Read the review.

Civic Ventures announced that Stephen Shames, a New York based photojournalist and humanitarian, is a 2010 Purpose Prize Fellow. Shames was recognized as a social entrepreneur over 60 who, in his encore career, is using his experience and passion to make an extraordinary impact on society’s biggest challenges. Now in its fifth year, the six-year, $17 million Purpose Prize program is the nation’s only large-scale investment in social innovators in the second half of life.

Shames was named a Fellow because he founded L.E.A.D Uganda, an educational leadership program that transforms AIDS orphans, former child soldiers, child laborers, and other forgotten children into leaders by giving them the best education and the entrepreneurial skills they need to achieve their dreams and help their communities. L.E.A.D Uganda’s 94 students are “A”  students at the best schools. They are making a difference in their communities.

“Purpose Prize Fellows show what’s possible in our communities – and the world – when experienced adults apply their passion and skill to improve the lives of others.” said Alexandra Céspedes Kent, Director of The Purpose Prize. “Imagine the potential for society if tens of thousands of adults focused their know-how on the social causes they are most passionate about – it’s a tremendous opportunity.”

“I am thrilled and honored to be recognized by the Purpose Prize and Civic Ventures for my work for L.E.A.D Uganda,” said Stephen Shames. “If someone had told me ten years ago I would one day be transforming the lives of children in Africa, I would not have believed it. Using my skills and experience as a photojournalist to help vulnerable kids is very gratifying. It keeps me going and feeling young.”

The Purpose Prize, funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies and the John Templeton Foundation, is a program of Civic Ventures’ Encore Careers campaign which aims to engage millions of baby boomers in encore careers combining social impact, personal meaning and continued income in the second half of life. For more information, visit: www.encore.org/prize.

Purpose Prizes Honor Americans Over Age 60 for Making an Extraordinary Impact in their Encore Careers

Civic Ventures today announced that Stephen Shames, a New York based photojournalist and humanitarian, is a 2010 Purpose Prize Fellow. Shames was recognized as a social entrepreneur over 60 who, in his encore career, is using his experience and passion to make an extraordinary impact on society’s biggest challenges. Now in its fifth year, the six-year, $17 million Purpose Prize program is the nation’s only large-scale investment in social innovators in the second half of life.

Shames was named a Fellow because he founded L.E.A.D Uganda, an educational leadership program that transforms AIDS orphans, former child soldiers, child laborers, and other forgotten children into leaders by giving them the best education and the entrepreneurial skills they need to achieve their dreams and help their communities. L.E.A.D Uganda’s 94 students are “A”  students at the best schools. They are making a difference in their communities.

“Purpose Prize Fellows show what’s possible in our communities – and the world – when experienced adults apply their passion and skill to improve the lives of others.” said Alexandra Céspedes Kent, Director of The Purpose Prize. “Imagine the potential for society if tens of thousands of adults focused their know-how on the social causes they are most passionate about – it’s a tremendous opportunity.”

The 46 Purpose Prize Fellows of 2010 will be honored at the Purpose Prize Summit November 12-14 in Philadelphia. Approximately 400 attendees of the invitation-only event will hear from featured speakers such as W. Wilson Goode Sr. (former mayor of Philadelphia and 2006 Prize winner); writer and cultural anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson (author of Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom); civil rights leader and social innovator Robert Moses (founder of The Algebra Project); and bestselling author Martin Seligman (founder of the field of positive psychology).

“I am thrilled and honored to be recognized by the Purpose Prize and Civic Ventures for my work for L.E.A.D Uganda,” said Stephen Shames. “If someone had told me ten years ago I would one day be transforming the lives of children in Africa, I would not have believed it. Using my skills and experience as a photojournalist to help vulnerable kids is very gratifying. It keeps me going and feeling young.”

The Purpose Prize, funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies and the John Templeton Foundation, is a program of Civic Ventures’ Encore Careers campaign (www.encore.org), which aims to engage millions of baby boomers in encore careers combining social impact, personal meaning and continued income in the second half of life.

The effort to have L.E.A.D Uganda receive a donation was led by participant Eric Niles, who is the son of Dr. Charles and Ellen Niles. Eric has been aware of his parents’ involvement with L.E.A.D for a few years, and he wanted to do something on his own.  Eric’s excellent presentation on behalf of LEAD resulted in the leadership program receiving the largest amount to a single agency.

