Marjorie Powell Allen (1929-1992) was an American

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

from

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...

who worked with the Powell Foundation. Allen gave two day camps and a residential camp for children, but most notably she donated 809 acres of Powell family land that became Powell Botanical Gardens. Allen also helped found the Women's Employment Network of Kansas City and Central Exchange. The Network helps women on

public assistance Welfare, or commonly social welfare, is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specificall ...

find jobs. The Central Exchange is a professional organization for diverse women. In 1988, Allen was voted Philanthropist of the Year by the Greater Kansas City Council on Philanthropy. She also received the "Friend to Youth" award from the American Humanics program at

Rockhurst College Rockhurst University is a private school, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit university in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 as Rockhurst College, Rockhurst University is School accreditation, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It ...

in 1985. When she died after battling a long illness, her memorial celebration was held on the grounds of Powell Botanical Gardens.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Marjorie Powell 1929 births 1992 deaths People from Kansas City, Missouri Philanthropists from the Kansas City metropolitan area 20th-century American philanthropists