Food for Education and Simprints Win $125,000 Each
PHILADELPHIA, April 22, 2024 – Seacology has been named the winner of the 2024 Barry & Marie Lipman Family Prize. Chosen from approximately 130 applicants around the globe, Seacology protects threatened island ecosystems all over the world by working directly with communities to help improve their quality of life while saving precious island habitats. Founded in 1991, Seacology’s unique approach funds community needs like schools, clean water, and sustainable energy, in exchange for the protection of forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and other fragile habitats.
As the 2024 grand prize winner, Seacology will receive $250,000 in unrestricted funds and additional winners Food for Education and Simprints will receive $125,000. Each organization will also receive executive training and support from the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania. The 2024 winners were celebrated at the 13th annual Lipman Family Prize Award Ceremony held in Philadelphia, PA on April 18, 2024.
Lipman Director Euria Min said, “The 2024 Lipman Prize winners have proven to be actively pioneering new approaches, technologies, and methodologies to bring about real impact. They turn cutting-edge ideas into tangible realities, sparking a ripple effect of change that touches lives and communities far and wide.”
“I am thrilled that the Lipman Family Prize has recognized Seacology for our leadership and transferability of ideas,” said Duane Silverstein, Seacology’s executive director. “The $250,000 award will be used to expand our worldwide island-based conservation programs and we are looking forward to our new partnership opportunities with Wharton and the University of Pennsylvania.”
About the 2024 Winners
- Food for Education is on a mission to eradicate childhood hunger that affects about 90 percent of children in Africa who do not benefit from a minimum acceptable diet. They have developed a world-class school feeding model that uses centralized kitchens, technology, and smart supply chains to deliver affordable meals to nearly 300,000 children daily.
- Seacology works with island communities around the world to safeguard their local ecosystems and unique species, many of which are threatened with extinction. The work of Seacology protects many kinds of island habitat, but recently has focused on three key ecosystems: mangroves, peatlands, and seagrass.
- Simprints empowers organizations and governments with open-source biometric identification tools to reach more beneficiaries, create greater impact, and overcome data challenges. They build technology to radically increase transparency and effectiveness in global development, making sure that every vaccine, every dollar, every public good reaches the people who need them most.
In addition to the $250,000 financial prize—which is offered to the grand prize winner without restrictions—all three Lipman Family Prize winners gain access to a growing network of change makers and thought leaders to accelerate cutting-edge change worldwide. The Prize connects those on the cusp of great change with resources, skills, and people power to expand the impact and influence of their ideas. Benefits include an executive education program, an exclusive opportunity to apply for the Lipman Nonprofit Leadership Scholarship in the School of Social Policy & Practice, pro-bono consultation from University faculty and staff, peer learning events, as well as expert- and student-driven research to inform and guide their work.
About the Lipman Family Prize
First awarded in 2012, the Lipman Family Prize at the University of Pennsylvania is an annual global prize that advances creative solutions by inspiring people to think together in new ways. Administered by the Wharton School on behalf of the University of Pennsylvania, the Prize is committed to resourcing and connecting change-makers to bring innovative ideas to new places and problems around the world. Previous winners include iDE, READ Global, Breakthrough, Riders for Health, Soccer Without Borders, Women Against Abuse, MyAgro, World Bicycle Relief, Sanku, EarthEnable, CDD Society, and Build Up Nepal.
About the Wharton School
Founded in 1881 as the world’s first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With a faculty of more than 235 renowned professors, Wharton has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year 100,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education’s individual, company-customized, and online programs, and thousands of pre-collegiate students explore business concepts through Wharton’s Global Youth Program. More than 105,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. For more information, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.
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