2009 Innovation Awards Ceremony

Social Venture Network (SVN), the country's leading network of socially responsible entrepreneurs, announced today that it is accepting applications for the 2010 SVN Innovation Awards. The Innovation Awards program supports the "next generation" of socially responsible business and nonprofit leaders by providing access to the people and resources that can help them to develop and grow their enterprises. Past Innovation Award Winners include Peter Liu (New Resource Bank), Brenda Palms Barber (Sweet Beginnings), Priya Haji (World of Good), Tim O’Shea (CleanFish) and Ron Gonen (RecycleBank).

"SVN is, for the fourth year, inviting the next generation of socially responsible leaders to apply for the SVN Innovation Awards," said Deborah Nelson, executive director of Social Venture Network. "Even in these challenging times, innovative entrepreneurs are proving that business can help build a more just and sustainable world. We look forward to highlighting our 2010 winners later this year and welcoming them into the SVN community."

SVN is accepting Innovation Awards applications now through April 15th, 2010 at: www.svn.org/awards. A group of finalists will be selected and announced in June. After a second round of judging that will include phone interviews with each finalist, the Innovation Awards judging panel will select the 2010 Innovation Award winners in July. Winners will be honored during an Awards ceremony during the 2010 SVN Fall Conference at the Ocean Place Resort, in Long Branch, New Jersey, October 21 - 24.

The 2010 winners will each receive a one-year membership in SVN as well as waived conference registration, travel expenses, and special recognition at the invitation-only 2010 SVN Fall Conference. During the Awards ceremony, the winners will have the opportunity to share their story with an audience of 250 successful socially responsible business leaders, investors and nonprofit leaders.

This year, the Innovation Award winners will also be featured in a special six-page section in the November/December 2010 issue of Utne Reader. In addition, winners will be promoted for a full year on the SVN Website, in several other media outlets, and will receive free registration to the 2011 Spring SVN Member Gathering.

"Being honored as an SVN Innovation Awards winner made a huge difference to my organization. I've made a lot of great connections, received mentoring from several SVN members, and have partnered with a number of the network's leaders who helped me think strategically about how to achieve greater social impact," commented 2007 winner, Morgan Simon, the co-founder of Responsible Endowments Coalition (REC).

The 2009 SVN Innovation Award Winners are: Brent Baker (Tri-State Biodiesel), Shannon Boase (EarthCycle Packaging), Mark Hanis (Genocide Intervention Network), Gregg Keesling (Workforce, Inc.), and Sam Goldman and Ned Tozun (D.light Design). The 2009 SVN Innovation Award Honorable Mentions are: Joseph James (Corporation for Economic Opportunity) and Ben Powell (Agora Partnerships).

"To receive the SVN Innovation Award was a tremendous honor. The Award validates our beliefs and strengthens our sense of purpose. The SVN network consists of highly committed members dedicated to creating social change--we have already looked to many individuals and companies as role models while reaching out to others for advisory and strategic help," noted Shannon Boase, founder and CEO of EarthCycle Packaging.

About Social Venture Network

Founded in 1987 by Josh Mailman and Wayne Silby, Social Venture Network (SVN) is a member organization of 500 CEO's, investors, and nonprofit leaders committed to building a just economy and sustainable planet. SVN believes in a triple bottom line for business, one that values people, the planet and profits. SVN members are part of an expanding network of pioneering entrepreneurs who share this vision and are helping to transform the way the world does business.

SVN has nurtured the growth and prevalence of initiatives such as socially responsible investing, sustainable economies, fair trade and organics. Notable SVN members include Ben Cohen (Ben & Jerry's), Ahmed Rahim (Numi Tea), Eileen Fisher (Eileen Fisher Inc.), Jeffrey Hollender (Seventh Generation), Amy Domini (Domini Social Investments), Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins (Green for All) and Gary Erickson (Clif Bar Inc.). These entrepreneurs have prioritized the environment, social concerns and profitability to create successful businesses. To learn more, please visit www.svn.org.

2010 Annual Innovation Awards Eligibility:

To be eligible for the 2010 Innovation Awards, applicants must currently hold positions as C-level executives (CEOs, executive directors, founders, etc.) of businesses or nonprofit organizations implementing an idea that is having a positive social or environmental impact on the business sector. Eligible applicants will be leading an organization that has been operating for more than 6 months and less than 5 years.

For a 2010 SVN Innovation Awards application, complete program information and eligibility guidelines, and additional information about SVN, visit: http://www.svn.org/awards.

Social Venture Network

Social Venture Network

Since 1987, Social Venture Network (www.svn.org) has been at the forefront of the socially responsible business movement, connecting, leveraging, and promoting a world-class community of more than 500 innovative entrepreneurs working to change the way the world does business and the way that business affects the world. SVN connects the leaders of socially responsible enterprises to share lessons and resources, form strategic alliances, and explore new solutions that build a more just and sustainable economy.

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