Mike a finalist for Opus Prize!

We are pleased to announce that Mike Woodard was a finalist for the Opus Prize. This award is given annually by a different university chosen by a family foundation. Spotters are all over the world nominate people for this prestigious award for humanitarian work in faith-based entrepreneurship. The Opus Prize awards one million dollars to the winner and one hundred thousand dollars each to two finalists.

You can read what they wrote about Mike and see the video about him at: http://www.opusprize.org/winners/08_Woodard.cfm

A committee of business people like Bill Gates, Sr, and the James D. Sinegal, CEO of Costco chose the three finalists unanimously. Afterwards three student/professor pairs from the university go and visit the site and get to know each finalist. The university hosts the awards ceremony. Seattle U did a terrific job so that the award would be a good reason to inspire their students. It was a 3-day affair and the ceremony itself was held in Seattle’s Symphony Hall…and it was full (2,500 people).

All three people were indeed inspiring. Mike challenged students and leaders to deal with the poverty in front of them as well as letting go of their wealth and giving it to the poor. As only Mike can, he brought laughter as well as tears in his talks, Maggy brought joy and Krishnammal brought urgency.

The other finalist was Krishnammal Jagannathan and the winner was Marguerite “Maggy” Barankitse . Krishnammal has worked with the Dalit women(we may know as the Untouchable Class) in India for over 40 years. Maggy was witness to a massacre by her tribal people the Tutsi of 72 of her co-workers and friends, the Hutus. She then set up a house for orphans that started with children she paid the killers not to kill. It has since spread over the last 15 years to include thousands of orphans. These women are remarkable and we are honored to have Mike in their company.

Many have asked, “What will you do with $100,000?” Our standard reply, “We have spent it 5 times over.” Krishnammal in her acceptance speech said she still needed to build 10,000 houses before she died (at least $200,000) and Maggy said, “Where is Bill Gates… I need $18 million!” Work with the poor never ends and there is always, ALWAYS more and more to do. -- Kathleen