The Heinz Awards are individual achievement honors given annually by the Heinz Family Foundation. The Heinz Awards each year recognize outstanding individuals for their innovative contributions in three areas: the Arts, the Economy and the Environment. The award was established in 1993 by Teresa Heinz, the chairwoman of the Heinz Family Foundation,[1] in honor of her late husband, U.S. Senator H. John Heinz III.[2][3][4][5][6] The Heinz Award is considered to be among the largest individual achievement prizes in the world.[7][8]
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Two recipients in each of the three categories receive an unrestricted prize of US$250,000 and a cast silver medallion.[9][10] In 2009 through 2011, the Awards instead did a Special Focus on the Environment, and widened the awards to 10 people, each winner receiving US$100,000 and a medallion.[11] The Heinz Award medallion displays the likeness of Senator Heinz and the words "Shared Ideals Realized" on its front side, which is a quote from the late Senator Heinz. On the medallion's reverse side the image of a globe being exchanged between two hands is displayed.[8][12]
Criteria
As written by the Heinz Family Foundation, the candidates who are chosen must meet three standards:
First, nominees must exhibit the following personal characteristics: A passion for excellence that goes beyond intellectual curiosity; a concern for humanity rooted in a deep sensitivity for the well-being of others; and a broad vision which extends far beyond the particular and embraces something universal.
Second, work of the candidates for a Heinz Award must meet the following criteria: Be significant and not a "quick fix"; Have an enduring and meaningful impact; be creative and innovative; and be sufficiently tangible to serve as a model for replication elsewhere.
Third, candidates should be actively working in the field in which they are nominated so that this award will enhance their potential for future societal contribution.[13]
Selection
Members of an anonymous Council of Nominators are chosen for their expertise in the fields relevant to the award for which they will be nominating.[8] After the nominators have recommended the candidates, the nominations are forwarded to a jury consisting of noted experts in each of the three categories. The jury then chooses the final recipients and sends these to the program's Board for final approval.[14]
In certain years, the Heinz Awards Board has also chosen to honor the lifetime achievement of a particular individual. The award is a non-monetary prize, and the honoree is presented with the Awards' medallion at the same ceremony as the other laureates.
In 2009, in honor of the awards' 15th anniversary, an award for special focus on the environment was created in lieu of the traditional five awards. A larger group of 10 individuals were awarded US$100,000 each, honoring those working in innovative ways to address the environment through the lens of the existing five categories.[11][15]
Similarly, in 2010 and 2011 the Special Focus was continued, and in both years 10 individuals were again each awarded US$100,000 each.[16] In 2012, the Awards returned to the core five categories.[17]
More information Recipients of The Heinz Awards ...
Recipients of The Heinz Awards[18] |
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More information 1st Heinz Awards – 1995, Category ...
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More information 2nd Heinz Awards – 1996, Category ...
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More information 3rd Heinz Awards – 1997, Category ...
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More information 4th Heinz Awards – 1998, Category ...
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More information 5th Heinz Awards – 1999, Category ...
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More information 6th Heinz Awards – 2000, Category ...
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More information 7th Heinz Awards – 2001, Category ...
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More information 8th Heinz Awards – 2002, Category ...
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More information 9th Heinz Awards – 2003, Category ...
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More information 10th Heinz Awards – 2004, Category ...
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More information 11th Heinz Awards – 2005, Category ...
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More information 12th Heinz Awards – 2006, Category ...
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More information 13th Heinz Awards – 2007, Category ...
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More information 14th Heinz Awards – 2008, Category ...
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More information 15th Heinz Awards with Special Focus on the Environment – 2009, Category ...
15th Heinz Awards with Special Focus on the Environment – 2009 |
Category |
Recipient |
Special Focus on the Environment |
Robert Berkebile[44] |
Special Focus on the Environment |
P. Dee Boersma |
Special Focus on the Environment |
Christopher Field[45] |
Special Focus on the Environment |
Ashok Gadgil[15][46] |
Special Focus on the Environment |
Chip Giller |
Special Focus on the Environment |
Deborah Rice |
Special Focus on the Environment |
Joel Salatin |
Special Focus on the Environment |
Kirk Smith[15] |
Special Focus on the Environment |
Thomas Smith |
Special Focus on the Environment |
Beverly Wright |
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More information 16th Heinz Awards with Special Focus on Global Change – 2010, Category ...
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More information 17th Heinz Awards with Special Focus on the Environment – 2011, Category ...
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More information 18th Heinz Awards – 2012, Category ...
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More information 19th Heinz Awards – 2013, Category ...
19th Heinz Awards – 2013 |
Category |
Recipient |
Arts and Humanities |
Abraham Verghese |
Environment |
Jonathan Foley |
Human Condition |
Salman Khan |
Public Policy |
Sanjeev Arora |
Technology, the Economy and Employment |
Leila Janah |
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More information 20th Heinz Awards – 2015, Category ...
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More information 21st Heinz Awards – 2016, Category ...
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More information 22nd Heinz Awards – 2017, Category ...
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More information 23rd Heinz Awards – 2018, Category ...
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More information 24th Heinz Awards – 2019, Category ...
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More information 25th Heinz Awards – 2020, Category ...
25th Heinz Awards – 2020 |
Category |
Recipient |
Arts and Humanities |
Gabriela Lena Frank |
Environment |
Linda Behnken |
Human Condition |
Molly Baldwin |
Public Policy |
Katy Kozhimannil |
Technology, the Economy and Employment |
Alfa Demmellash and Alex Forrester |
Special Award Commemorating the 25th Heinz Awards Anniversary |
David Autor |
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More information 26th Heinz Awards – 2021, Category ...
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More information 27th Heinz Awards – 2022, Category ...
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More information 28th Heinz Awards – 2023, Category ...
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More information 29th Heinz Awards – 2024, Category ...
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