September 7, 2006 — NFCA President and Co-Founder Suzanne Mintz was named a winner for the first-ever national Purpose Prize, a major new initiative to invest in Americans 60 and above who are leading a new age of social innovation.

The sponsoring organization, Civic Ventures, received over 1,200 nominees for the prize and went through a rigorous evaluation process before selecting the winners. Suzanne Mintz was recognized for her work in creating the National Family Caregivers Association and developing it into the nation's preeminent education, support, and advocacy organization for family caregivers.

Civic Ventures, a think tank and program incubator, initiated the Purpose Prize to invest in a new generation of social innovators, individuals in the second half of life that are marshalling their accumulated experience to tackle some of America's most urgent issues. Marc Freedman, founder and president of Civic Ventures said, "These inspiring men and women illustrate an emerging trend in our society, as millions of aging Americans turn their experience and passion for change into meaningful work in the second half of life."

Funding for the Purpose Prize is provided by The Atlantic Philanthropies and The John Templeton Foundation, which are also setting aside over a million dollars in a special fund that Purpose Prize winners can apply to for additional support.

Mintz and nine of the other Purpose Prize winners each received $10,000 to further their work while five winners each received $100,000.

NFCA congratulates Suzanne Mintz on this distinguished award. To learn more about Civic Ventures and the Purpose Prize, visit www.civicventures.org.