Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos awarded $50 million each to actress Eva Longoria and retired US Navy Admiral Bill McRaven. Longoria is channeling her funding into the Eva Longoria Foundation and Eva's Heroes to back educational pathways and Latina entrepreneurs, operating alongside her ventures like Hyphenate Media Group. Meanwhile, McRaven is directing his share to military-oriented programs that provide mental health services and family assistance. The contributions allow both public figures to significantly expand their philanthropic reach within their designated communities.
Key points
The Bezos Courage and Civility Award provided a combined one hundred million dollars spli…: The Bezos Courage and Civility Award provided a combined one hundred million dollars split equally between two recipients in 2024.
Military personnel, active-duty service members, and children of deceased veterans will r…: Military personnel, active-duty service members, and children of deceased veterans will receive expanded educational and mental health support.
Longoria emphasizes that effective philanthropic work requires professional mentorship an…: Longoria emphasizes that effective philanthropic work requires professional mentorship and knowledge sharing in addition to financial resources.
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Philanthropy is often associated with people who have fortunes large enough to fund schools, charities and ambitious social programmes. Yet the ability to support others does not necessarily depend on the size of a bank account. As reported by Fortune, actress Eva Longoria has been making that distinction after receiving a $50 million philanthropic award from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, alongside retired US Navy admiral Bill McRaven. Two years after the recognition, Longoria says the experience has changed how she approaches charitable work, but she also wants to challenge the idea that meaningful contributions are reserved for wealthy individuals.
How Jeff Bezos brought Eva Longoria and Bill McRaven together
In 2024, Eva Longoria and retired admiral Bill McRaven were selected as recipients of the Bezos Courage and Civility Award, an initiative established by Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos to recognise people working to improve society.
“The Courage and Civility Award makes it possible for us at the Eva Longoria Foundation to create long-term impact with transformative giving.”
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