May 7, 2013
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Launches “Piper Trust Encore Career Prize”
VIRGINIA G. PIPER CHARITABLE TRUST Press Release
May 7, 2013
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Launches “Piper Trust Encore Career Prize”
An Inspiring Leader to Receive a $50,000 Award for Applying Experience to Improve Social Good
PHOENIX, Ariz.—To recognize and advance the social purpose work of an inspiring leader serving Maricopa County, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust established the Piper Trust Encore Career Prize. The Trust will award one individual, who is age 50 or older and considered an encore role model, a $50,000 Prize in recognition of significant, innovative work that combines personal meaning with social impact.
The ideal candidate for the Piper Trust Encore Career Prize is someone, who at age 50 or older, initiated and is leading extraordinary, innovative social purpose work; the work must be serving a social purpose within Maricopa County and have a track record of impact for a minimum of three years.
“Piper Trust believes that older adults are a great asset to the community and in their second stage of adulthood they are often doing remarkable purposeful work for the social good. Piper Trust’s Encore Career Prize seeks to recognize purposeful work and strives to inspire others to apply their experience and talent to solving tough social problems in our community,” said Judy Jolley Mohraz, president and CEO, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust.
As it relates to the Piper Trust Encore Career Prize, social purpose work combines an experienced person, age 50+, with a social cause that he/she is passionate about—a meaningful issue that someone applies years of experience and talent to, and through this work a significant difference in the quality of life for others is achieved.
Approximately 10,000 people in the U.S. turn age 65 every day and while this age has typically signified retirement, many are not retiring in traditional ways, or at all. There are more than 1 million people in Maricopa County age 50+. Piper Trust recognizes that this highly talented human resource pool can help solve social problems by applying experience and innovation to meaningful work which strengthens quality of life in the community.
Piper Trust will award one individual with a $50,000 Encore Career Prize in 2013; the Piper Trust Encore Career Prize is anticipated to be awarded every other year. Last year (2012), Piper Trust established the Piper Trust Encore Prize which recognizes the achievements of nonprofits/public sector organizations that engage the talent of people over 50 in encore roles.
Since its inception, Piper Trust has strategically invested in programs and innovations that support older adults. Piper Trust’s two Prize programs are designed to recognize inspiring local leaders and organizations for their extraordinary achievements and to advance the growth of encore roles that can positively impact communities and society.
About Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust:
A private independent foundation, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust honors Virginia Galvin Piper’s philanthropic commitment to changing lives and strengthening community in Maricopa County (Arizona). By investing in nonprofits and encouraging strategic planning for the future, Piper Trust strives to make Maricopa County a stronger, more nurturing and vibrant community. Since it began awarding grants in 2000, Piper Trust has invested more than $300 million in local nonprofits and programs. The Trust had total grants paid of $21.9 million in fiscal year 2012. Piper Trust grantmaking areas are healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education and religious organizations. For more information, visit www.pipertrust.org. Follow us on Twitter @PiperTrust; and visit us on Facebook. #encorecareerprize
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Karen Leland, 480-556-7125 / kleland@pipertrust.org
Director, Communications and External Relations
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
1202 East Missouri Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85014