THIS TIME,
THE GOOD GUYS
FINISH FIRST.
The Good Fight Prize was first awarded in 2017 to mark the Atkinson Foundation’s 75th anniversary. The Board of Directors had decided to select a campaign for decent work every five years. But this fight doesn’t take a day off, never mind a year. Going forward, the prize will be given every November.
The Good Fight Prize is a monetary award. The winner receives $50,000 and two semi-finalists receive $15,000 each.
Further progress towards a solution of the problem awaits the prodding of public sentiment.
Joseph E. Atkinson
Meet the Jury
The Good Fight Prize Jury is made up of six people who share a commitment to justice and bring different perspectives, and practical experience with campaigns for decent work, to the task of choosing prize winners.
It’s been said a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has. Research has shown that even a fraction of the population — as little as 3.5% — can tip the balance toward real change.
The Good Fight Prize is awarded to a campaign that inspires and enables people to do just that: combine their efforts to make work decent and dignifying for everyone. It celebrates the signs of strength, creativity, and commitment within the movement for decent work — in the past and present, for the future.
Movements aren’t about a single person or organization. They are about many, many individuals and groups working toward the same goals, like fairer laws and better working conditions. Campaigns generate hope and build awareness about issues and alternatives to the status quo. They get people involved and ready to take collective action that creates the resolve to actually change things. They make public participation possible in our community, work and democratic life.
Campaign actions might look like:
- Holding meetings or workshops to learn and plan
- Writing letters to elected officials and circulating petitions
- Reaching out to the media with group statements and positions
- Participating in public consultations
- Rallying people to speak up and let their views be known
Atkinson Foundation
We’re a private charitable foundation that proudly carries the name of Joseph E. Atkinson. He was the editor, and later, publisher and owner of the Toronto Star from 1899 to 1948.
Joseph and his wife Elmina Elliott were principled journalists, political activists, civic leaders, and life-long partners in the fight for justice. They were also faithful philanthropists. They established the Atkinson Foundation in 1942 to do this work when they no longer could.
The hopeful, creative and collective pursuit of a good life for everyone is what Joseph Atkinson described as a “good fight”.
Learn more about the Atkinson Foundation at our website.