U.S. AND INDIAN PHILANTHROPISTS RECOGNIZED FOR CONVICTION, COURAGE AND SUSTAINED EFFORTS. THE TATA FAMILY OF INDIA, ELI BROAD, HEINZ AND MELLON FAMILIES TO RECEIVE THE CARNEGIE MEDAL OF PHILANTHROPY.
Philanthropic leaders whose long-term support has contributed to beneficial change in the lives of millions of people in communities in the United States, India and worldwide have been named winners of the 2007 Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy.
This year's Medalists are Eli Broad, the Heinz family, the Mellon family and the Tata family.
Their philanthropic work is waged on many fronts: from identifying and addressing environmental threats and improving urban education to advancing literacy, supporting the performing arts and advancing fundamental scientific research. By courting risk, taking a long-term perspective, and embracing complex, seemingly intractable challenges, these philanthropists have introduced hope to entire communities, enriching lives and improving livelihoods in the process.
The Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy was first awarded in 2001 at the centennial observance of Andrew Carnegie's official career as a philanthropist. The Medals are given every two years to honor families and individuals from around the world who, like Andrew Carnegie, have dedicated their private wealth to the public good and who have sustained their philanthropic activities. Criteria for selection are based on each medalist's contributions to a field, the nation or internationally, a track record of philanthropic giving, and a vision of philanthropy that reflects Carnegie's ideals.
"The impact this year's Laureates have had on the well being of families around the world has taken philanthropy to new heights for commitment, daring and vision," said Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York and chair of the executive selection committee. "These philanthropists have used far more than their collective wealth to introduce change. They have put their conviction and courage to work embracing seemingly impossible challenges that many others have avoided."
The Andrew Carnegie Medals of Philanthropy winners are selected by an international jury comprised of the leaders of seven of the more than 20 Carnegie institutions around the world endowed by Andrew Carnegie during his lifetime.
The selection committee for the 2007 Medal of Philanthropy includes Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York and chair of the Medal selection committee; Jessica Mathews, president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Jared Cohon, president of Carnegie Mellon University; William Thomson, great-grandson of Andrew Carnegie and honorary chair of the Secretariat committee; Charles McConnell, chief executive, Carnegie United Kingdom Trust; Andrew Miller, secretary and treasurer of the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland; and Dick Meserve, president of the Carnegie Institution in Washington, D.C.
This year, the Medals program will be celebrated in Pittsburgh, Pa., where Carnegie forged his philanthropic mission. Four of the Carnegie institutions in Pittsburgh will act as hosts including the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission and Carnegie Mellon University. Along with the announcement of this year's winners, the Corporation has launched--on behalf of the Carnegie Family of institutions--a free-standing website that tells the history of the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy and Medal winners from 2001 on, and which carries thumbnails descriptions of each of the institution begun by Andrew Carnegie. The medal site can be found at:www.carnegiemedals.org
The medals will be awarded at a ceremony on October 17 at the Carnegie Music Hall in Pittsburgh, which is the culmination of two days of celebration, highlighting the impact of Andrew Carnegie's philanthropy on the Pittsburgh community.
"Andrew Carnegie forged the idea that philanthropy could create significant changes that advance society. This year's medalists carry on his tradition of both extraordinary generosity and leadership. Each of the families and individuals awarded Medals this year has made a profound difference in the lives of many people. Carnegie's institutions in Pittsburgh look forward to hosting the celebratory event honoring these outstanding people," said Jared L. Cohon, president of Carnegie Mellon University and member of the host committee.
This year's winners are:
THE HEINZ FAMILY
The Heinz family's sustained philanthropic giving has supported the environment, education, economic opportunity and the arts as well as efforts to enhance the lives of women and children. In 1995, the family made one of the largest grants ever to benefit the environment $20 million to establish the Washington, D.C.-based H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment. The Center brings together representatives of business, government, the scientific community and environmental groups to collaborate on the development of fair, scientifically sound environmental policies. Teresa Heinz will accept the award on behalf of the family. She is chairman of the Heinz Family Philanthropies and The Heinz Endowments, two of the nation's most innovative philanthropic institutions. She is the creator of the prestigious Heinz Awards, an annual program recognizing outstanding vision and achievement in the arts; public policy; the environment; the human condition; and technology, the economy and employment.
