Press Releases

  • Bill Drayton of Ashoka Wins Harvard Award
    May 10, 2012
    Cambridge, MA - Ashoka CEO and founder Bill Drayton received the Harvard Kennedy School's prestigious Richard E. Neustadt Award for Public Policy last week. The Neustadt Award is presented annually to a key social innovator whose work draws upon research and intellectual ideas in order to develop solutions to public problems. At the awards ceremony in Cambridge on May 3rd, the Neustadt Award recognized Drayton's lifelong commitment to fostering a global movement of social entrepreneurs and an "...
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  • The BIG IDEA: Global Spread of Affordable Housing
    April 25, 2012
    Today 1.6 billion people need safe housing. By 2030, that number will triple. Amulti-trillion dollar opportunity. Will we build it in our lifetime?A new, multimedia book published jointly by Ashoka Full Economic Citizenship and Next Billion compiles over 20 posts from leading housing entrepreneurs answering this global challenge. Their inspiring and proven local and global innovations -- and the stories of family, community and business transformation shown in a dozen videos embedded in the...
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  • Ashoka Global Competition Seeks Innovation in Empathy Education
    January 19, 2012
    Washington, D.C. - Ashoka Changemakers® is launching a global competition today titled: Activating Empathy: Transforming Schools to Teach What Matters. More than $70,000 in cash and in-kind prizes will be awarded to the best ideas, programs, and learning models that ensure children master empathy, enabling them to be effective citizens, leaders, and trailblazers.The Activating Empathy competition seeks to spark greater collaboration between efforts such as those that encourage social and...
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  • Bill Drayton of Ashoka Accepts Three Awards in Three Weeks from Europe, US, and Asia
    November 9, 2011
    Arlington, Virginia - Bill Drayton, CEO of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public has accepted three awards from around the world honoring his work on behalf of social entrepreneurship through the organization he founded, Ashoka.  At a time when the world is faced with deeply troubling challenges, these accolades celebrate the Ashoka Fellows that emerge from every corner of the earth to shine light on innovative solutions with the spirit of entrepreneurialism that is changing the world. ...
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  • Four International Personalities Honoured with Entrepreneurs for the World Awards
    November 3, 2011
    Singapore – Four role-models whose entrepreneurial achievements and commitment to society make them role-models for entrepreneurship creating wealth and social justice have been awarded the Entrepreneurs for the World Awards at this year’s World Entrepreneurship Forum held in Singapore. The Young Entrepreneur Award, a new award category for entrepreneurs below 35, has recognised Ms Reese Fernandez, Co-Founder of Rags2Riches in the Philippines. Her venture has revolutionised women’s business...
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  • Sir Fazle Hasan Abed Wins World’s Largest Education Prize in Qatar
    November 1, 2011
    Doha, Qatar – In recognition of his outstanding work in the field of education, Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder and chairperson of BRAC, has won the $500,000 WISE Prize for Education in Doha, Qatar. The Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, awarded the prize to Abed, who in 1972 founded what has gone on to become the world's largest development organization, at the World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) on Nov. 1. His Excellency Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani,...
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  • Bill Drayton Receives John Gardner Leadership Award
    October 31, 2011
    Chicago, Illinois - Bill Drayton, CEO of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, is in Chicago today to receive the prestigious John W. Gardner Leadership Award.  The Award was established in 1985 to honor outstanding Americans who exemplify the leadership and the ideals of John W. Gardner (1912-2002), American statesman and founding chair of Independent Sector.  Independent Sector presents the award each year to an individual whose leadership in or with the nonprofit community has been...
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  • HRH Prince Felipe of Spain Awards Bill Drayton of Ashoka
    October 24, 2011
    Oviedo, Spain - Bill Drayton, CEO of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, received the Prince of Asturias Prize in International Cooperation last Friday, in a lavish awards ceremony broadcast throughout Europe.  The prize is Spain's highest honor and one of Europe's most prestigious awards, often compared to the Nobel Peace Prize.  Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philip of Spain and Princess Letizia were in attendance during the ceremony, which honored Bill Drayton and the other...
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  • Bill Drayton Receives Prince of Asturias Award at Official Ceremony Today
    October 21, 2011
    Oviedo, Spain – Bill Drayton, CEO of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, is in Spain today to receive the Prince of Asturias Prize in International Cooperation, Spain’s highest honors and one of Europe’s most prestigious awards.  Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philip of Spain and Princess Letizia will be in attendance during the ceremony, which honors Bill Drayton and the other awardees, including Leonard Cohen and Howard Gardner.  Recipients are awarded 50,000 euros, a...
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  • Ashoka Announces the Return of Anamaria Schindler to the Leadership Team
    October 17, 2011
    Arlington, VA - Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, the global organization of leading social entrepreneurs, is thrilled to announce the return of Anamaria Schindler this month, based in Brazil.  She joins Diana Wells (President), Sushmita Ghosh (President Emeritus and Ashoka’s Changemakers creator and leader), and Bill Drayton (CEO) on the Ashoka Leadership Team. Anamaria Schindler first joined Ashoka in 1996, to launch a joint venture between Ashoka and McKinsey & Company, working to...
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