Purpose Prize Announces 2008 Winners

The Purpose Prize® awards people in their encore careers up to $100,000 for solving the world’s toughest problems. 2008's winners were announced earlier this month. For the first time, the Prize includes encore careerist who serve an international audience.

Six Purpose Prize recipients took home $100,000 to apply to their important work. Winners include a local woman from Berkeley who is reducing the toxins in California's consumer products. Then there is the inventor from North Carolina who built a $28 peanut shelling machine and put it to use in African villages, increasing efficiency and the villages' income. Another supported refugees from war torn regions like Iraq and Somalia. Still others are growing the "green" economy to include Southern black farmers, cutting recidivism rates a Rikers Island, and raising scholarship funds.

And there are still another dozen, Purpose Prize Fellows who received $10,000 each, with incredible stories to tell.

Click here to read about the 2008 Winners and Fellows.

Purpose Prize 2009
Our world has a deep well of unmet social needs. More than just a set of hands, people in the second half of life are devising new, innovative solutions to our greatest challenges. The Purpose Prize® highlights and invests up to $100,000 in social innovators over the age of 60. Winners are leaders in a larger Encore Career movement that allows experienced adults to earn, learn, connect and contribute. Nominations, including self-nominations, accepted until March 5, 2009.

Click here to apply.