The Teen Tzedakah Fund is a program designed to teach Jewish teens to embrace charity as a lifelong value. The seventeen teenage participants allocated $15,000 to Jewish and Non-Jewish agencies. Each participant gave a presentation to the entire panel regarding their favorite charity.  The entire group then voted for the most deserving agencies, and how much money would be given to each.

Eric also collects used and new books from friends and family members, and sells them online in a bookstore he has created on Amazon.com. He has donated $450 from those proceeds to L.E.A.D Uganda. Eric is an outstanding young man, and we are proud to have him as a supporter.

*CONCERT FOR UGANDA*

*July 7*

*Highline Ballroom*
431 W. 16th Street (between 9th and 10th Ave.)
New York City

TICKET INFO: http://highlineballroom.com/bio.php?id=1538

*Doors at 6:00 p.m.; Show at 7:30 p.m.*
*$12/advance; $15/day of show*

*FEATURING*

The Kin (www.thekin.com)
Dan Torres (www.dantorresmusic.net)
Caleb Hawley(calebhawley.com)

TICKET INFO:

http://highlineballroom.com/bio.php?id=1538

**100% of the evening’s proceeds will go to support a team of volunteers traveling to Uganda to assist L.E.A.D Uganda in its mission to mold AIDS orphans and former child soldiers into the future leaders of Africa.**

The UNICEF podcast can be heard by clicking here:

Learning to be leaders in Uganda

If the link does not work, cut and paste this onto your browswer:

http://www.educationandtransition.org/resources/podcasts/learning-to-be-leaders-in-uganda/

L.E.A.D Uganda student Sanyu interviewed at the United Nations Radio.

This is what UNICEF said about the podcast on their website:

NEW YORK, USA, 8 February 2010 – UNICEF’s recently launched Humanitarian Action Report 2010, estimates that at least 1.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Uganda due to droughts, flooding, internal displacement and the return of at least 300,000 Ugandans following the cessation of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) activities.

Other UNICEF figures reveal that nearly half the estimated 2 million Ugandan orphans are orphaned due to AIDS, and the LRA has abducted more than 25,000 children since 1986.

Podcast moderator Amy Costello spoke with two Ugandan students, Sanyu, 14, who was orphaned by AIDS, and Nokrach, 16, a former child soldier, about their experiences and the transformative impact education has had on their lives.

“Maybe I’d be dead”

After losing both her parents to AIDS when she was very young, Sanyu had to drop out of school to take care of her young sister and brother.

Soon after, she met American photographer Steven Shames, and now Sanyu attends one of the top schools in Uganda. She is supported by Mr. Shames’ organization L.E.A.D. Uganda, an education and leadership program for disadvantaged children in Uganda.

When asked what she thought would have happened if she hadn’t become involved with L.E.A.D. Uganda Sanyu says thoughtfully, “I don’t know. Maybe I’d be dead”.

Becoming leaders

L.E.A.D Uganda student Nokrach interviewed at the United Nations Radio.

Nokrach says he was only 7 years old when rebel soldiers abducted him and forced him to fight in Uganda’s civil war.

After fleeing the conflict, Nokrach also became involved with L.E.A.D Uganda, and is now attending school, which he says has improved his confidence.

“I can lead my friends and lead the country maybe one day and I think I (now) have the courage and leadership skills… I believe I can make it,” he says.

Sanyu says education cannot be taken for granted.

“Education… is to do with the future and that’s how you can achieve your dreams and your goals,” Sanyu says. “I aspire to be a doctor… I want to fight AIDS that takes the life of many in my country”.

———-
photos: ©2009, Stephen Shames / Polaris
These photographs may be used to discuss L.E.A.D Uganda.

http://www.yourmomentscaught.com/

Please look at it. Nice photos and comments.

l-r: L.E.A.D Uganda student Sanyu Nakyeyune, Stephen Shames, TunicLove founder Gaurav Butani,, RJM Group founder Rita Overzat at NASDAQ. Thanks NASDAQ for honoring us.

L.E.A.D Uganda – TunicLove video plays on the NASDAQ Tower in Times Square, New York City. Don Thompson produced the video. Thanks Don. Don’s email: don.m.thompson@gmail.com

Thursday November 12, 2009 6:30 PM

Steven Kasher Gallery

521 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011

In the first church members talk about their recent trip to Uganda,

http://vimeo.com/7397686

In the second, Stephen Shames  discusses why he started L.E.A.D Uganda

http://vimeo.com/7366697