Westchester residents Steve and Liz Alderman, both 68, turned tragedy into triumph eight years ago after losing their son to terrorists on 9/11 in the Twin Towers. Since that time, thousands of people - including children from the post-conflict countries of Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, the Congo, and Zimbabwe - have been treated by foundation-trained doctors who help to heal the emotional wounds of victims of terrorism and mass violence through a network of comprehensive trauma treatment systems funded entirely through the Peter C. Alderman Foundation.

Today, the Aldermans are being recognized for their extraordinary philanthropic work as one of four 2009 Grand Prize winners and 46 "Purpose Prize" fellows. The Purpose Prize honors American social entrepreneurs over the age of 60 who combine creativity, experience, passion and a higher calling (or all three) with a desire to do something bigger than themselves to take on society's biggest challenges. Now in its fourth year, the six-year, $17 million program is the nation's only large-scale investment in social innovators in the second half of life The Purpose Prize will be presented to the Aldermans at a Summit on Innovation to be held on Oct. 31 - Nov. 1 at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business' Center on Social Innovation, one of the world's leading academic centers focused on social entrepreneurship

The Peter C. Alderman Foundation creates mental health systems where violence such as torture, rape, civil war or kidnapping has desecrated communities and destroyed the emotional well-being of victims who are left with lifelong mental disabilities, preventing them from working, caring for their families and leading productive lives. Untreated, traumatic depression and post-traumatic stress disorder can extend into the next generation and beyond. Post-conflict countries, overwhelmed by the problem, are unable to deliver adequate care. The Peter C. Alderman Foundation fills this need by:

• Training indigenous doctors and mental health professionals to get the tools they need to heal their victimized populations;
• Establishing local trauma treatment clinics to diagnose and treat traumatic depression; and
• Working in tandem with local governments to create capacity, sustainability, scalability and community acceptance.

To date, 385 doctors from 20 countries on four continents have been trained. They, in turn, have trained more than 400 healthcare professionals from around the world. As a result, over 100,000 victims have been treated by trained mental health professionals thanks to the Peter C. Alderman Foundation.

The winners and 1,000-plus nominees in 2009 underscore a trend in entrepreneurialism later in life. According to studies by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the 55-64 age group is the most active in creating new ventures. Counter to stereotype, people ages 20-34, the study found, are the least entrepreneurial. The Encore Careers campaign is run by Civic Ventures, a national think tank on boomers, work and social purpose. Funding for The Purpose Prize comes from The Atlantic Philanthropies and the John Templeton Foundation.

Steve Alderman says, "While the Purpose Prize is a wonderful honor for us personally it's important on many levels, not just to the Foundation. Above all, it is a recognition by the world that global mental health and people-centered therapy is vital for reconstruction in post -conflict countries. We are honored to be in the vanguard of its movement." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6jkTNcDW5U

MEDIA INTERVIEWS WITH ALDERMAN’S AVAILABLE, or REQUEST JPEG PHOTO

Peter C. Alderman Foundation

Peter C. Alderman Foundation

This week, Liz & Steve Alderman are being recognized for their extraordinary philanthropic work as one of four 2009 Grand Prize winners and 46 “Purpose Prize” fellows. The Peter C. Alderman Foundation creates mental health systems where violence such as torture, rape, civil war or kidnapping has desecrated communities and destroyed the emotional well-being of victims who are left with lifelong mental disabilities, preventing them from working, caring for their families and leading productive lives. Untreated, traumatic depression and post-traumatic stress disorder can extend into the next generation and beyond. Post-conflict countries, overwhelmed by the problem, are unable to deliver adequate care. The Peter C. Alderman Foundation fills this need The Purpose Prize honors American social entrepreneurs over the age of 60 who combine creativity, experience, passion and a higher calling (or all three) with a desire to do something bigger than themselves to take on society’s biggest challenges. Now in its fourth year, the six-year, $17 million program is the nation’s only large-scale investment in social innovators in the second half of life The Purpose Prize will be presented to the Aldermans at a Summit on Innovation to be held on Oct. 31 - Nov. 1 at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business’ Center on Social Innovation, one of the world’s leading academic centers focused on social entrepreneurship.

More from Peter C. Alderman Foundation