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3 Ways You Can Honor People Making a Difference

Next Avenue's Influencers in Aging, The Encore Prize and AARP's Purpose Prize

By Richard Eisenberg

Hollywood’s season for bestowing awards is over, but the nomination and application period has just begun for what I believe are three more significant, and equally prestigious, honors. And these are ones you can either nominate people to receive or apply for yourself. I hope you will.

They are: Next Avenue’s 2017 Influencers in Aging (apologies for my inherent conflict of interest); Encore.org’s new Encore Prize: Generation to Generation Challenge and AARP’s Purpose Prize.

Next Avenue’s 2017 Influencers in Aging

Next Avenue is looking for candidates for its third annual list of remarkable people changing how we age and think about aging in America: Influencers in Aging.

The list recognizes 50 thought leaders, executives, writers, artists, researchers, health professionals, entrepreneurs and everyday people (of any age) who are helping redefine what it means to grow older in America. (Here are the 2016 Influencers in Aging.)

If you know someone who deserves recognition — or you are that person — please let Next Avenue know by completing the form contained here.

The nomination deadline is 11:59 EST Saturday, April 15.

The Encore Prize: Generation to Generation Challenge

Encore.org, a nonprofit dedicated to building a brighter future for future generations, is now accepting applications for its new Encore Prize: Generation to Generation Challenge to help U.S.-based kids at risk. The prize (actually, two prizes of $50,000 apiece) will go to organizations or individuals of any age with “innovative solutions that utilized experienced talent to serve youth.” One prize will be awarded by a panel of expert judges and the other will be chosen by the prize finalists.

The Encore Prize is part of the Encore.org Generation to Generation campaign that Next Avenue has written about, aimed at mobilizing adults 50 and older to help young people thrive.

The Encore Prize is also open to people of all ages. To be eligible, your project must utilize the talents of adults 50 and older to improve the lives of youth and be in an early stage or period of significant growth. Also, if your application is accepted for the next round, you must be able to participate in online workshops and provide supplemental information requiring at least six hours from May to July 2017. If you become one of the five finalists, you’ll need to be able to present your idea on Oct. 16 to The Encore Prize judges in Boston.

Encore.org says you should not apply for The Encore Prize if your project: is already being done successfully in another geographic region; has a political agenda and is not bipartisan; or is intended to promote a specific faith or is exclusively sectarian.

All applicants will be invited to participate in Encore.org’s accelerator, consisting of online trainings and written exercises from May through June. The 15 semifinalists will also get up to three hours of personalized coaching, peer feedback and support. The five finalists will get one-on-one coaching on their pitches and a year of customized, ongoing support from Encore.org.

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You can RSVP here to attend an informational webinar about The Encore Prize on April 12 at 10 a.m. PDT.

Encore Prize applications will be accepted through May 7.

The AARP Purpose Prize

The AARP Purpose Prize, given out by its creator Encore.org before turning the prize over to AARP last year, will award five $50,000 prizes to people 50 and older whose outstanding work is “focused on advancing social good.” In addition, one of the winners will be awarded the Andrus Award for Intergenerational Excellence.

More than 100 people have received Purpose Prizes since Encore.org began offering this honor in 2005. For 2017, AARP is particularly interested in work being done in the areas of caregiving, savings, employment and the workplace and livable communities.

“We are encouraging folks to nominate everyday people who are using their experience to do extraordinary things and encourage those nominees to apply,” AARP Vice President for Enterprise Award Strategy Barb Quaintance said in a press release announcing the award nominations.

To apply for the AARP Purpose Prize, applicants must first be nominated by someone or they may nominate themselves. Nominations are due by May 12. Once nominated, nominees may submit their applications until May 19.

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Photograph of Richard Eisenberg
Richard Eisenberg is the former Senior Web Editor of the Money & Security and Work & Purpose channels of Next Avenue and former Managing Editor for the site. He is the author of "How to Avoid a Mid-Life Financial Crisis" and has been a personal finance editor at Money, Yahoo, Good Housekeeping, and CBS MoneyWatch. Read More
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