News & Events
David Roll Honored as 2009 Purpose Prize Fellow for Innovation, Extraordinary Contribution in Encore Career
Program Recognizes Entrepreneurs Over 60 for Using
Creativity, Experience to Solve Long-Standing Social Problems
(Washington, D.C., October 26, 2009) David Roll, Associate Director of the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation, has been named a 2009 Purpose Prize Fellow, an honor for social entrepreneurs over 60 who are using their experience and passion to take on society’s biggest challenges. Now in its fourth year, the six-year, $17 million program is the nation’s only large-scale investment in social innovators in the second half of life.
Roll, the founder of the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation, was named a Fellow for creating and managing a unique organization that calls upon Lex Mundi and its global network of top-tier commercial law firms with more than 160 member firms around the world, representing approximately 21,000 lawyers, to provide pro bono legal services to social entrepreneurs.
Roll will join 46 other Purpose Prize Fellows at a Summit on Innovation on Oct. 31 – Nov. 1 at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business’ Center on Social Innovation, one of the world’s leading academic centers focused on social entrepreneurship.
The Fellows underscore a trend in entrepreneurialism later in life. According to studies by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the 55-64 age group is the most active in creating new ventures. Counter to stereotype, people ages 20-34, the study found, are the least entrepreneurial.
“More than ever, the problems facing our communities, country and world call out for creative solutions,” said Marc Freedman, co-founder of The Purpose Prize and author of Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life. “Fortunately, we don’t run out of ideas as we age.”
“Like so many others in this new stage of life between the end of midlife careers and the beginning of true old age, The Purpose Prize Fellows combine creativity, experience and passion with a desire to do something bigger than themselves,” Freeman continued.
Commenting on the award, Roll said, “I am delighted to be named a Purpose Prize Fellow but the real praise should go to the hundreds of first class Lex Mundi member firm lawyers who gave freely of their time and talents and to my own law firm, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, that has supported my efforts.”
The Purpose Prize supports Fellows by helping develop their capacity, linking them with funders and venture philanthropists and connecting them to other social innovators over 60. It is part of the Encore Careers campaign run by Civic Ventures, a national think tank on boomers, work and social purpose. Funding for The Purpose Prize comes from The Atlantic Philanthropies and the John Templeton Foundation.
This year, out of 1,200 nominations, four individuals and one couple won $100,000 each, a second group of five individuals won $50,000 each, and more than 45 individuals were named Purpose Prize Fellows.
Sherry Lansing, CEO of the Sherry Lansing Foundation and former chair of Paramount Pictures’ Motion Picture Group, chairs the jury that selected this year’s winners. The 24 judges are leaders in business, politics, journalism and the nonprofit sector – including actor Sidney Poitier, social entrepreneur Thomas Tierney, former Senator Harris Wofford and journalist Cokie Roberts.
The Purpose Prize is a program of the Encore Careers campaign, which aims to engage millions of boomers in encore careers combining social impact, personal meaning and continued income in the second half of life. The goal: produce a windfall of human talent to solve society’s greatest problems, from education to the environment, health care to homelessness. For more information, visit www.encore.org.
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About the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation
The Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation is a 501(c)(3) affiliate of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading association of independent law firms. (For more information about Lex Mundi, please visit www.lexmundi.com.) Utilizing Lex Mundi’s global network of 160 top-tier commercial law firms, the Foundation helps to deliver pro bono legal services to social entrepreneurs, thus improving the lives of the poor and disenfranchised. The Foundation’s work also spreads the pro bono ethic around the world and inspires lawyers to give their time and skills to helping address society’s challenges. To learn more about the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation and its current projects, please visit www.lexmundiprobono.org.
About Civic Ventures
Civic Ventures is a national think tank on boomers, work and social purpose. For more information, visit www.encore.org.
About The Atlantic Philanthropies
The Atlantic Philanthropies are dedicated to bringing about lasting changes in the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people. Their work is aimed at ageing, disadvantaged children and youth, population health, and reconciliation and human rights. For more information, visit www.atlanticphilanthropies.org.
About the John Templeton Foundation
The John Templeton Foundation serves as a philanthropic catalyst for research and discoveries relating to what scientists and philosophers call the Big Questions. The Foundation supports work at the world's top universities in such fields as theoretical physics, cosmology, evolutionary biology, cognitive science, and social science relating to love, forgiveness, creativity, purpose, and the nature and origin of religious belief. For more information, visit www.templeton.org .
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