Sangyun Hahn, a blind doctoral candidate, has been an inspiration to Purpose Prize winner Richard Ladner, looks at a Braille Tactile Graphic of a precalculus fourth-degree equation. Photo by Grant M. Haller, Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

“Success doesn’t require any special skill, except passion” Rediff India Abroad, January 2, 2009.

An interview with Purpose Prize winner Ray Umashankar. Umashankar climbed the 19,340-foot Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, to honor his son Naren, who killed himself following a bout of depression. Six years later, Professor Umashankar, an assistant dean at the College of Engineering at the University of Arizona, runs a two-year old organization called Achieving Sustainable Social Equality through Technology to help children of sex workers in India find high-tech jobs. Umashankar was awarded a $10,000 Purpose Prize for his work.

“Chen honored for work with Asian community” by Kathleen Folkerth, Akron.com, January 1, 2009.

May Chen, 61, has dedicated two decades of her life to helping Ohio’s Asian-American and Pacific Islander population and has now been named a 2008 Purpose Prize fellow for her efforts. Chen co-founded Asian Services in Action, an Akron- and Cleveland-based nonprofit that provides social services to AAPI youths, adults and seniors.

“Top 10 work-life revelations of 2008” by Judy Martin, San Francisco Examiner, December 27, 2008.

Columnist Judy Martin offers her Top Ten Work Life Revelations of 2008. Among them #3: Boomers reinventing themselves in encore careers. Right livelihood is more about passion and purpose than it is making cash. But in our current economic slump if you have to work- you may as well do what you love. Check out Civic Ventures, Encore Career Movement and its Purpose Prize winners for 2008.

“Tiburon man hailed for AIDS work in Africa” by Richard Halstead, Marin Independent Journal, , December 27, 2008.

Bill Rankin, a retired Episcopal priest from Tiburon, CA, has been named a Purpose Prize Fellow by Civic Ventures for his work battling AIDS in central Africa. Rankin co-founded the Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance in 2000 together with former Tiburon resident Dr. Charles Wilson. The alliance delivers human immunodeficiency virus prevention and care to people in impoverished rural areas of Africa, principally in the central African nation of Malawi.

“Start Your Own Nonprofit” by Kimberly Palmer, US World News and World Report, December 18, 2008

The number of nonprofits has grown 30 percent over the past decade, a trend driven in part by increasing awareness of global poverty and the Internet’s ability to connect people to one another. Purpose Prize winner Adele Douglass, 62, started Humane Farm Animal Care in Herndon, Va., after deciding that none of the existing animal rights organizations were able to create standards for the treatment of farm animals intended for consumption.

“Business People,” Concord Monitor, December 14, 2008

Dana Dakin of Wilmot, NH was honored as a 2008 Purpose Prize Fellow by Civic Ventures. Dakin was named a fellow for her work in creating WomensTrust, an international organization that gives women and girls in the developing world the resources to become self-sufficient and support their families.

“Entrepreneurship Not Just For Young Bucks,” by Bill Drayton, Echoing Green(blog), December 11, 2008

Is sixty-one the new thirty? So it would seem for the fifteen winners of the 2008 Purpose Prize, which is awarded annually by Civic Ventures to encourage and empower people to start Encore Careers using the skills earned over a lifetime to create innovative social change. Winner Joe James, 61, a former government employee, started the Corporation for Economic Opportunity to empower black farmers in the South to participate in the burgeoning green economy.

“Her prize-winning retirement career is helping immigrants,” by Mark Miller, Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, December 10, 2008

Fargo, ND, is no stranger to diversity. The town has seen an influx of about 3,700 refugees over the past 10 years from more than 40 war-torn countries as part of a federal resettlement program that helps immigrants start new lives in the US. Retired professor Michelle McRae created the nonprofit Giving + Learning to ease their transition. The group started by doing English language tutoring, but has expanded to help refugees get their GEDs, pass driver’s license exams and find employment. McRae was named a 2008 $100,000 Purpose Prize winner.

“Theiss honored as Purpose Prize Fellow,”The Island Reporter, December 10, 2008

Civic Ventures has named Sanibel’s Nola Theiss as one of its 2008 Purpose Prize Fellows. Theiss was named a fellow for her work in combating human trafficking through public outreach, training and community organizing. Theiss has been a leader of the Lee County Human Trafficking Task Force since its inception in 2005.

“REWIRED CAREERS- Meet The Purpose Prize Winners,” by Jeri Sedlar, Don’t Retire, Rewire!(blog), December 10, 2008

“I’m always looking for stories and ideas to share with you about people who have rewired or are in the process of rewiring and I have to say that the 6 new Purpose Prize winners blew me away! Their stories, their achievements, their honesty about their trials and tribulations were inspirational.”

