There's so much talk about how people over 50 are having the toughest time rebounding from the recession that we at Encore.org wanted to uncover the stories of those who have overcome obstacles and those who are using their encore careers to help others hard hit.

Recently I asked for your stories, and you shared your many passions, journeys and triumphs. We were honored to read them. We picked five favorites to share.

Editor’s note: Purpose Prize winner Nancy Sanford Hughes, a longtime member of the volunteer organization Rotary International, was honored last week at the White House alongside 11 fellow Rotarians as a Champion of Change.

Purpose Prize winners prove that energy and determination have little to do with age. In their encore careers, these individuals make society better – driven by passion, backed by experience.

You’ve most likely encountered Prudential's Day One stories campaign, telling us we need to prepare for a seemingly endless retirement. On billboards and bus posters, in radio and television ads, Prudential says we’ll be retired for 6,000 days – or many more – after working for 12,000. The financial services company’s campaign amounts to scenario planning through the rear view mirror – bolting the new longevity (longer, healthier lives) to the old retirement lifestyle. This retrograde vision is neither sustainable, nor attainable – and it isn't desirable.

The Purpose Prize honors individuals making a monument out of what many consider the leftover years, not only finding personal meaning but doing creative and entrepreneurial work aimed at solving fundamental problems facing the nation and the world today.

All in their 60s and beyond, these pioneers have built upon the experiences that have shaped their lives to improve others’ lives.

I've long felt that the encore movement needed its own Teach For America, a social innovation so powerful that it not only helped a significant number of individuals transition into work with real social impact – but changed the culture in the process.

It was with great sadness that we learned that Purpose Prize winner Inez Killingsworth died January 17 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Killingsworth was an indefatigable advocate for the collective power of people acting together to make change in their communities. As the founder of Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People (ESOP), she led a fight against foreclosures and predatory lending practices that has only become more important with the passing years.

Retirement isn’t likely to make it onto any lists of hot trends for 2013. But if retirement is out, what’s in? For a growing number of people, it’s continued work. But not the same old work. Work that feels right. Work that matters. And work that may prove to be more significant than what came before. An encore career.

Want to get a move on your own encore? Here are 5 models for how it’s done, which you can also learn about by watching this recent segment on HuffPost Live.

We at Encore.org have heard from so many of you, excited about the new Encore Career Handbook.