[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CONGRATULATING DR. JUDEA AND DR. AKBAR AHMED

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 29, 2006

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dr. Judea Pearl 
and Dr. Akbar Ahmed, co-recipients of the Purpose Prize. Drs. Pearl and 
Ahmed have been recognized for innovation and success in using their 
lifetime of experience for the greater good.
  The Daniel Pearl Foundation, which Dr. Pearl founded following the 
tragic death of his son, Daniel, at the hands of terrorists in 
Pakistan, is dedicated to promoting cross-cultural tolerance and 
understanding through public dialogue and the training and support of 
journalists. Together with Dr. Ahmed, Pearl created the Daniel Pearl 
Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding, which holds dialogues around 
the world to frankly discuss contentious issues and provide different 
perspectives on the topics that are causing so much violence today.
  The Purpose Prize was created in 2005 by Civic Ventures, a 
California-based non-profit organization dedicated to generating ideas 
and inventing programs to help society achieve the greatest return on 
experience. Over 1,200 adults age 60 and over competed for the five 
$100,000 cash prizes and the accompanying benefits of publicity and 
support for their projects. The Purpose Prize aims to stimulate, 
recognize and support the entrepreneurial efforts of older adults who 
use their passion, smarts and experience to address serious social 
challenges. Unlike lifetime achievement awards, it seeks to reward new 
and creative efforts by older persons from all walks of life. 
Ultimately, the Purpose Prize will contribute to the transformation of 
our society's view of aging and lead to investments in America's 
greatest untapped resource: experienced and engaged older adults.
  Mr. Speaker, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and appreciation 
to Drs. Pearl and Ahmed on receiving this prestigious award in its 
first year and I wish them continued success. I also commend Civic 
Ventures, The Atlantic Philanthropies, and The John Templeton 
Foundation, for their vision and generosity in creating this important 
stimulus for expanding citizen initiative for public good.

                          ____________________