THE TATA FAMILY
India's Tata family gives away between eight and 14 percent of the net profits from its controlling company each year to myriad causes: science, medicine, social services, health, civil society and governance, rural welfare, performing arts, education and the needs of children. Tata family funding has established pioneering institutions in social sciences, cancer research and treatment and tropical disease research. The family's philosophy of "constructive philanthropy" has become embedded in its businesses, and has played a role in changing the traditional concept of charity throughout India. The Tata family is considered one of the few philanthropic forces in the country with the potential to facilitate collaborative action on the problems that threaten individual, local and national development. Ratan Tata will accept the Award on behalf of the family. Mr. Tata is a strong proponent of corporate social responsibility, striving to give his company's philanthropic initiatives focus and to build awareness of important issues such as literacy, microfinance and water conservation among other grassroots community initiatives.
ELI BROAD
Eli Broad is a renowned business leader who built two Fortune 500 companies from the ground up over a five-decade career in business. He is the founder of both SunAmerica Inc. and KB Home (formerly Kaufman and Broad Home Corporation). Today, he and his wife, Edythe, are devoted to philanthropy as founders of The Broad Foundations. With assets of more than $2.25 billion, The Broad Foundations are focused on entrepreneurship for the public good in education, scientific and medical research, and the arts. In working to dramatically improve urban K-12 public education, The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation's major initiatives include the $1 million Broad Prize for Urban Education, The Broad Superintendents Academy, The Broad Residency in Urban Education, and The Broad Institute for School Boards. In advancing innovative scientific and medical research, The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation focuses on the areas of inflammatory bowel disease, stem cell research, and human genomics. In an unprecedented partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and the Whitehead Institute, the Broads gave $200 million to create the Eli and Edythe Broad Institute for biomedical research. In fostering public appreciation for contemporary art, The Broad Art Foundation is a lending library of more than 1,200 artworks that have been loaned to more than 400 museums and university galleries worldwide.
THE MELLON FAMILY
The Mellon family's impact on philanthropic giving began with Andrew Mellon's donation in the 1930s of his extensive art collection to provide the beginnings of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. as well as the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. In 1969, Andrew's children Paul and Ailsa established the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, which supports museums and art conservation, as well as higher education and scholarship, information technology research, performing arts and conservation, and the environment. In Pittsburgh, the family helped to create and continues to support Carnegie Mellon University. The Pittsburgh-based Richard King Mellon Foundation has funded the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, the linchpin of the area's biotechnology sector, and supports schools, hospitals, and myriad causes throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Nationally, the Richard King Mellon Foundation has led the way in land preservation, purchasing more than 2 million acres in 50 states, ensuring that this land will remain undeveloped and available for public enjoyment. Other family philanthropists include William Larimer Mellon, who founded Carnegie Mellon's business school; Sarah Scaife, a supporter of many Pittsburgh institutions; and their many descendants. Different branches of the Mellon family who represent the breadth of the family's giving will accept the award, including members of the Andrew Mellon family and the Richard King Mellon family.
The more than 20 Carnegie institutions from around the world make the Medal nominations. Those organizations are Carnegie Corporation of New York (U.S.)., Carnegies Belonningsfound for Heltemond (Denmark), Fondazione Carnegie (Italy), Foundation Carnegie (France), Carnegie Mellon University (U.S.), Carnegie Hall (U.S.), Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh (U.S.), Fondation Carnegie pour les Sauveteurs (Switzerland), Carnegie Hero Fund Commission (U.S.), Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (U.S.), Carnegie United Kingdom Trust (U.K.), Carnegie Institution of Washington (U.S.), Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland (U.K.), Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (U.S.), Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs (U.S.), Carnegie Heltefond for Norge (Norway), Carnegie Dunfermline Trust (U.K.), Carnegie Hero Fund Trust (U.K.), Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching (U.S.), Carnegiestiflesen (Sweden), Carnegie Heldenfonds (Netherlands), Fondation Carnegie (Belgium) and Carnegie Stiftung fuer Lebensretter (Germany).