Additional Coverage:
- Jeff Bezos gave $100 million to actress Eva Longoria and the retired admiral who oversaw the capture of Osama bin Laden to use as they see fit (newsbreak.com)
Local billionaire Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, recently awarded $100 million to two recipients as part of his annual Courage and Civility Award. Actress Eva Longoria and retired Navy admiral Bill McRaven each received $50 million.
Bezos, whose net worth is estimated at $248 billion, created the award in 2021 to recognize individuals who contribute significantly to society. Previous recipients include CNN commentator Van Jones and chef José Andrés, as well as country music star Dolly Parton.
Longoria plans to use the funds to continue her work with the Eva Longoria Foundation and Eva’s Heroes, which support Latinas and the special needs community, respectively. She recently donated $1 million to aid Los Angeles wildfire victims. She believes supporting women creates a ripple effect that strengthens families and communities.
McRaven, who oversaw the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, will use his award to support educational programs for future military leaders and the children of deceased veterans. He also plans to fund mental health initiatives for service members. He recently donated $1 million to research Gulf War Illness and support veterans’ mental health programs.
Bezos has stated a goal of giving away most of his wealth. He has committed $10 billion to climate change initiatives and recently donated $117 million to support homeless families. However, some remain skeptical of his philanthropic efforts, noting he has not signed the Giving Pledge, a commitment by billionaires to donate at least half their wealth to charity.