Last week, experienced Clevelanders gathered for the Encore Purpose@50Plus event at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, hosted by our partner, the BVU Center for Nonprofit Excellence.

Purposeful aging is a big priority for us at the Cleveland Foundation, and we continue to invest in Encore Cleveland to help leverage the energy and experience of Americans filling community needs upon retirement or near the end of their primary careers.

This year we presented our second annual Encore Cleveland Prize, which recognizes an individual age 50 and older for innovative work to enhance the lives of Greater Clevelanders.

We’re pleased to introduce you to our second annual Encore Cleveland Prize winner– South Russell resident Jack Binder.

Jack is the CEO of LifeAct, which works to prevent suicide by teaching young people to recognize warning signs and to seek help for themselves or others.

Meet him in this video. Jack’s leadership at LifeAct embodies the very spirit of Encore Cleveland. He has stepped up multiple times when the organization needed him to ensure its good work could continue to make an impact on our community. Jack, and his incredible team, have made such a difference.

His nearly three decades of prior experience in the business world as an entrepreneur and small business owner, and president of Edmar Chemical Company, have greatly benefited LifeAct to help thousands of kids and teens each year.

Jack reflects the important work that can be done when our experienced Greater Clevelanders find their Encore career. Please join us in congratulating him! Jack is pictured above at far left alongside the foundation’s executive vice president Bob Eckardt (center) and Encore Fellow Leonard Young (right).

To join Encore Cleveland, or learn more about our award, visit us here.