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On Friday, May 15, I had the great honor to address the 2026 graduates of Drew University, including the undergraduate College of Liberal Arts, the Theological School, and the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. I'm very grateful to Drew's remarkable President...
Across the country, young people and older people are stepping up as civic leaders. But too often, they do this critical work with peers, in age-segregated spaces. Young people work without the benefit of older generations who bring lived experience, networks, and a...
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How can connecting the generations open doors to economic opportunity for people of all ages?
That’s the CoGen Challenge we posed last fall. More than 160 organizations responded with compelling and important initiatives. Today we’re proud to announce the 10 awardees.
The awardees listed below will each receive $20,000 to advance their work. All 10 will participate in a six-month accelerator beginning on Jan. 11, which will provide expert and peer coaching in program development, expansion, storytelling and fundraising.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COGEN CHALLENGE →
“These organizations use cogeneration as a strategy to open doors to economic opportunity in such a wide variety of smart and innovative ways,” says Cristina Rodriguez, director of the CoGen Challenge. “We’re wowed by their potential to expand and inspire.”
We hope you agree!
And now, the awardees are…
Access Gallery’s Cogenerational Community
Creating a cogenerational incubator for older and younger artists with disabilities
Access Gallery
Denver, Colorado
Damon McLeese, Executive Director
Empowering Tillamook County Through Financial Wellness
Building resilience and financial stability through free financial literacy classes that connect generations across rural Tillamook County
Urban Rural Action
Tillamook County, Oregon
Maree Beers, Program Co-Director
Cogenerational Service Academy
Creating multigenerational teams of AmeriCorps members and volunteers to bridge divides, enhance economic opportunities and address pressing community needs
ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation
Phoenix, Arizona
Jill Watts, Director, Capacity Building Initiatives
Faith Land Initiative
Guiding intergenerational groups of faith leaders toward equitable development and community stewardship of faith-owned land
The Church Council of Greater Seattle
Seattle, Washington
E.N. West, Co-Founder and Lead Organizer
Generations United for Service
Building an age-diverse network of volunteers and AmeriCorps members to participate in service projects benefiting homeless families
Northern Santa Barbara County United Way
Santa Barbara, California
Lyiam Galo, Chief Program Officer
Getting Pitch-Ready
Empowering immigrant women entrepreneurs of all ages by offering opportunities for cross-generational learning and collaboration
Venprendedoras Foundation, Inc.
Miami, Florida
Mariela Briceño, Founder and Executive Director
Guaranteed Income Works National Tour
Leading a national advocacy campaign for a guaranteed income across generations and socioeconomic status
Mayors for a Guaranteed Income
Stockton, California
Sukhi Samra, Executive Director
Intergenerational Career Pathways Symposium
Fostering co-mentoring relationships between younger and older people to open doorways to economic freedom
MENTOR New York
New York, New York
Brenda Jimenez, CEO
Mamaw Mentorship in Eastern Kentucky
Creating two-way mentoring relationships between older women and eighth-grade girls in Central Appalachia
Hemphill Community Center
Jackhorn, Kentucky
Gwen Johnson, Secretary/Treasurer
SubClubs for Everyone
Establishing supportive, cogenerational communities to improve the experience of substitute teaching in ways that benefit all ages
Substantial Classrooms
Oakland, California
Erin Ruegg, Director of Teaching and Learning
Thanks to all the applicants. And thanks to the Ares Charitable Foundation for supporting the CoGen Challenge and for helping to create a future where age diversity becomes one of our nation’s greatest strengths.
The Ares Charitable Foundation (the “Ares Foundation”) is a 501(c)(3) qualifying organization sponsored by Ares Management Corporation (“Ares”), a leading global alternative investment manager. Established in 2020, the Ares Foundation seeks to accelerate equality of economic opportunity through grants to nonprofit organizations whose programming provides Career Preparation & Reskilling, encourages Entrepreneurship and deepens individuals’ understanding of Personal Finance. The Ares Foundation’s vision – a world in which people benefit from equitable access to knowledge, resources and opportunities so that they can achieve their full potential – reflects Ares’ core values and staunch commitment to philanthropy.