Ted Turner, the visionary and entrepreneur who revolutionized the telecommunications industry, founded CNN and the United Nations Foundation, and serves as Chairman of The Turner Foundation, received the James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award before an audience of more than 1,200 guests Thursday at the 14th annual gala of The Tech Awards, a signature program of The Tech Museum of Innovation. The event also honored 10 international laureates who are using technology to benefit humanity.
"It is truly an honor to receive the James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian Award and to join such a stellar roster of past recipients," Turner said in his remarks at the gala.
Sponsored by Applied Materials, Inc., the Global Humanitarian Award honors individuals whose vision and leadership are focused on combating the world's greatest problems.
Turner joins a remarkable list of past Global Humanitarian Award recipients, including inventor Dean Kamen, Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy, social entrepreneur Jeff Skoll, education and cross-cultural dialogue advocate Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Nobel laureate and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Applied Materials Chairman Emeritus James C. Morgan, who inspired the award a decade ago.
"Ted set out not only to change the world, but to make it better," said Applied Materials Executive Chairman Mike Splinter at the gala Thursday night. "Through the Turner Foundation, he vigorously pursues efforts for improving air and water quality, developing a sustainable energy future, safeguarding environmental health and habitats, and advocating for policies to curb population growth. With his historic pledge of $1 billion to the United Nations Foundation, Ted stands as a role model for others to commit great wealth to great purpose."
Presented by Applied Materials, The Tech Awards has recognized 277 laureates since its inception in 2001. This year's laureates, once again, are doing life-changing work that affects people in nearly every corner of the globe. They include Nanoly, a team of young scientists from the University of Colorado who developed technology that eliminates the need to refrigerate vaccines, and myAgro, which provides a mobile platform for West African subsistence farmers to save money for seed and fertilizer.
For their commitment to applying technology in practical ways to solve some of the world's most challenging problems, the laureates were given a week of unique Silicon Valley business experiences and training plus an unrestricted cash award of up to $75,000. The laureates are selected by independent judging panels whose members include former laureates, scholars, and experts from the private and public sectors. They are coordinated by The Tech and Santa Clara University Professor Craig Stephens.
"The Tech Awards give us all the chance to do our job as humans," said Tech Museum of Innovation President Tim Ritchie at the gala. "Through this program, we support innovators in their efforts to use technology to ease burdens, elevate dignity, and create opportunities."
The Tech Awards also honored Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, with the inaugural Laureate Impact Award. Khan was a laureate in the Microsoft Education category in 2009.
The gala was hosted by Simran Sethi, a journalist and educator named one of The 20 Most Influential Women in Green. The evening unfolded against the backdrop of an exhibition specially curated for The Tech Awards that included some of the world's most iconic photographs projected on towering screens. The gala included performances from Silicon Valley community chorus Resounding Achord, and Doug Menuez presented guests with his book, "Fearless Genius," which captures key moments in the careers of Steve Jobs and more than 70 other innovators.
The event raises more than $1 million for The Tech's educational programs.
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Posted By: Cheer Leader
Thursday, November 20th 2014 at 1:10PM
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