“Boomers and Encore Careers: Moving from Success to Significance,” by Mary Brown, Boomer Women Marketing Blog, December 10, 2008

The myth of an endless vacation, or winding down and stepping aside in retirement, is giving way to a new practical idealism: real jobs tackling real problems and making real impact. There’s a movement afoot of boomer social entrepreneurs. At the inaugural Encore Careers Summit at Stanford University, Civic Ventures honored the winners of the 2008 Purpose Prizes.

“Micro-lending grows into big service prize,” by Chelsea Conaboy, Concord Monitor, December 9, 2008

Dana Dakin, 65, of Wilmot, NH was named a 2008 Purpose Prize fellow for her creation of WomensTrust, an organization started in Pokuase, Ghana, and focused on giving women and girls in developing countries the resources to become self-sufficient and support their families.

“Pregnancy: A Time for Questions” by Carrie MacMillan,The Republican-American, December 9, 2008.

Pregnant women ask the same questions and nurses, midwives and doctors answer them over and over again. Sharon Schindler Rising, a longtime nurse midwife simplified the process by creating a group prenatal care at her Connecticut-based nonprofit, the Centering Healthcare Institute. She was awarded a Purpose Prize for her innovation.

“Growling and Kicking for Social Change,” by Gara LaMarche, The Huffington Post, December 8, 2008

Gara LaMarche delivered a call to action at The Encore Careers Summit held at Stanford University on Sunday, Dec. 7, calling on Americans of all ages and across all economic, racial, and ethnic lines to serve the country and to “growl and kick when necessary.” The 2008 winners of the Purpose Prize were among those gathered. LaMarche’s full remarks are included.

“Local Researcher Honored for Life of Activism,” by Katie Meyer, The Daily Californian, December 8, 2008.

Prominent UC Berkeley alumna Arlene Blum was awarded the Purpose Prize Friday by a non-profit group for her lifelong efforts to ban toxins used in household products.

“Retirees, here’s your new purpose in life,” by Vanessa Richardson, WalletPop (blog), December 8, 2008.

If you’re over age 60 and you have a great idea for giving back to the world or just your neighborhood, here’s some inspiration — the $100,000 Purpose Prize. The 2008 winners were just announced, and what a batch. The six $100,000 winners did amazing stuff, from inventing a $28 peanut-shelling machine that helps African farmers be more efficient with their cash crop to teaching life and career skills to prisoners at New York’s Rikers Island.

“Encore Careers will help you take your next step,” by Caroline Zilk, Ode Magazine, December 8, 2008

Encore Careers was created for people who want personal fulfillment combined with social impact and continued impact. Other Encore Careers initiatives include The Purpose Prize; a community college initiative to develop pathways to encore careers; an awards program for employers of people in encore careers; and a pilot fellowship program for boomers in the Silicon Valley.

“Rhode Islander Awarded Purpose Prize,” By Andy Smith, The Providence Journal, December 7, 2008

Barbara Cervone had an important job. In 1994, she stepped down from her position as an associate director of the Rhode Island Community Foundation to take a job coordinating a $500-million grant from Walter H. Annenberg to improve American schools, known as The Annenberg Challenge.

“Immigrant Wins Award For Scholarship Work,” by Nancy Mullane, All Things Considered (National Public Radio), December 5, 2008.

A Mexican immigrant gardener in the Bay Area has just been awarded a $100,000 National Purpose Prize for his work raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to send Hispanic kids to college.

Catalino Tapia saved all his money to send his son to college. When his son graduated, he got the idea to create Bay Area Gardeners Foundation to help other Hispanic youth get a college education.

“The Purpose Driven Second Life,” by Steven Waldman, BeliefNet, Friday December 5, 2008.

At Rikers Island, a massive prison in New York City, 66 percent of released prisoners end up coming back after committing a new crime. Jack Goldsmith, a former cosmetic industry executive, heard about this when he was volunteering there.

“National think tank honors Healing Place president,” The Courier-Journal(KY), December 5, 2008

Civic Ventures has honored Jay P. Davidson, president of The Healing Place in Louisville, Kentucky with a 2008 $10,000 Purpose Prize. The Healing Place serves alcoholics and drug addicts, combining long-term residency and help from peer mentors with the twelve-step model of Alcoholics Anonymous.

“Editorial: Little Invention, Big Impact,” Wilmington (N.C.) Star-News, Friday, December 5, 2008.

Think one person can’t change the world? You’re wrong. Wilmington resident Jock Brandis took a simple peanut sheller design, adapted it for cheap, long-term use and delivered it to a friend working in a poor community in Mali. The resulting hand-cranked contraption, according to just about everyone who’s seen it, can feed a village.

“Second Careers, With Purpose: These prize-winning retirees help ex-cons, rural farmers, the environment,” By Andrea Coombes, MarketWatch, December 4, 2008.

Some people give to charitable organizations. Others start their own.

