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A New Chapter: Expanding Our Vision

by Anne Welsh McNulty

Anne Welsh McNulty announces the expanded vision for the McNulty Prize.

Beginning in 2022, the McNulty Prize will expand to selecting three outstanding leaders as Winners. Each winner’s venture will receive a larger award of $150,000 and enhanced resources to boost their trajectories

Since 2008, the John P. McNulty Prize has called on leaders to ‘answer the call’ and use their talents, resources, and platforms to dismantle intractable problems. Over the years, through countless obstacles, we have seen our community deepen its commitment to breaking down barriers for communities around the world, working in over 25 countries and positively impacting millions of lives. Now, we too are answering the call, by deepening our commitment to the Prize and our support of these leaders.

Beginning in 2022, the McNulty Prize will expand to selecting three outstanding leaders as Winners. Each winner’s venture will receive a larger award of $150,000, and an enhanced suite of support to amplify their impact, tell their stories, and cultivate community.

We need more leaders—more talent, more creativity, and more resources to create the conditions for all people to thrive.

Years ago, we visited the Mississippi Delta with McNulty Prize Winner Bill Bynum, founder of HOPE Credit Union. HOPE gives historically unbanked families a chance at college, their first home, or the means to open a business. Bill introduced us to the former Governor, William Winter, who memorably shared that his support of HOPE was inspired by the deep belief that “we are all bound together, we are all part of a common humanity.”

That was so fundamental to who my husband John was, and to what he believed. John understood that too many lives are limited by circumstance, and he believed that it was incumbent on those who could to help remove those barriers. This is why we created the John P. McNulty Prize with the Aspen Institute, and why we are redoubling our commitment now.

We know that there is no one answer to the urgent and complex challenges we face. We need more values-based leaders, leaders with different approaches and lived experiences, who can create change in diverse ways. Our role is to lift up those breakthrough leaders with the Prize—to amplify their impact, and to inspire and galvanize others to action.

We look forward to this exciting new chapter.

Sincerely,

Anne Welsh McNulty

A New Vision: The John P. McNulty Prize

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