About the Foundation
Potential deserves preparation. Opportunity deserves access.
Etiquette Etiquette Foundation prepares young people to communicate with confidence, understand professional expectations, and participate in the spaces that can shape their futures.
Our focus is opportunity readiness: the practical skills, cultural awareness, and guided experience young people need as they move toward college, internships, employment, leadership, and civic life.
What we Believe
Young people should have the opportunity to practice professional skills before they are expected to use them.
Our Mission
Prepare for the moments that matter.
Etiquette Etiquette Foundation prepares young people for education, employment, leadership, and civic life by developing the behavioral intelligence, communication skills, professional readiness, cultural competence, and confidence needed to navigate academic, workplace, and professional environments successfully.
Our Vision
A future with wider possibilities.
We envision a future in which every young person, regardless of background or access, understands the unwritten professional expectations, communication skills, and cultural knowledge that help open doors to education, employment, leadership, and economic opportunity.
Who we serve
Youth today.
Emerging leaders tomorrow.
Our primary focus is youth and emerging adults ages 15–24 in Washington, D.C., and Prince George’s County, Maryland.
We seek to reach young people preparing for college, internships, employment, and greater responsibility in their communities, with particular attention to those who have had limited access to professional networks, mentors, and opportunities to practice in unfamiliar settings.
We welcome conversations with families, schools, employers, universities, and community organizations that want to help young people prepare for their next step.
Eligibility, locations, and participation requirements will be provided for each program as offerings are finalized.
Our Story
From etiquette instruction to opportunity readiness.
The Foundation grew from a conviction that young people need both access to opportunity and preparation to make the most of it.
Through her work with Etiquette Etiquette®, Karene A. Putney has taught communication, professional introductions, dining etiquette, and personal presentation. Earlier youth instruction included participation in Prince George’s County’s 2024 Summer Passport Experience, creating opportunities for young people to practice these skills in a guided setting.
Established in Maryland in 2025, Etiquette Etiquette Foundation builds on that instructional experience through a dedicated nonprofit mission focused on youth development and professional readiness.
Today, the Foundation is developing the Opportunity Readiness Academy™ and related experiences to help young people connect what they learn with how they act in classrooms, workplaces, professional gatherings, and civic settings.
Our approach
Knowledge becomes confidence through practice.
Our developing programs combine clear instruction with guided rehearsal, constructive feedback, and exposure to professional settings.
01
Learn the expectations.
Make professional conduct understandable through practical instruction in communication, presence, etiquette, and cultural awareness.
02
Practice with purpose.
Rehearse introductions, conversations, interviews, presentations, and dining situations, with opportunities to reflect and improve.
03
Connect to possibility.
Help young people explore career paths and engage with mentors, professionals, and community partners as opportunities are developed.
Meet our founder
Karene A. Putney
Founder & President
Karene A. Putney is the Founder and President of Etiquette Etiquette Foundation and the founder of Etiquette Etiquette®. A graduate of The Protocol School of Washington, she brings experience teaching etiquette, professional presence, communication, and cultural awareness.
Born in Jamaica and now based in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Karene brings a personal appreciation for the importance of navigating unfamiliar environments and understanding the expectations that influence how people connect.
Her work with young people reflects a commitment to making professional preparation accessible, practical, and relevant. Through the Foundation, she is developing educational experiences that help youth strengthen their confidence, practice essential skills, and see broader possibilities for their futures.
Leadership & board
Committed to the mission.
Responsible for the work.
Our developing programs combine clear instruction with guided rehearsal, constructive feedback, and exposure to professional settings.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors provides governance, financial oversight, and strategic direction for the Foundation, helping ensure our programs serve young people and advance our mission.
Name to be added
Independent Board chair
Governance
Dr. Kristy K. Taylor, DHSc, Ed.S., SHRM-SCP
Board Director, Education & Workforce Readiness
Name to be added
Board Director
Approved Biography
Youth Advisory Council
Our Youth Advisory Committee brings young people’s perspectives into the Foundation’s programs and supports outreach, community engagement, and fundraising. Memberrs serve in a non-voting capacity.
Tomara A. Butterfield
Youth Advisory Committee Member
Fundraising & Sponsor Engagement
Bio Coming Soon
Candice T. Sanhokwe
Youth Advisory Committe Member
International Advocacy & Student Engagement
Name to be added
Board Director
Approved Biography
Foundation Advisors
Foundation Advisors contribute specialized knowledge, practical guidance, and professional connections to strengthen our programs and support our mission. Advisors serve in a non-voting capacity.
Susan Fox
Adviosr, Etiquette Education & Curriclum
Author & Founder of Etiquette Survival
Name to be added
Advisors & Volunteers
Name to be added
Advisors & Volunteers
Name to be added
Advisors & Volunteers
Build the pathway with us
Help young people prepare for the next room they enter.
Connect with the Foundation to explore partnerships, mentoring, professional expertise, or support for our developing programs.