MinnPost Editor and CEO Joel Kramer has been named a Purpose Prize Fellow, for social innovation in an encore career after age 60. Joel was honored for his work founding and running MinnPost.

Civic Ventures, a national think tank on boomers, work and social purpose, announced the winners of its 2009 prizes today: There were five winners of $100,000 prizes, five more who won $50,000, and 49 who were selected as Purpose Prize Fellows. 

There were more than 1,000 applications this year. Joel was nominated by MinnPost supporter Sue Herridge.

“It’s an honor to be listed among these social innovators, and to be recognized by an organization that believes that over-60 is a great time of life to be working on the challenges our society faces,” Joel said.

Sherry Lansing, CEO of the Sherry Lansing Foundation and former chair of Paramount Pictures' Motion Picture Group, chaired the jury that selected this year's winners. The 24 judges are leaders in business, politics, journalism and the nonprofit sector -- including actor Sidney Poitier, social entrepreneur Thomas Tierney, former Senator Harris Wofford and journalist Cokie Roberts.

The winners and 49 Purpose Prize Fellows of 2009 will be honored at a Summit on Innovation Oct. 31 - Nov. 1 at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business' Center on Social Innovation.

You can read the press release on this year’s winners here.