JUST Among Finalists Selected for $10 Million Lone Star Prize to Improve the Quality of Life of Texans
Award Will Focus on Building Healthier, Stronger Communities Throughout Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 7, 2021
Media Contacts: Carola Guerrero De León, 956.624.9772, carola@hellojust.com; Marc Moorghen, 773.789.1714, mmoorghen@leverforchange.org
Austin, TX — Today, Lyda Hill Philanthropies and Lever for Change announced that Austin-based nonprofit JUST and four other finalist teams will advance to the next stage of the Lone Star Prize, a Texas-based competition launched in early 2020 to improve the lives of Texans and their communities. The $10 million Prize, sponsored by Lyda Hill Philanthropies, is a statewide competition designed to find and fund bold solutions focused on building healthier, stronger communities.
“The finalists for the Lone Star Prize are answering the call just when Texas needs them the most,” said Lyda Hill, founder of Lyda Hill Philanthropies. “Amid the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, finding long-term solutions to improve the lives of Texans is more critical than ever. Our communities need the vision of these hardworking teams who are committed to making a difference by improving health outcomes, boosting the workforce, and protecting the environment.”
More than 172 proposals were submitted to the Lone Star Prize. Applications were evaluated during a three-month review process by more than 200 peer applicants, philanthropic and civic leaders, and subject matter experts with experience in health, workforce, and the environment among other issue areas. Applications were evaluated based on four criteria: whether they were transformative, scalable, feasible, and evidence-based.
JUST will invest in 20,000 female entrepreneurs to build wealthier, more financially resilient communities across Texas. From starting businesses to owning homes, JUST has an innovative approach that links better client outcomes to more wealth-generating opportunities.
“COVID-19 has made it clear that we must develop new, more, and better ways for low-income communities to generate real wealth. The Lone Star Prize is an opportunity for us to present our bold vision for a just Texas.” Steve Wanta, co-founder and CEO of JUST.
The Award is being managed by Lever for Change, a nonprofit that helps donors to find and fund solutions to the world’s greatest challenges, including racial and gender equity, economic development and climate change.
“I am particularly excited to be involved at this historic moment, as Texas is my home and has always been for me a place of opportunity,” said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change. “So, it's especially exciting to announce these outstanding finalists for the Lone Star Prize, who are all working on transformative solutions to cultivate strong, healthy, resilient families and communities.”
A final grant recipient will be announced in late spring 2021. Learn more about the Lone Star Prize from the finalists in their own words or visit the Prize website: www.lonestarprize.org.
ABOUT JUST
JUST is a nonprofit financial platform working to close the racial wealth gap by investing in ambitious Texas women through capital, peer coaching & community. Our work is designed to reduce economic exclusion and help more Texas women achieve their dreams. But we don’t merely exist to improve the material lives of women. We’re dedicated to the ultimate purpose of seeing them live with less stress and more joy.
ABOUT Lyda Hill Philanthropies
Lyda Hill Philanthropies encompasses the charitable giving for founder Lyda Hill and includes her foundation and personal philanthropy. The organization is committed to funding transformational advances in science and nature, empowering nonprofit organizations and improving the Texas and Colorado communities. Because Miss Hill has a fervent belief that “science is the answer” to many of life’s most challenging issues, she has chosen to donate the entirety of her estate to philanthropy and scientific research.
ABOUT Lever for Change
Lever for Change, a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, helps donors to find and fund solutions to the world’s greatest challenges, ranging from racial and gender equity to economic development and climate change. Building on the success of the MacArthur Foundation’s $100 million competition, 100&Change, Lever for Change customizes and manages open and transparent competitions for donors. In addition, we match donors with nonprofits and social enterprises in our Bold Solutions Network whose solutions to significant social challenges were highly ranked after rigorous evaluation in one of our competitions. Currently, Lever for Change is managing nine competitions, ranging in size from $10-to-100 million, awarding $295 million to grant recipients and strengthening dozens of top organizations. For more information, visit www.leverforchange.org.
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