year-old resident of Milton, New York. Since the age of four, Taylor Bozydaj has donated over 1,000 pounds of pet food as well as blankets and towels to animal shelters in her community. This story originally appeared in the Poughkeepsie Journal. Once I read it, I realized Taylor was a young lady making moves who would eventually become a woman making moves.

Management staff at the Animal Hospice of New York, which has received donations from Taylor, is impressed and grateful that someone Taylor's age is so devoted to community service. She is credited for being a primary reason that the shelter's animals are well taken care of.

I'm extremely impressed that Taylor embarked on a project that allows her to help the community and put others before herself by forgoing birthday presents and donating money to animal shelters. While it's not often reported, youth are playing a more significant role in their communities. I volunteer six hours per month with a teen youth group. One of the group's focus includes community service. Throughout the year the program participants volunteer at a nursing home, Meals on Wheels and It's My Park Day. My mentees have learned valuable lessons through these projects. I foresee that more young women will take the torch and become leaders in their communities.

Women, start making your Moves today!