Amazon · Fortune Technology
Previous recipients include CNN host and civil rights advocate Van Jones, chef and humanitarian José Andrés
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It’s why Longoria says receiving the prize, alongside Bill McRaven, a retired Navy admiral, is much bigger than the money.
Key facts
- Look at the Giving Pledge—the commitment, cofounded by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett, that asks the ultrawealthy to donate at least 50% of their fortunes—has attracted more
- But Amazon’s billionaire founder, Jeff Bezos, gave Eva Longoria $50 million to do it
- The global nonprofit she runs has distributed more than $1 billion in impact across 121 countries since 2006—and she also told Fortune the idea that giving back has to be some grand, expensive
- Previous recipients include CNN host and civil rights advocate Van Jones, chef and humanitarian José Andrés, and late country legend Dolly Parton —who famously helped fund Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine
Summary
A lot of people talk about changing the world. “One of the biggest misconceptions about philanthropy is that impact is tied to wealth or scale, when in reality, impact comes in many forms,” the Desperate Housewives star told Fortune. It’s a message that feels pointed at a moment when billionaire philanthropy dominates headlines and ordinary people assume giving back is someone else’s job. For Longoria, the most powerful—and most overlooked—form of change happens at street level. The actress is practicing what she preaches.