The Richard J. Margolis Award of Blue Mountain Center combines a one-month residency at Blue Mountain Center with a $5,000 prize. It is awarded annually to a promising new journalist or essayist whose work combines warmth,  humor, wisdom and concern with social justice. The award was established in honor of Richard J. Margolis, a journalist, essayist and poet who gave eloquent voice to the hardships of the rural poor, migrant farm workers, the elderly, Native Americans and others whose voices are seldom heard. He was also the  author of a number of books for children.

Blue Mountain Center is a writers and artists colony in the Adirondacks in Blue Mountain Lake, New York.

How to Apply

Applications should include at least two examples of the your work (published or unpublished, 30 pages maximum) and a short biographical note including a description of your current and anticipated work. Samples should not include poetry or fiction, and at least one sample should be non-memoir material. Also please indicate what you will work on while attending the Blue Mountain residency.

Writing samples, bio and project description may be e-mailed as PDF files to award@margolis.com.

If sending an application printed on paper, please send three copies of each writing sample to the following address (samples will not be returned):

Richard J. Margolis Award of Blue Mountain Center
c/o Margolis & Bloom
667 Boylston Street, 5th floor
Boston, MA 02116

Deadline: July 1, 2018

The award winner will be announced in November.

Donations

Donations to the Richard J. Margolis Award qualify for an income, gift and  estate tax charitable deduction as long as they are made payable to the Blue  Mountain Center, a not-for-profit foundation under Section 501(c)(3) of the  Internal Revenue Code.  Donations during life qualify for all these tax  advantages.  In addition, gifts of stock or other highly appreciated property  also avoid tax on any capital gain, since the sale of the securities by a  tax-exempt organization are not subject to tax.  While not qualifying for any  income tax deduction, the advantage of gifts as part of an estate plan are that  the donor continues to have the lifetime use of the funds to be gifted when or if they are ever needed.

Lifetime Gifts

Contributions to the Award fund may be made at any time by sending checks  payable to the "Blue Mountain Center" to:

Richard J. Margolis Award
c/o Margolis & Bloom
667 Boylston Street, 5th floor
Boston, MA 02116

Harry S. Margolis
Margolis & Bloom
667 Boylston Street, 5th floor
Boston, MA 02116
Telephone:617/267-9700, x517
Fax:617/267-3166
E-mail: hsm@margolis.com