Purpose Prize

Marc Freedman Portrait

The Latest from CoGenerate

Lasting Impact

Lasting Impact

CoGenerate Co-CEO Marc Freedman’s most recent book, How to Live Forever, was published by Hachette/Public Affairs in 2018, generating a lot of great attention. And it’s not over yet! Every week, the New York Times Sunday Opinion section includes a print-only feature...

Check Out Our Signature Event On Cogenerational Activism!

Check Out Our Signature Event On Cogenerational Activism!

On May 22, more than 1,100 people registered to learn more about the important cogenerational work our 2023 Innovation Fellows are doing. These 15 leaders are bringing generations together to solve problems and bridge divides. And each one has a unique and inspiring...

Got a Digital Illustration that Shows Generations Working Together?

Got a Digital Illustration that Shows Generations Working Together?

CoGenerate recently teamed up with Fine Acts, a global creative studio for social impact, to launch an open call for illustrations showing generations working together for change.  We’re looking for illustrations that show older and younger people coming together to...

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Beatty Brasch

Center for People in Need
Purpose Prize Fellow 2008

Helping needy families with merchandise and legislative action.

In her early 60s after 13 years as executive director of a local community action agency. Beatty Brasch decided she could not retire as long as “the inequities of life” persisted. She founded The Center for People in Need (CFPN) in 2003 to bring consumer goods, transportation, job opportunities and legislative advocacy to disadvantaged families. Brasch devised a “Truckloads of Help” program to centralize donated goods acquisition and distribution so that more than 225 nonprofit agencies in Nebraska can “shop” for their clients at no charge. Her Center for People in Need also advocates systemic change in assistance programs through the state legislature, provides job training for welfare-to-work clients, and facilitates statewide collaborations among other agencies. The “Truckloads of Help” program now provides $22 million in merchandise annually to needy Nebraska families. CFPN distributes 800,000 pounds of food to 12,000 disadvantaged families every year, runs a Legislative Resources Database of 20,000 advocates to help them mobilize on state policy issues, and provides food vouchers and holiday gifts for underserved children. “I wanted to make a difference for as many children and families as I could, [though] I was 62 years old at the time, and I recall my husband, John, lovingly reminded me, ‘Your runway isn’t getting any longer.’ I was determined to ‘take off’ no matter what the odds.”