LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation announced today that the nomination period is now open for the 2017 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize. At $2 million, The Hilton Humanitarian Prize is the largest humanitarian award in the world.
Established in 1996, the Prize is given to an organization, anywhere in the world, judged to have made extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering—often operating at great risk, hardship or personal sacrifice. The Prize is not only intended to recognize and advance the efforts of the recipient organization, but also to call attention to the worldwide need for humanitarian aid and to encourage others to expand their support.
“The Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize has helped fuel the success of world-class nonprofit organizations in their efforts to alleviate human suffering,” said Hilton Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Laugharn. “It is a tremendous honor and opportunity to bestow the Hilton Humanitarian Prize on such deserving organizations, and we look forward to doing it again in 2017.”
Each year, the Hilton Foundation reviews hundreds of nominations from notable nonprofits across the globe, and an independent, international panel of distinguished jurors makes the final selection after a rigorous vetting process. Nominations for the 2017 Hilton Humanitarian Prize will be accepted from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, 2016 and should be submitted through the Hilton Foundation website, where more information about qualifications and eligibility can be found.
About the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation was created in 1944 by international business pioneer Conrad N. Hilton, who founded Hilton Hotels and left his fortune to help the world’s disadvantaged and vulnerable people. The Foundation currently conducts strategic initiatives in six priority areas: providing safe water, ending chronic homelessness, preventing substance use, helping children affected by HIV and AIDS, supporting transition-age youth in foster care, and extending Conrad Hilton’s support for the work of Catholic Sisters. In addition, following selection by an independent international jury, the Foundation annually awards the $2 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to a nonprofit organization doing extraordinary work to reduce human suffering. In 2016, the Humanitarian Prize was awarded to The Task Force for Global Health, an international, nonprofit organization that works to improve health of people most in need, primarily in developing countries. From its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.5 billion in grants, distributing $107 million in the U.S. and around the world in 2015. The Foundation’s current assets are approximately $2.5 billion. For more information, please visit www.hiltonfoundation.org.