Wednesday, January 07, 2009

The 2009 Purpose Prize


Civic Ventures is accepting nominations for its 2009 Purpose Prize through March 5th. According to the Purpose Prize® website, the Civic Ventures organization provides five awards of $100,000 each to people over 60 who are pursuing encore careers and “taking on society’s biggest challenges.”

Past winners include:

Jock Bradis, who is improving the lives of farmers in 17 countries with his organization, The Fully Belly Project."

Arlene Blum (see above), who is mobilizing scientists, consumers, and industry to limit toxins in household products.


Mark Goldsmith, who is reducing recidivism rates for young men with coaching, education, and job training.

Joseph James, who is ensuring that rural African Americans are included in the “green” economy.

Michele McRae, who is engaging hundreds of volunteers to help thousands of refugees start new lives in North Dakota.

Catalino Tapia, who is organizing gardeners to raise scholarship funds to help Latino students go to college.

For more information about encore careers--and additional inspiration--visit encore.org.

7 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:17 AM

    Wow, makes me wish I was over 60 to enter! :) How wonderful to see this kind of encouragement and support!
    Barbara

    Author of Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog
    http://www.joyfulpaws.com
    http://www.joyfulpaws.typepad.com
    http://www.frankiethewalknrolldog.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Someone once told me I didn't have a full grasp of what adovocay meant. I would say that the winners you listed here certainly do.

    Inspiring as always...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous8:20 AM

    Wow, that is fantastic and so inspiring.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I always come away from reading your blog inspired and sometimes astonished.

    In case you wondered, you make a difference....

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks, Sarah and Patrice. Thanks everyone! I've been feeling a little guilty lately (something I try to avoid, but sometimes can't) about not posting as much as I had been. I've been working on my novel almost every day and not putting as much attention into blogging.

    Oh, just a P.S. to this post. The same evening I published it, I heard from the head of Civic Ventures. He had a Google Alert on the term "Purpose Prize" and hence discovered right away that I had promoted the venture. The Internet has its pluses and minuses, but I love how it connects people who would never have linked up otherwise.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete