PURPOSE PRIZE

Individuals over 50 have a wealth of experience and expertise — a tremendous perspective on what is and what isn’t important. Having dealt with all kinds of people means sharper insights, often a greater sense of inclusivity and a real generosity.? People in this stage of life have also faced all kinds of situations, which gives them great strength and resilience.?

So, it should come as no surprise that AARP is helping to redefine aging as a time of limitless possibilities. It is a time when people come up with innovative solutions to problems, a time when many people over 50 generously give back to their communities.?

Each year AARP recognizes individuals who have tapped their wealth of experience to create new and unique solutions to long-standing societal problems and challenges.? The AARP Purpose Prize award uplifts the efforts of nonprofit founders 50-plus with grants to their organizations and individualized support to broaden the scope of their work.?

One of this year’s honorees is Robert Perez, a restaurant owner who built three successful restaurants in Lexington, Kentucky.? In the first 10 years he owned a restaurant, they lost over 12 people to overdoses.? What he saw reflected a systemic problem across the industry. With tough hours, the tendency of restaurants to work as cash businesses, and easy access to alcohol, drug and alcohol use are common among restaurant employees. The influx of opioids made it worse.? While Perez tried to help his employees get clean and sober, the restaurant environment was not built to support recovery.

Perez, who is in recovery himself, decided to open a different kind of restaurant, one that would be open only for breakfast and lunch, that wouldn’t have a bar, and would hire people in the early stages of recovery.? That is how he came to found DV8 Kitchen, which has created an employment model that supports its staff through recovery, partners with residential living facilities, and offers training.? Sometimes it is just a question of teaching basic life skills that the employee was never taught. Employees are held accountable but they are also given support that takes many forms.? The goal is to find out why an employee is struggling and work it through, whether it is as easy as buying an alarm clock for someone who is late, or connecting them with the right services they need for extra support.??

Perez also set a high bar for his restaurants – better food, better service, a better atmosphere.? Setting high standards and keeping employees accountable uplifts their own expectations and performance.? Creating the opportunity drives motivation.? This is key to the success of DV8 Kitchen restaurants, and its customers approve —?in two of the past four years, DV8 Kitchen restaurants have ranked in the top 40 restaurants reviewed in America.

It is exceptional that the restaurants are providing a new solution to a long-standing problem of recidivism and recovery failure rates.? We recognize Robert Perez, who is showing that the next act is often the best one.? What’s more, it confirms, once again, that doing good for others is a solid business strategy.??

The representation of Latinos in past award years reflects our strong value system, a love of family and community mixed with our resilience and entrepreneurial spirit.? Ana Palles Yellen created the Healing Warriors organization that works to improve the lives of veterans, especially with suicide prevent.? Patricia Funegra created la Cocina VA, that helps immigrants and low-income individuals find work in the food and hospitality services, creating opportunities for people who have low English skills, are unemployed and are food insecure.? Arturo Noriega founded Centro Community partners to help women of color and minorities in underserved communities create entrepreneurial opportunities, get education and training , as well as provide the critical access to capital and mentorship so key to creating successful businesses.?

It is important to underscore that all of these businesses and organizations were started by people over 50.? As someone who has been involved in purpose-led marketing my whole career, it is moving to see people in the community give back with such commitment and compassion. ? I also have to congratulate AARP for consistently raising awareness that getting older can lead you to your most rewarding and fulfilling career moves.? AARP’s Purpose Prize award makes a real difference not simply to the honoree but to the communities that they serve.?