Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez have announced a donation of $100 million as part of Bezos’ annual prize recognizing individuals who make significant contributions to society.
This year’s recipients, each receiving $50 million, are actor and entrepreneur Eva Longoria, and Bill McRaven, a retired Navy admiral and former chancellor of the University of Texas System.
The Bezos Courage and Civility Award is bestowed upon individuals who actively seek solutions to complex issues, endeavor to foster unity, and promote civility through their work with charitable organizations.
Past recipients of the prize include lawyer and CNN commentator Van Jones, and chef José Andrés, who each received $100 million in 2021, while Dolly Parton was honored in 2022. Notably, no award was granted in 2023.
In a statement, McRaven expressed his intentions to utilize the gift to focus on three key areas: supporting the education of children of deceased veterans, particularly within the special operations community, addressing mental health and brain performance among veterans, and nurturing the development of future military leaders through educational initiatives.
Longoria, renowned for her role as Gabrielle Solis in ABC’s drama “Desperate Housewives,” has dedicated her efforts to promoting education and entrepreneurship within Latino communities.
Through the Eva Longoria Foundation, she aims to connect Latinos and Latinas in underprivileged areas with peer mentors and has established a startup fund to support Latino-owned small businesses.
Longoria expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am honored and thrilled personally, but I am even more excited about the impact I think we can have on this country by investing in the strength of the Latino community.
Latinos in the US are a rapidly growing group with extraordinary potential, but we disproportionately lack the infrastructure and opportunities we need, and I’m excited to invest in that opportunity.”