“Couple Receives National Award for Truth Panel Work,” by Sonja Elmquist, Greensboro (N.C.) News-Record, December 4, 2008.

The Rev. Nelson Johnson has been awarded a prize given to people over 60, for work rooted in the events of his youth — and which carries on today. Johnson, 65, and his wife, Joyce, 62, will accept a 2008 Purpose Prize awarded by Civic Ventures, a national think tank on baby boomers, work and social purpose.

“In some sense I’ve been doing this work all of my life,” Nelson Johnson said. “But there is a certain amount of wisdom that can come with years. You learn yourself better. You learn your neighbor better.”

“Seniors With ‘Purpose’ Win Prizes,” By Janet Kornblum, USA Today, December 3, 2008.

The winners are a diverse lot: a former movie industry worker who used his skill to invent an inexpensive peanut sheller to help the poor in the developing world; a retired professor who’s organized volunteers to help teach English to refugees; and a former New York executive who is helping give life skills and job guidance to ex-prisoners.

“Purpose Prize for 3 Working to Change Society,” by Meredith May, San Francisco Chronicle, December 3, 2008.

Three Bay Area Baby Boomers who are changing the world in “encore careers” have been selected for the national Purpose Prize, given to social entrepreneurs over 60.

“UA Prof Wins $10K Prize for Positive World Impact,” by Stephanie Innes, Arizona Daily Star, December 3, 2008.

An assistant dean in the University of Arizona’s College of Engineering has won a prestigious Purpose Prize, awarded to Americans over 60 who have made a positive impact on their communities and the world.

Ray Umashankar’s $10,000 honor was announced by Civic Ventures, a national think tank focusing on baby boomers, work and social purpose. The prize is part of the Encore Careers campaign, which aims to engage boomers in second careers that combine social impact and personal meaning.

Arlene Blum Awarded 2008 Purpose Prize,” The Berkeley Daily Planet, December 4, 2008.

Berkeley resident Arlene Blum, founder of the Green Science Policy Institute and leader of the first American expedition, comprised entirely of women, to climb Annapurna, will receive $100,000 for her work mobilizing scientists, government, industry and consumers to protect health by reducing toxins in our homes and the environment, as one of the 15 winners of the 2008 Purpose Prize, according to Civic Ventures, which awards the prize.

The Green Science Policy Institute provides unbiased scientific research information to government, industry and non-governmental organizations to facilitate informed decision-making about chemicals, and works on global scientifically sound chemical policy.

“Columbia initiative wins $100,000 prize,” by Joey Holleman, The State(SC), December 4, 2008

Joseph James, of Columbia, SC, has won a $100,000 Civic Ventures Purpose Prize for an effort dubbed the Greening of Black America. Through his Corporation for Economic Opportunity, James, who retired from the state Commerce Department, aims to help African-American farmers overcome racial and economic barriers.

“Professor’s Work Erases Technological Barriers: Projects to help deaf, blind benefit everyone,” By Tom Paulson, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 3, 2008.

For Richard Ladner, it isn’t so much about helping people who are blind or deaf get better use of technology as it is about working with people who have disabilities to help us all get better use out of technology.

“Older Nonprofit Workers Get $100,000 Awards for Their Work,” By Heather Joslyn, Chronicle of Philanthropy, December 3, 2008.

Six nonprofit workers in their 60s and 70s today have been announced as the winners of the third annual Purpose Prizes, given by Civic Ventures, a nonprofit group in San Francisco that promotes projects that use the skills and experience of older Americans.

“Wilmington’s Full Belly Founder Awarded $100,000 Prize,” By Ben Steelman, Wilmington Star News, December 3, 2008.

A Wilmington inventor who came up with “the Holy Grail of sustainable agriculture” has received a $100,000 prize from a nonprofit seeking to encourage seniors and baby boomers to take up “encore careers” in public service.

“Fargo Woman Receives National Award for Work,” by Patrick Springer, The Forum, December 3, 2008.

Michele McRae eagerly anticipated the freedoms of retirement and the flexibility it would provide to travel abroad. She would go to Ireland to visit family and to France and Australia to visit old friends.

But McRae has mostly stayed in Fargo since she retired seven years ago, directing a program called Giving+Learning that matches volunteer mentors with new Americans who need help learning English.

“UA Dean Helps Kids Break Away From India’s Sex Trade: Ray Umashankar awarded national prize for his work,” by Renee Schafer Horton, Tucson Citizen, December 2, 2008.

Ray Umashankar doesn’t scour The Wall Street Journal and Fortune magazine for business news. He reads them looking for Indian surnames among the lists of company CEOs.

Those names in hand, Umashankar creates a list of possible e-mail handles for each CEO and sends messages into the Internet ether until he gets what he’s after: funding to break the cycle of poverty and desperation of the children of India’s sex workers.