Ann Higdon wins Prestigious Purpose Prize, donates $50,000 award to ISUS

Ann Higdon, the founder of Dayton-based ISUS, was one of ten people in the nation selected to receive a 2009 Purpose Prize.  The Purpose Prize honors social entrepreneurs over 60 who are using their experience and passion to take on society’s biggest challenges. Now in its fourth year, the six-year, $17 million program is the nation’s only large-scale investment in social innovators in the second half of life. The 24 member judging panel of Encore Careers, the award sponsor, includes leaders in business, politics, journalism and the nonprofit sector, such as actor Sidney Poitier, social entrepreneur Thomas Tierney, former Senator Harris Wofford and journalist Cokie Roberts.
 
Ann Higdon joined other 2009 winners and 46 Purpose Prize fellows at a Summit on Innovation at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business’ Center on Social Innovation, one of the world’s leading academic centers focused on social entrepreneurship. Ann’s award honored her work inspiring dropouts to return to school not just for diplomas, but to also train for jobs in various sectors. The students give back to the community in big ways – building homes, refurbishing computers and volunteering in hospitals. ISUS operates four non –profits - three charter schools and a community development company.
 

ISUS, which stands for Improved Solutions for Urban Systems, serves more than 400 Dayton students in three charter schools that offer programs in nursing, information technology, manufacturing and construction. Her construction trades students have rebuilt or refurbished more than 30 homes in Dayton.

Most of her students struggled in traditional high school settings. Eighty percent were involved in the criminal justice system. Ninety percent had dropped out of high school. Many have histories of alcohol or drug abuse. 

ISUS was one of the first schools in Ohio to track the progress of its students to show how much growth took place during the school year. The school even tracks the recidivism rate of students who have been trouble with the law, as well as the number of students who have found employment.

True to Ann’s gracious nature, she donated the entirety of her $50,000 monetary prize back to the ISUS schools. Fuller summaries, videos and photographs for Ann Higdon are online at www.encore.org.

Congratulations, Ann! You inspire us in so many ways!