Ashoka & Fit for Life Foundation announce partnership to accelerate healthy longevity

Ashoka and Fit for Life Foundation are excited to announce a new partnership to accelerate change and impact in the field of healthy longevity. Six emerging innovative social entrepreneurs will be recognized as Ashoka - Fit for Life Fellows and provided comprehensive support to scale their impact on the ground. Additionally, the partnership will enable 12 existing Ashoka Fellows to attend a Longevity Globalizer Accelerator program.

Ashoka and the Fit for Life Foundation share a commitment to fostering a world where everyone can live a healthy, purposeful life and is recognized and valued for their contribution to society, regardless of age. Both organizations seek to support broader recognition for social innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit as a fundamental building block of a better future.

To achieve this change, Ashoka and Fit for Life Foundation will work to activate innovations that enable people to remain healthy and active throughout their lifespan. Together, they will:

• Find, elect, and support 6 new social entrepreneurs from the Global South over the next 3 years, in recognition of their innovation and proven track record in empowering people to enjoy a healthy, active old age.
• Support 12 existing Ashoka Fellows to attend a joint Longevity Globalizer Accelerator program. The program will enable these social entrepreneurs to expand their impact by helping them strengthen and deepen their vision for systemic change.
• Introduce these 18 social entrepreneurs, recognized as Ashoka - Fit for Life Fellows, to opportunities for public exposure and recognition of their innovative solutions to keep people healthy and active as they live longer.
• Ashoka and Fit for Life Foundation will share new knowledge and insights in healthy longevity to strengthen their influence with key stakeholders.

Bill Drayton, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ashoka, said: “Ashoka is delighted to partner with the Fit for Life Foundation to shape a new paradigm for healthy longevity. As we strive to create a world where everyone can be a changemaker and live a healthy and purposeful life, our partnership with Fit for Life Foundation aligns seamlessly with our vision. Fit for Life Foundation has been at the forefront of promoting holistic well-being, and together, we aim to catalyze a movement that transforms the way society perceives and pursues healthy living. This collaboration marks a significant step towards a future where individuals live fully, powerfully contributing, and in doing so, have vibrant and significantly longer lives. Together, we will leverage the power of social entrepreneurship to address the complex challenges associated with health and longevity, paving the way for both innovative solutions that will impact millions of lives and new architectures that will bring a far better new longevity for all. We are incredibly excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and look forward to the positive change we can create together.”

Jack Lowe, Chairman and Initiator, Fit for Life Foundation, said: "We are thrilled to embark on this exciting mission with Ashoka to identify, support, and nurture talented impactful and resourceful social innovators in the field of longevity worldwide. By engaging together in the creation of a global longevity ecosystem, our objective is to play a part in fostering a change in mindset and driving systemic change. This partnership will broaden the Fit for Life Foundation's horizons, and allow us to contribute even more significantly to the space. We are advocating for a paradigm shift from cure to prevention. That means also fighting NCDs and addressing issues like loneliness and sedentary lifestyles. Facilitating replication of successful initiatives on the ground is how we will achieve this. Our long-term goal is to expand Healthy Living possibilities world wide.”

About Ashoka
Ashoka has been at the forefront of transformative impact for 40 years—identifying systems-changing social entrepreneurs and accelerating their ideas to create more equitable and just communities globally. Ashoka envisions a world where everyone is a changemaker. A world where everyone can embrace their power, has the skills to solve problems, and activates others to lead and thrive. Together, changemakers are building a society that enables everyone to create positive change for the good of all.

About the Fit for Life Foundation
Established in 2020, the Fit for Life Foundation is a non-profit foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life of older people worldwide by supporting life-long health, fitness and independent mobility. Its flagship program, the Fit for Life Awards, provides financial support for innovative, impactful projects that promote healthy ageing,  with a focus on middle-aged (40+) and older adults (65+).