2012 Lipman Family Prize Finalists

Final Three Organizations Vying for $100,000 Cash and Ongoing Opportunities with Penn and Wharton

By Tracy Simon

Last January, the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School announced a $6.5 million gift from Wharton alumnus, Barry R. Lipman and his wife, Marie, to establish the Barry & Marie Lipman Family Prize.  Awarded annually, the Prize recognizes and amplifies the work of organizations devoted to positive social impact and the creation of sustainable solutions to significant social and economic challenges.

The Barry & Marie Lipman Family Prize
Three finalists were named this week. To learn more about the Prize, watch the video and learn more.

This week, three organizations were chosen, from hundreds worldwide, as finalists vying for a $100,000 cash prize along with unprecedented synergistic opportunities with the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School.

Meet the 2012 Lipman Family Prize Finalists:

  • U.S.-based iDE provides income opportunities and clean water through sanitation technology and marketing techniques.
  • Kenya-based Komaza creates sustainable economic opportunity through microforestry.
  • U.S.-based MedShare bridges the gap between surplus and need in healthcare.

Read more about the finalists…

“My goal with this award is to expand the benefit of social impact organizations around the world by helping to improve their delivery of services through competition, to inspire Penn students to enter the field, and to encourage the transfer of successful methods of operation to similar local and regional organizations,” said Barry R. Lipman, W’70, co-founder of California law firm Goldfarb Lipman.

Administered by the University of Pennsylvania through the Wharton School, the Prize is governed by an interdisciplinary Steering Committee comprised of faculty, and staff from across the University of Pennsylvania, drawing upon the expertise of such entities as the Center for High Impact Philanthropy, Wharton’s Center for Leadership and Change Management, the Netter Center for Community Partnerships, and the School of Social Policy and Practice.

The selection of Prize finalists involved a Student Selection Committee that reviewed initial submissions and conducted the due diligence process under staff guidance, and a Prize Committee that selected the finalists and will ultimately choose the winner.

The winner will be announced at the inaugural Lipman Family Prize Conference to be held in Philadelphia on April 12 – 13, 2012.