Parent Talk was founded in 1991 by Tammy Lamenzo, a Needham mom of three young children who was working on a graduate degree at Northeastern University. Her frustration with the lack of support for parents of children under five led her to write a business plan for a non-profit organization that would meet this need. Unlike a traditional mom’s or dad’s group, Lamenzo’s concept focused on providing educational and emotional support to the entire family.

What began as a small support network with just a handful of Needham families has grown to include enrichment programs, a renowned lecture series, family and broad community events, a dedicated indoor play space, and so much more. Today, Parent Talk is comprised of 500 families residing in Needham, Dover, Westwood, Natick and surrounding towns.

Parent Talk is run entirely by a network of dedicated volunteers and holds a large and active presence in the local community.

In 1993, Parent Talk held its first Used Clothing, Toy & Equipment Sale. This now twice-yearly event is attended by hundreds of shoppers, and all un-sold items are donated to local charitable organizations that rely on these goods to serve families in need. Parent Talk also proudly supports Project Night Night, a non-profit organization that provides night-night bags to homeless children free of charge to help them feel secure and cozy during their stay in homeless shelters. In the fall of 2008, Parent Talk members filled more than 150 night-night bags with security blankets, books, and toys for homeless children.

In addition to these charitable endeavors, Parent Talk has coordinated fundraising efforts for the refurbishment of three playgrounds (Perry Park, Cricket Field and Mills Field in Needham), recently hosted a food drive for a local food pantry, and annually sponsors a local summer youth concert series.

If you have additional questions, please see our FAQ or Contact Us today.