Civic Ventures, a nonprofit think tank on boomers, work and social purpose, has created the Purpose Prize. The focus is on encore careers – jobs that combine personal meaning, continued income and social impact. The prize focuses on investing in people age 60+ who are changing the world. Five people win $100,000 each, and an additional five, called fellows, win $50,000 a piece.

2010 Winner Inez Killingsworth helps homeowners avoid foreclosure by negotiating with banks for more favorable terms on mortgages. Counseling schools on the best ways to engage seriously disabled students, Donald Stedman then helps to assess technological and teacher training needs. Judith Van Ginkel leads a program that provides in-home services for first-time, at-risk mothers – including parenting support – to improve the lives of young families.

Know someone you’d like to nominate? or would like to learn more about purposed-filled careers the second half of life? Check out encore.org.   ~Helen Rickman