New $10 Million Opportunity To Meet The Unprecedented Challenges Facing Texans

DALLAS, March 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Lyda Hill Philanthropies today announced the launch of the Lone Star Prize, a Texas-based competition for a $10 million grant to improve the lives of Texans, adding that in these new, unprecedented times, finding long-term solutions to improve the lives of Texans is more critical than ever. The competition, sponsored by Lyda Hill Philanthropies and managed by Lever for Change, will focus on three key issue areas fundamental to improving the quality of life for Texans: improving health outcomes, boosting the workforce and protecting the environment. Applicants must register online by Tuesday, June 23, 2020, and applications are due Wednesday, July 22, 2020. A final grant recipient will be announced in the summer of 2021.

"Our great state of Texas has a rich history of responding to challenges with ingenuity and bold solutions. In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, the Lone Star Prize is an opportunity to put good ideas into action – especially around critical statewide issues like access to healthcare and shoring up our health system's capacity, redeploying our workforce, and protecting our environment. We must ensure Texas remains the best place to live and work for the next generation of Texans," said Lyda Hill, founder of Lyda Hill Philanthropies.

The Lone Star Prize is open to non-profit organizations, for-profit teams and social enterprises. Teams and ideas from outside of Texas may apply, but proposals must focus on Texas-specific needs and context. Competitive proposals will offer solutions that are feasible, scalable, evidence-based and transformative.

"Texas is a special place – famously rich in diversity, natural resources and culture, which is why those of us from Texas are so proud to call it home," said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change. "Like every state, it faces challenges in providing opportunities for all of its residents, and so we are excited to assist Lyda Hill Philanthropies in finding solutions that improve Texans' healthcare options, protect its environment and boost residents' workforce opportunities."

Lyda Hill Philanthropies is partnering with Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, Advance Together, an initiative of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Texas 2036, and The Texas Tribune. Partners are providing a variety of strategic support and additional promotional platforms for the competition. Lone Star Prize is also seeking funders interested in providing additional financial support to promising solutions sourced through the competition.

"The times we are living in require out-of-the-box solutions to meet an ever-growing set of challenges in a world that knows no boundaries and where the issues anywhere can affect us everywhere," said Jim Bildner, CEO of Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation. "Texas has always risen to the occasion. And now, even as we face today's new challenges, we must do it again."

In addition to managing the Lone Star Prize, Lever for Change is also managing the Pritzker Traubert Foundation's $10 million Chicago Prize, the second round of the MacArthur Foundation's $100 million 100&Change, the $10 million Economic Opportunity Challenge, and the $12 million Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award to secure a durable future for refugees. The highest-ranked proposals from each of these and future competitions run by Lever for Change will be included in the newly-launched Bold Solutions Network.

For more information, visit www.lonestarprize.org.

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.

Lever for Change
Lever for Change is a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation affiliate, whose mission is to unlock significant philanthropic capital and accelerate social change around the world's biggest social challenges. Building off of the success of 100&Change, MacArthur's breakthrough $100 million competition, Lever for Change helps philanthropists source vetted, high-impact philanthropic opportunities and connects nonprofits and problem solvers to significant amounts of philanthropic capital. Lever for Change does this through managing customized competitions for philanthropists or by matching them with solutions in its Bold Solutions Network, a searchable online database of the top vetted proposals from all of the competitions it runs.

Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK) is one of the largest global venture philanthropy firms focused on investing and supporting early stage social enterprises working to solve some of the world's greatest challenges. Since 2002, DRK's 170 portfolio organizations have directly impacted more than 150 million lives on the front lines of some of this country and the world's greatest challenges. In support of this challenge and its commitment to Texas, DRK is opening its Southwestern regional office in Dallas in the fall. For more information, contact Jim Bildner ([email protected]).

Advance Together
Advance Together, led by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, promotes economic inclusion in Texas by accelerating community partnerships that are addressing education and workforce challenges.

Texas 2036
Texas 2036 is a nonprofit organization building long-term, data-driven strategies to secure Texas' continued prosperity through our state's bicentennial and beyond.

The Texas Tribune
The Texas Tribune is the only digital-first, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

SOURCE Lyda Hill Philanthropies

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