The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce recognized ten deserving young professionals on Tuesday night at the Ten Outstanding Young Leaders (TOYL) Awards.
The Boston Junior Chamber of Commerce (Boston Jaycees) ran the TOYL Awards for nearly sixty years (1952-2006) to celebrate some of the area’s brightest current and future leaders. Though the Boston Jaycees no longer run the annual awards show, the legacy continues thanks to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce who revived the tradition in 2012.
As a member of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Microsoft is pleased to see the awards ceremony return to the city and recognize Boston’s talent. As in the past, ten honorees were chosen this year for their professional, personal, or civic commitment to improving the quality of life in the greater Boston area. This year’s event highlighted young leaders from organizations, such as Deloitte, NECN, The Play Ball Foundation, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital among others.
Microsoft is particularly excited about honoree John Harthorne, Founder and CEO of MassChallenge. MassChallenge is a highly praised startup accelerator and competition designed to connect high-impact startups with the resources they need to succeed. As a founding sponsor of MassChallenge, Microsoft has seen Harthorne’s hard work and dedication first hand.
Sara Spalding, Sr. Director at NERD, expressed the sentiment of many when commenting on Harthorne’s award: “I am thrilled to see John recognized for his outstanding contributions here in the greater Boston area and the innovation economy worldwide. Through MassChallenge, John and his team have built a powerful opportunity engine; the benefit of which we will enjoy for years to come. John is a superhero to entrepreneurs everywhere; MassChallenge helps us all win!”
