NEW YORK, NY (9/8/17) — The Manhattan Institute will host its annual Social Entrepreneurship Awards ceremony and dinner in New York City on November 29, at which it will recognize the non-government civil society leaders who have developed innovative approaches to helping those in need. This year’s winners include those providing building materials to low-income contractors and homeowners, teaching advanced mathematics to disadvantaged students, assisting the formerly incarcerated with reentry and entrepreneurship, and creating a supportive mentorship community for kids and teens.
The $25,000 Richard Cornuelle Award for Social Entrepreneurship, designed to recognize entrepreneurs across the country who are working toward innovative solutions to our nation’s most pressing social problems, will be awarded to four organizations which share a commitment to helping those in need. The winners are:
Community Warehouse, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit, runs a members-only retail store that sells donated construction materials and is partially staffed with formerly incarcerated persons.
New York City’s Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM) targets talented disadvantaged students with advanced mathematics instruction, with the goal of boosting their chances of admission at the city’s selective public high schools.
Rising Foundations and The First 72+ in New Orleans work to help the formerly incarcerated reenter society and pursue entrepreneurship with a “business incubator.”
New City Kids, based in Jersey City, NJ, lives up to its mission of “loving kids for change” by providing a structured, mentorship-focused environment ruled by a personal concern for each child.
Howard Husock, Director of the Social Entrepreneurship Initiative, said, “The Cornuelle Awards once again demonstrate the vitality of American civil society and its capacity to address some of our most challenging social problems: the integration of ex-offenders, the improvement of low-income neighborhoods, the teaching of science and math to disadvantaged students, and steering at-risk youth toward positive life choices.”
This year’s $100,000 William E. Simon Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Social Entrepreneurship honors Steven McDonald, an NYPD officer paralyzed in the line of duty who went on to travel the world sharing a message of forgiveness, faith, and community, until his death earlier this year. His story is that of the “everyman” social entrepreneur, working for and inspiring others, regardless of the hardships he faced. Steven’s wife, Patti Ann, will be accepting the award on his behalf.
Click here to read more the Manhattan Institute’s Social Entrepreneurship Awards.
If you are interested in attending the Social Entrepreneurship Awards dinner on November 29, please contact Michele Jacob at mjacob@manhattan-institute.org or 646-839-3387.
