The awards are given by the 22 worldwide institutions Andrew Carnegie established during his lifetime in order to commemorate their founder's philanthropic legacy. "We continue the work that was started with the inaugural medals in 2001," said Richard Meserve, president of the Carnegie Institution of Washington and host of this year's ceremony. "As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, philanthropy directed to all corners of the globe is becoming more and more critical. This year's recipients--the Sainsbury family, represented by Lord David Sainsbury, and Dr. Inamori--have had global impacts as a result of their philanthropic vision and generosity."
The 2003 Medals will be presented at noon on Dec. 8, at a ceremony held at the Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1530 P. Street, NW, in Washington.
Robert MacNeil, formerly of the MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour, will be the master of ceremonies. David Rockefeller will present the award to Lord David Sainsbury on behalf of the Sainsbury family. Former Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives and former Ambassador to Japan, the Honorable Thomas Foley, will present the medal to Dr. Inamori.
Andrew Carnegie amassed an enormous fortune in the U.S., culminating in his sale of U.S. Steel in 1901 to J.P. Morgan for $480 million ($10.6 billion in today's dollars.) By the time he died, in 1919, he had given away almost 90 percent of his money.
In the Sainsbury family, one of Great Britain's most notable philanthropic powerhouses, Andrew Carnegie's vision of philanthropy thrives. Today there are 19 Sainsbury trusts, set up by 18 different family members spanning more than three generations. They support a wide variety of causes--from the arts and mental health to education and the environment--in areas as diverse as sub-Saharan Africa, Russia, and the UK.
Dr. Kazuo Inamori, Japan's well-known, self-made business visionary, lives his belief that one should contribute both materially and spiritually to society. Throughout his legendary business career, Inamori has used his gains to promote academic and cultural development and international understanding. His Inamori Foundation, with its annual Nobel-class Kyoto prizes, the Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and his endowed university chairs are among his many means for contributing to the world community. His book, A Passion for Success, outlines his philosophy that philanthropy is part of a productive life.
The Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy is awarded every other year to individuals who share Andrew Carnegie's belief that private wealth should benefit humankind. Three criteria are used to select the recipients:
- The recipients must share Andrew Carnegie's vision that distributing one's accumulated wealth for the common good is just as important a task as building up that wealth in the first place.
- Their philanthropic works must reflect a range and depth of endeavors and demonstrate a sustained record of accomplishment.
- The impact of their philanthropy on a field, a nation, or on the international community must be both strong and continuous.
"We seek to reinvigorate and challenge the philanthropic community for tomorrow," said Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York. Gregorian headed the executive committee that spearheaded the inaugural medals in 2001 in recognition of 100 years of Andrew Carnegie's philanthropic legacy.
The inaugural Carnegie Medals of Philanthropy were awarded in December 2001 at a New York Public Library ceremony. The recipients were: Ambassadors Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg on behalf of the Annenberg Foundation, Brooke Astor, Irene Diamond, The Gates Family, David and Laurance S. Rockefeller on behalf of the Rockefeller Family, George Soros, and Ted Turner. (For more information see http://www.carnegie.org/sub/awardees/aboutmedal.html.)
The Carnegie Institution of Washington (www.CarnegieInstitution.org) has been a pioneering force in basic scientific research since 1902. It is a private, nonprofit organization with six research departments in the U.S.: Plant Biology and Global Ecology in Stanford, CA.; The Observatories in Pasadena, CA, and Chile; Embryology, in Baltimore, MD.; and the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism and the Geophysical Laboratory in Washington, DC.