President Bush, Former President Clinton — Both 60 — Salute Initiative that Showcases Entrepreneurs in the Second Half of Life

Five $100,000 Prizes Invest in Americans Inventing New Ways to Solve Societal Challenges

SAN FRANCISCO — Civic Ventures, a think tank and program incubator helping society achieve the greatest return on experience, today announced the opening of nominations for the 2007 Purpose Prize, a major initiative that invests in Americans over 60 who are leading a new age of social innovation. In its second year, the Prize includes five $100,000 investments and ten $10,000 investments in entrepreneurs in the second half of life who are combining their passion, creativity and experience to address issues of social significance.

Former President William Jefferson Clinton and President George W. Bush, having both turned 60 in 2006, recently endorsed The Purpose Prize.

"The Purpose Prize is a wonderful idea, a way to showcase the idealism, creativity and power of people who finished their midlife careers," said former President Clinton in remarks to the first-year winners last month. "Civic responsibilities don’t end when careers do. The Purpose Prize shows that there’s a new source of strength and renewal in our communities and a great force for change in our country."

President Bush recognized the Purpose Prize winners for their "commitment to making a difference in our society" and for "redefining the experience of aging."

Launched in December 2005 with funding from The Atlantic Philanthropies and The John Templeton Foundation, the Purpose Prize is part of an initiative to inspire millions of Americans to use their experience for the greater good as they reach the stage of life that was once called "retirement." The effort also includes a national summit of experienced social innovators and a $1 million Fund for Innovation that provides grants to expand the work of winners and finalists.

The inaugural Purpose Prize winners, announced in September 2006, include:

• Conchy Bretos (age 61, Miami, FL) for bringing assisted living services to public housing.
• Charles Dey (age 75, Lyme, CT) for engaging high school youth with disabilities in the world of work.
• Marilyn Gaston and Gayle Porter (ages 67 and 60, Bethesda, MD) for empowering midlife African-American women to improve their health.
• W. Wilson Goode, Sr. (age 68, Philadelphia, PA) for mentoring children of incarcerated parents.
• Judea Pearl and Akbar Ahmed (ages 70 and 63, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.) for fighting intolerance, conflict and terrorism through dialogue and exchange.

To read more about the 2006 winners, visit: http://www.purposeprize.org.

"The first Purpose Prize winners are defining success in the new phase of life between the end of midlife careers and the beginning of true old age," said Marc Freedman, founder and president of Civic Ventures and author of Prime Time: How Baby Boomers will Revolutionize Retirement and Transform America. "They represent the beginning of an unprecedented movement of older adults in this country — adults who have a deep desire to continue to contribute, to remain part of the action, to harvest what they have learned from life in the middle years and to apply it in ways that are not only personally meaningful, but that mean something to the broader society."

The Purpose Prize is the first national award to invest in social entrepreneurs over 60. "We hope to help provide the support these innovators need to turn their experience and ideas into large-scale solutions to our nation’s greatest challenges," Freedman added.

The nomination period will close on February 1, 2007. Finalists will be announced in the summer of 2007. Winners, who will be selected by a jury comprised of more than 20 leaders in business, politics, journalism, the arts, and the nonprofit sector, will be announced in September, 2007.

Civic Ventures is accepting nominations, including self-nominations, for The Purpose Prize today at www.PurposePrize.org. The site also includes more information about the Prize and an online guide for journalists covering the aging of the baby boom (www.civicventures.org/jguide.cfm).

###

About Civic Ventures
Civic Ventures is a think tank and program incubator, working to help society achieve the greatest return on experience. To learn more, visit www.civicventures.org. For more information about The Purpose Prize and its inaugural winners, visit www.PurposePrize.org.

The Atlantic Philanthropies are dedicated to bringing about lasting changes in the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people through grant-making. Atlantic focuses on critical social problems related to ageing, disadvantaged children and youth, population health, and reconciliation and human rights. Programmes funded by Atlantic operate in Australia, Bermuda, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United States and Viet Nam. To learn more, visit www.atlanticphilanthropies.org.

The John Templeton Foundation’s focus on the human person is guided by Sir John Templeton’s unyielding optimism that there is much to learn from examining scientifically the nature and benefits of such spiritual principles as creativity, gratitude, altruism, and purpose. From cutting-edge research that examines how young people can acquire a sense of noble purpose in today’s world to recognizing the contributions of "purpose pioneers" through a prize program that honors innovative older adults who improve their communities through their work and inspiring vision, the Foundation’s efforts aim to promote the benefits of purpose throughout the lifespan. To learn more, please visit www.templeton.org.