Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, have once again made headlines with their philanthropic efforts, awarding $100 million as part of the Courage and Civility Award, as per reports. This year’s recipients, actress and activist Eva Longoria and retired Navy Admiral Bill McRaven, each received $50 million to advance their respective charitable missions.Since its inception in 2021, the Courage and Civility Award has recognized individuals making significant contributions to society, with past recipients including Van Jones, José Andrés, and Dolly Parton.
With an estimated net worth of approximately $248 billion, Bezos has pledged to dedicate a substantial portion of his wealth to philanthropic causes. The Courage and Civility Award is among several initiatives through which he has sought to make a meaningful impact on global and community-based issues. Longoria and McRaven have already begun allocating their funds toward causes that align with their long-standing commitments to social good, further reinforcing the importance of Bezos’s award in supporting impactful philanthropy.
Jeff Bezos’ courage and civility award: Empowering global change-makers
Jeff Bezos launched the Courage and Civility Award in 2021 to support individuals who demonstrate leadership in tackling global and social issues. The award aims to empower change-makers with substantial financial resources, enabling them to scale their efforts. Past winners have used their grants to fund projects related to climate change, education, food security, and social justice.
During the announcement of the inaugural award, Bezos emphasized the need for unity and constructive discourse in addressing global challenges. “We need unifiers and not vilifiers,” he stated, underscoring his desire to support leaders who engage in meaningful, solution-oriented initiatives.
Eva Longoria uses $50 million Bezos grant to help women & communities
Eva Longoria, best known for her role in Desperate Housewives, has long been an advocate for social justice, particularly within the Latina community. She founded the Eva Longoria Foundation to support Latinas through education, mentorship, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Additionally, her organization, Eva’s Heroes, provides resources and programs for individuals with special needs.
With the $50 million grant from the Courage and Civility Award, Longoria plans to expand her foundation’s initiatives. She has pledged a portion of the funds to wildfire relief efforts in Los Angeles, demonstrating her commitment to addressing immediate community needs. Longoria has also emphasized the importance of empowering women, stating, “When you help a woman, she helps her family. And when you help families, you improve communities. And when you improve communities, you can improve nations.”
Bill McRaven’s focus on military and veteran support
Admiral Bill McRaven, a retired four-star Navy officer and former chancellor of the University of Texas System, has dedicated much of his post-military career to education and veteran support. McRaven is best known for overseeing the 2011 operation that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden, but he has also been a strong advocate for leadership development, particularly among military personnel.
With his share of the award, McRaven has committed to supporting future military leaders and the families of fallen service members. His initiatives include the development of education programs for veterans and active-duty personnel, as well as mental health resources. Last fall, McRaven donated $1 million to UT Southwestern Medical Center for research on Gulf War Illness and veterans’ mental health.
“The opportunity to use this incredible gift to help veterans and their families is the dream of a lifetime, and I am so grateful to Lauren and Jeff for giving me this opportunity,” McRaven stated in a press release.
Jeff Bezos’s broader philanthropic efforts
Beyond the Courage and Civility Award, Bezos has made substantial contributions to various causes. He has committed $10 billion to climate change initiatives through the Bezos Earth Fund, which seeks to advance global efforts to combat environmental challenges. Additionally, the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund has allocated nearly $640 million to support homeless families, with $117 million in grants distributed in 2023 alone.
Despite these contributions, Bezos has faced criticism for not signing the Giving Pledge, an initiative founded by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett that encourages billionaires to donate at least half of their wealth to charitable causes. While his ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, has been one of the most prolific donors in recent history, Bezos’s philanthropic strategy remains under scrutiny.
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