Carter C. C. Collins

Born into a 1940s Boston ghetto, Carter Collins suffered the terror of a violent home, the loneliness of early childhood abandonment, and the insane cycle of minority foster care. Emotional turmoil, abject poverty, partial blindness, and intense racism all conspired to compromise his formal education. Fiercely clinging to his love of the arts, Collins refused to allow these obstacles to extinguish his spirit.

In his late teens, the suicidal Collins turned to musical expression as a means to finally escape the labyrinth of negativity. By age 23, on a diet of talent, determination, and very good "luck," he had earned the respect of some of the greatest artists in American contemporary music. As a percussionist, Collins was blessed with dream-come-true opportunities to tour and record with the likes of Lalo Schifrin, Richie Havens, Janis Ian, Tower of Power, Leonard Cohen, Laura Nyro, and Stevie Wonder, as well as both the late Tim Buckley and Kenny Rankin.

In the 1980s while living in Europe, Collins founded an annual series of international dance and percussion seminar intensives, which continue to thrive in the city of Vienna to this day.

Collins draws inspiration from the courage of President Nelson Mandela, the compassion of Oprah Winfrey, and the acumen of President Barack Obama. Now totally blind and working from home, Collins devotes his time and resources toward the establishment of a new world prize entitled The Ascent. This annual philanthropic awards program and celebration will acknowledge those humanitarians, peace builders, and environmentalists most deserving of global recognition. The prize is designed to motivate the world's young people, in particular, to inspired action. In addition to its youth-inclusive content, the program will feature an all-media global broadcast, an international roster of nominees, and a star-studded cultural festival.

Additionally, Collins both nurtures a personal passion and serves his local community as a board member for Call of the Sea, a California-based nonprofit dedicated to connecting people, especially youth, to the sea through hands-on experience and training.