Public Interest Registry (PIR), the driving force behind .ORG, has unveiled the finalists for the eagerly awaited 5th annual .ORG Impact Awards. Furthermore, it was announced that the awards ceremony, a long-anticipated return to in-person events since the onset of the pandemic, will be hosted by none other than Padma Lakshmi. The star-studded gala will take place on November 16 in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., where the exceptional winners will be revealed. These awards commend and reward individuals and organizations worldwide for their remarkable contributions to society.
In commemoration of the five-year anniversary of the .ORG Impact Awards, this year’s edition promises to be grander than ever. Notably, all finalists will receive generous donations of $2,500 USD, along with full travel and accommodation support for two representatives to attend the ceremony. Moreover, finalists, hailing from diverse sectors such as sustainable development in Colombia and the fight against modern slavery and trafficking in the UK, stand to be eligible for donations of up to $50,000 USD.
Jon Nevett, President and CEO of Public Interest Registry, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are honored to welcome our 2023 .ORG Impact Award Finalists into our growing community of changemakers, who inspire us to make the world a better place. We created the awards to celebrate those within the .ORG Community who work tirelessly to uplift their communities—and this year’s finalists represent hope for a brighter future.”
The presence of Padma Lakshmi, a distinguished activist, actress, philanthropist, author, and host/producer of Hulu’s “Taste of the Nation,” adds an extra layer of excitement to the event. In 2023, Time Magazine recognized her as one of the “100 Most Influential People.” Lakshmi’s advocacy efforts have earned her accolades from organizations like the ACLU, Goodwill, and Planned Parenthood, showcasing her passion and commitment to the mission-driven community.
Lakshmi herself shared her anticipation, saying, “The 2023 .ORG Impact Award finalists exemplify the hard work so many are doing across the globe to make a positive impact in their communities. I am inspired by their efforts and look forward to celebrating each of these thoughtful individuals and organizations at the awards ceremony this November.”
The finalists for this year’s awards span seven categories:
- Community Building
- Quality Education for All
- Environmental Stewardship
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Health and Healing
- Hunger and Poverty
- Rising Stars (leaders under 25, making a difference in their communities)
Winners in these categories, including the prestigious .ORG of the Year award, will be unveiled during the in-person .ORG Impact Awards celebration on November 16. The recipient of the .ORG of the Year award will receive a substantial donation of $50,000 USD, while other category winners will each receive $10,000 USD. Beyond the financial rewards, receiving a .ORG Impact Award provides winning organizations with increased visibility, potential donations, funding opportunities, talent acquisition, partnership development, and broader audience reach.
For additional information, including detailed rules, please visit www.orgimpactawards.org.
2023 .ORG Impact Award Finalists
Community Building
- Andando Foundation – www.andando.org
- Creativity Explored – www.creativityexplored.org
- Kakenya’s Dream – www.kakenyasdream.org
- The Citizens Foundation – www.tcfusa.org
- Valpo Surf Project – www.valposurfproject.org
Quality Education for All
- Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America – www.refugeefora.org
- Fundi Bots Limited – www.fundibots.org
- Moinee Foundation – www.moinee.org
- Our Sansar – www.oursansar.org
- Seeding Labs – www.seedinglabs.org
Environmental Stewardship
- Borderlands Produce – www.borderlandsproducerescue.org
- Burn Design Lab – www.burndesignlab.org
- CorpoAyapel – www.corpoayapel.org
- CREATE Borneo – www.createborneo.org
- LAWUNA Project, Sodzo Foundation – www.sodzofoundation.org
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Custom Collaborative – https://www.customcollaborative.org
- GirlLEAD Talent – https://thegirlleadproject.org
- Hope for Justice – https://www.hopeforjustice.org
- Pinkishe Foundation – https://www.pinkishe.org/
- The Center for Courageous Kids – https://courageouskids.org
Health and Healing
- Cornerstone Jamaica – https://www.cornerstonejamaica.org
- Green Empowerment – www.greenempowerment.org
- HERhealthEQ – www.herhealtheq.org
- Lagos Food Bank Initiative – www.lagosfoodbank.org
- Penta Medical Recycling – www.pentaprosthetics.org/
Hunger and Poverty
- Children’s Place International – https://childrensplaceinternational.org
- CIDADES SEM FOME / Cities Without Hunger – www.cidadessemfome.org/en
- Sanku – www.projecthealthychildren.org/
- Second Mile Haiti – www.secondmilehaiti.org
- WHOlives – www.wholives.org
Rising Stars
- Kezia Asiedua Sanie, For The Future Ghana – www.ftfghana.org
- Stanley Anigbogu, LightEd – www.lightedimpact.org
- May Wang, Linens N Love – www.linensnlove.org
- Oluwadamilola Akintewe, Project Rebirth – www.rebirth4change.org
- Alexia Leclercq, Start:Empowerment – www.start-empowerment.org
.ORG of The Year
The highly anticipated .ORG of the Year award, recognizing exceptional nonprofit or nongovernmental organizations nominated across the other seven categories for their outstanding achievements over the past year, will be announced on November 16.
This article was written by AI and edited by Bill Hartzer.