The Eisner Foundation Announces Finalists for the Inaugural Eisner Prize for Intergenerational Excellence

LOS ANGELES, June 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The Eisner Foundation (www.eisnerfoundation.org) announced the selection of five finalists for the inaugural $100,000 Eisner Prize for Intergenerational Excellence, which recognizes an individual or a non-profit organization for efforts to unite multiple generations – especially seniors and youth – and bring about positive, lasting changes in their communities.  The winner of the Eisner Prize will be announced later this year; additionally, The Eisner Foundation will look to replicate the winning program to benefit children and seniors in Los Angeles, where the organization is based.

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"As a society, we tend to believe that each generation is an insular one, and that the interests of each are unique and separate from those of others.  But now more than ever, people young and old must join forces to address problems that affect both of their communities – and it is that spirit of intergenerational cooperation that we hope to foster with The Eisner Prize," said Michael Eisner, founder of The Eisner Foundation.  "We applaud our semifinalists and finalists for their dedication and commitment in uniting generations for the betterment of our country, and we hope that the work they do inspires others to take up similar causes."

"As a nation, our most daunting challenges require complex solutions involving the participation of all of our society's citizens, and not just singular groups working singularly," said Trent Stamp, Executive Director of The Eisner Foundation.  "The Eisner Prize is our attempt to identify and reward those individuals and organizations that recognize the importance of children and seniors working side-by-side to generate positive results in their communities.  By working together, generations young and old can truly make this world a better place."

The Eisner Prize is a national award, open to anyone or any group working in the United States.  Earlier this year, 20 semifinalists across the U.S. were selected from hundreds of nominations.  From that group, four finalists were selected as candidates to receive the $100,000 Eisner Prize: DOROT, Inc. of New York City; the Intergenerational Center at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA; and Experience Corps and Generations United, both of Washington, D.C.  A fifth organization, Ebenezer Ridges in Burnsville, Minnesota, secured the fifth finalist spot by garnering 11,000 votes by visitors to the Eisner Foundation's website.

The winner of the 2011 Eisner Prize will be announced at the Grantmakers in Aging annual conference in Washington, D.C. on October 27, 2011.

The finalists are listed as follows – please click on their names to visit their sites and to learn more about the excellent and diverse intergenerational programming each presents.

DOROT, Inc. (New York, NY)

DOROT is a multi-service agency that offers a wide range of volunteer-based intergenerational community service opportunities for youth, adults and seniors. These programs enhance the lives of volunteers of all ages and the frail elderly.  DOROT was founded in 1976 by a group of Columbia University graduate students and alumni who were concerned about the plight of the homebound elderly "hidden" in apartment buildings on the Upper West Side in Manhattan.  They banded together to locate and visit these frail, isolated men and women, delivering food and spending time in conversation.  These young adults forged a strong bond between the generations, which is reflected in the name they chose: DOROT, the Hebrew word for "generations."  From these beginnings arose an agency comprising a pool of 10,000 volunteers of all ages and offering numerous services for the elderly in Manhattan as well as Westchester County and Northern New Jersey. 

Ebenezer Ridges (Burnsville, MN)

Ebenezer Ridges is an intergenerational shared-site program located in Burnsville, Minnesota, where children and older adults receive day care services on a shared campus.  Ebenezer, which means "stone of help," was founded in 1917 by Minneapolis Lutherans to provide community-centered care for homeless older adults and others in need.  Since that time, Ebenezer Ridges has grown into a multi-service agency that has served as a pioneer in uniting multiple generations, ages six months to 106 years.  In 2010, Ebenezer Ridges was awarded the Intergenerational Shared Site Excellence Award by Generations United/MetLife Foundation.  By sharing the site, Ebenezer Ridges is able to provide unique opportunities for youth and seniors to work together daily on building meaningful, lifelong relationships and improving the quality of life for all. 

Experience Corps (Washington, D.C.)

Experience Corps is a national non-profit, headquartered in Washington, DC, with 22 program sites across the country.  Founded in 1995, the organization's mission is to provide K-3 elementary students from low-performing schools with an intensive level of reading intervention from senior volunteers to build and improve literacy skills.  Today,   2,000 Experience Corps members put in 600,000 service hours annually to tutor and mentor 20,000 elementary school students, help teachers in the classroom, and lead after-school enrichment activities. Independent research shows that Experience Corps boosts student academic performance (by more than 60% greater gains in literacy skills on average), helps schools and youth-serving organizations become more successful, and enhances the well-being of the older adults in the process.

Generations United (Washington, D.C.)

Located in Washington, DC, Generations United is the only national organization that focuses solely on improving the lives of children, youth, and older people through intergenerational collaboration and public policy.  Since its inception in 1986, Generations United has led the way in advocating for public policies that unite rather than separate the generations. From championing supports for grandparents raising grandchildren to promoting shared sites that serve young and old side-by-side, Generations United has served as a catalyst for bringing about positive and long-lasting change in communities.  In addition, by partnering with organizations and connecting with practitioners on the local, state and federal levels, Generations United is a resource for policymakers and the public on the economic, social, and personal imperatives of intergenerational cooperation.

Intergenerational Center at Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)

Created in 1979, the Intergenerational Center at Temple University serves as a national resource for the intergenerational field by coordinating programs and initiatives that bring together youth and seniors to strengthen communities.  To date, over 79,000 individuals of all ages have been involved in more than 25 programs and research initiatives designed to address a wide range of community needs.  Rather than focusing on just one issue, the Intergenerational Center provides an intergenerational lens to confront many of the pressing challenges that face individuals, families and communities such as education, health, youth development, family support, immigration and aging. Currently, the Center is providing technical assistance and training in 54 communities across the country.

About The Eisner Foundation

Founded in 1996 by Michael and Jane Eisner and their family, The Eisner Foundation exists to provide access and opportunity for children and the aging in Los Angeles County. The Foundation gives philanthropic support and counsel to exceptionally-run non-profit organizations working to create lasting positive changes in the lives of at-risk and disadvantaged seniors and children in the Los Angeles community. By making grants of over $7 million annually, the goal of The Eisner Foundation is simply to help Los Angeles be a place that protects and nurtures the region's most vulnerable citizens. To learn more about The Eisner Foundation, please visit www.eisnerfoundation.org.

SOURCE The Eisner Foundation