The Aging Out Podcast Named an Anthem Awards Finalist!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Johanna Greeson or Sarah Wasch
Phone: 919-259-1322 or 215-573-9779
Email: jgreeson@sp2.upenn.edu or swasch@upenn.edu
The Field Center’s Aging Out Podcast Honored as a Finalist in Human & Civil Rights for The 6th Annual Anthem Awards
PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 13, 2026: The Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice & Research at the University of Pennsylvania announced today that The Aging Out Podcast has been named a Finalist in Human & Civil Rights, in both Content & Media and the Industry Specific Program (Nonprofit), in The 6th Annual Anthem Awards.
Anthem Winners are selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Judges for the 6th Annual Anthem Awards include an esteemed panel of leaders from leading organizations and companies dedicated to social impact, including Nancy Brown, CEO, American Heart Association; Heather Malenshek, CMO, Land O’Lakes, Inc.; Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Award-Winning Actor & LGBTQ+ Advocate; Patrice Duckworth, Chief Inclusion Officer, Johnson & Johnson; Fatima Graves, President & CEO, National Women’s Law Center; Justina Nixon-Saintil, Vice President & Global Chief Impact Officer, IBM; and many others.
“We’re thrilled to see the impact sector bounce back, share their stories, and expand their impact after a challenging year last year,” said Anthem Awards General Manager, Patricia McLoughlin. “This year’s Finalists are truly setting the standard for how to advocate for a cause, inspire action, create impact, and overall make this world a better place.”
The Aging Out Podcast is a monthly series of in-depth conversations with advocates, policy experts, and social service professionals working in child welfare, with a focus on older youth and the transition to adulthood. The Field Center took over the podcast from the Aging Out Institute in 2025, and the series has since released 18 episodes. Field Center staff and student interns conduct the interviews, and the series is supported by the Trustees’ Council of Penn Women.
“We started the podcast to give people who work with young adults leaving foster care a place to talk honestly about what is hard and what is possible,” said Johanna K.P. Greeson, PhD, MSS, MLSP, Associate Professor at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice and Managing Faculty Director of the Field Center. “This recognition belongs to every guest who shared their time and experience, and to every student host who helped carry the conversation.”
Alongside the Finalist Announcement comes the launch of Anthem Community Voice, in Partnership with NationBuilder, an annual voting campaign and celebration that uplifts the work of Anthem Finalists. Supporters can celebrate The Aging Out Podcast’s work online from October 13 to October 29 at celebrate.anthemawards.com. All Finalists are also in the running to win a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Anthem Award selected by Anthem judges. All Winners for the 6th Annual Anthem Awards will be announced on November 5, 2026.
HOW TO HELP
- Visit celebrate.anthemawards.com
- Search “Aging Out Podcast” and vote for both of our Human & Civil Rights listings
- Create an account and confirm your email to complete each vote
ABOUT THE FIELD CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S POLICY, PRACTICE & RESEARCH
Based at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy & Practice, the Field Center envisions a world where children are loved and nurtured, and families have access to the resources they need to thrive. Its work spans research, policy, and practice in child welfare, with particular attention to older youth in foster care and their transition to adulthood. Learn more at fieldcenteratpenn.org.
ABOUT THE ANTHEM AWARDS
Launched in 2021 by The Webby Awards, The Anthem Awards recognizes impactful brands, nonprofits, and individuals that are setting the standard for good worldwide. The Anthem Awards honors work across seven core causes: Belonging & Inclusion; Education, Art & Culture; Health; Human & Civil Rights; Humanitarian Action & Services; Sustainability, Environment & Climate; and Technology. This season’s partners and sponsors include NationBuilder, Sustainable Brands, NationSwell, The Bloom, the Social Innovation Summit and The Nonprofit Alliance. The Awards were founded in partnership with the Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, Feeding America, GLAAD, Mozilla, NAACP, NRDC, WWF, and XQ.
FIND THE ANTHEM AWARDS ONLINE
Website: anthemawards.com | Instagram: @anthemawards | LinkedIn: The Anthem Awards | TikTok: @anthemawards
