The Eisner Foundation Launches The Eisner Prize For Excellence in Intergenerational Work

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Eisner Foundation today announced the launch of the inaugural Eisner Prize and is currently soliciting nominations of individuals or non-profit organizations for this prestigious honor.  The Eisner Prize is a cash award of $100,000 and is designed to recognize excellence by an individual or a non-profit organization in uniting and utilizing multiple generations, especially seniors and youth, to bring about positive and lasting changes in their community.  

Potential examples could include a senior center and pre-school housed in the same building sharing a staff for maximum benefits for all; a program in which youngsters teach homebound seniors about online social networking in an effort to reduce the seniors' feelings of isolation; a community development program in which high-school kids and retirees work side-by-side to repair and build houses; or an academic who has published a persuasive study preaching understanding between multiple generations for the betterment of our society.  The possibilities are endless.  

"Our foundation has been focused for several years on identifying and rewarding non-profit organizations that work with at-risk seniors or youth in Los Angeles," said Michael D. Eisner.  "We now seek to go a step further, by spurring innovation and excellence nationwide among individuals and groups in working not just with one or the other of these demographic groups, but with both simultaneously."  

While The Eisner Foundation is located in Los Angeles, The Eisner Prize is a national award, open to anyone or any group working in the United States.  The cash award of $100,000 comes with no strings attached.  It is the attempt of the foundation to spur innovation in this field and to reward those who have committed already to excellence in uniting multiple generations for the betterment of our country.  Non-profit groups may self-nominate; individual candidates must be nominated by another person or group.  

"We think there's a ton of good work being done out there in this country in uniting multiple generations for the betterment of our communities," said Trent Stamp, executive director of The Eisner Foundation.  "The Eisner Prize is an attempt to identify that work, to reward it, and to see long-term if we can replicate it."  

The Eisner Foundation will be seeking nominations until January 31, 2011.  At that point, twenty semi-finalists for The Eisner Prize will be chosen and asked to complete a longer application.  From there, The Eisner Foundation will select five finalists and award each of those finalists with $5,000 cash.  After an in-person interview with The Eisner Foundation staff and board, a winner will be selected in the summer of 2011, presented with $100,000, and honored at a celebration.

To learn more about The Eisner Foundation or to nominate yourself or someone else who may be eligible for The Eisner Prize, please visit www.eisnerfoundation.org/eisnerprize.  More information can also be found at www.facebook.com/EisnerPrize.

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