The Eisner Foundation Announces Finalists For The Second Annual Eisner Prize For Intergenerational Excellence

$100,000 October 2012

LOS ANGELES, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, The Eisner Foundation (www.eisnerfoundation.org) announced the selection of seven finalists for second annual Eisner Prize for Intergenerational Excellence, recognizing individuals or non-profit organizations for efforts to unite multiple generations – especially seniors and youth – to bring about positive, lasting changes in their communities.  The finalists will each receive a $5,000 grant for being selected, and staff from the Foundation will visit each finalist over the summer to observe their work in building intergenerational relations first-hand.  

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"The challenges facing our country are diverse and wide-ranging, affecting people of all ages.  And too often, as we look for solutions, we fail to recognize the most important resource we have: each other.  Through the Eisner Prize, we hope to inspire young and old Americans to join forces and, through shared knowledge and experience, help to better our country," said Michael Eisner, founder of The Eisner Foundation.

"The Eisner Prize helps identify, publicize, and ultimately reward organizations that recognize the importance of different generations working to improve their communities, and we applaud the spirit and innovation demonstrated by our finalists," said Trent Stamp, Executive Director of The Eisner Foundation.  "There are two more finalist groups this year -- the surest sign of the Eisner Prize's growing influence in promoting an intergenerational approach to problem solving.  We're proud to do our small role in highlighting this great work and look forward to inspiring others to follow suit."

The Eisner Prize is a national award, open to anyone or any group working in the United States.  These seven finalists were selected by The Eisner Foundation as candidates to receive the $100,000 Eisner Prize: AARP Experience Corps / Experience Corps Bay Area in Washington, D.C. and the Bay Area of California; DOROT, Inc. of New York City; Generations United in Washington, D.C.; Grandparents as Parents in Canoga Park, California; The Intergenerational School in Cleveland, Ohio; Neighbors Growing Together in Blacksburg, VA; and The Northland Foundation's AGE to Age Program in Duluth, Minnesota.  (The inaugural Eisner Prize, awarded in 2011, was won by The Intergenerational Center at Temple University in Philadelphia.) 

The winner of the 2012 Eisner Prize will be announced at the Grantmakers in Aging annual conference in Cleveland, Ohio on Washington, D.C. on October 25.

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.

AARP Experience Corps/Experience Corps Bay Area (Washington, DC and the Bay Area, California): AARP Experience Corps matches the experience and talent of thousands of older Americans with elementary schools in 20 local communities, including Northern California.  A truly innovative model, Experience Corps is the only national program that provides an intensive level of reading intervention from older volunteers within a standardized practice.  Caring, mature volunteers provide a strong commitment to children, high quality tutoring skills, and are dedicated to building trust and rapport with students and teachers. 

DOROT, Inc.  (New York, NY):  DOROT alleviates social isolation among the elderly and provides services to help them live independently as valued members of the community. They serve the Jewish and wider community, bringing the generations together in a mutually beneficial partnership of elders, volunteers and professionals. Their work is a model for others. 

Generations United (Washington, DC): The mission of Generations United is to improve the lives of children youth and older people through intergenerational collaboration, public policies, and programs for the enduring benefit for all. They are the catalyst that brings single-age focused groups together to build and support a common agenda while providing a unique voice in public debate. They honor, support, and engage all ages.

Grandparents as Parents (Canoga Park, California): GAP's mission is to provide programs and services that meet the urgent and ongoing needs of grandparents and other relatives raising at-risk children. GAP currently serves relative caregivers in the Los Angeles County area, over 90% of which are grandparents.  GAP provides cost-free, community-based programs and services, which include weekly therapeutic support groups, crisis counseling, education, advocacy, and respite care. 

The Intergenerational School (Cleveland, Ohio):  From conversations twelve years ago between Dr. Catherine Whitehouse and Dr. Peter Whitehouse about the limits of age-segregated education, The Intergenerational School was founded.  Central to the mission of the school is the conviction that children and older adults can contribute to each other's knowledge, well-being, and achievement, and that children and older adults can change communities. 

Neighbors Growing Together (Blacksburg, Virginia): Neighbors Growing Together intergenerational program at Virginia Tech achieves lasting, positive change in communities by inspiring the beliefs and perspectives of multiple generations. Pre-school children, youth, college students, and older adults have opportunities to build relationships, enhance generational understanding, and develop acceptance of diverse individuals through frequent, regular interactions. 

The Northland Foundation's AGE to age program (Duluth, Minnesota): AGE to age is a program designed by the Northland Foundation to connect youth with older adults to build relationships and enhance their communities.  This initiative provides an avenue for different generations to overcome age stereotypes, establish friendships, and pool their strengths for civic good.  Over 1,200 people age 55+ and 1,600 youth in rural northeast Minnesota have been touched by this innovative program. 

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