Five people who set out to solve big problems in the United States and abroad have been named the winners of the sixth annual Purpose Prize, which recognizes  people older than 60.

One winner works to improve the care of Chinese orphans. Another introduces safe cooking techniques in developing counties. And another is spurring the growth of new businesses and jobs in Detroit.

The prizes are given by Civic Ventures, a San Francisco group that urges older Americans to undertake work that benefits the common good. The $100,000 per-person prizes are paid by the Atlantic Philanthropies and the John Templeton Foundation.

The winners (selected from more than 1,000 nominations) are free to do what they want with the prize money, but they all said they plan to give the money to their organizations, according to Alexandra Kent, director of the Purpose Prize.

Continued at: http://philanthropy.com/article/Five-Older-Americans-Honored/129632/