The Heinz Awards was an annual philanthropic program presented by the Heinz Family Foundation to recognize outstanding individuals. The program was established in 1993 by Teresa Heinz (chair of the Heinz Family Foundation)[1] in honor of her late husband, U.S. Senator H. John Heinz III[2][3][4][5][6] and concluded at the end of 2025.[7] The Heinz Awards were considered to be among the largest individual achievement prizes in the world.[8][9]
From their inception until 2019, the Awards encompassed the categories of Arts and Humanities; Environment; Human Condition; Public Policy; and Technology, the Economy and Employment. Subsequently, they recognized outstanding individuals for their innovative contributions in three areas: the Arts, the Economy and the Environment.
Each recipient received an unrestricted prize of US$250,000 and a cast silver medallion.[10][11] In 2009 through 2011, the Awards held Special Focus years on the Environment and Global Change, and expanded its recognition to 10 recipients annually, each receiving US$100,000 and a medallion.[12] The Heinz Awards medallion displays the likeness of Senator Heinz and the words "Shared Ideals Realized" on its front side, excerpted from a quote by the late Senator Heinz. Its reverse side features an image of a globe being exchanged between two hands.[9][13]
Selection
As written by the Heinz Family Foundation, candidates selected for the Heinz Awards met three standards:
First, nominees exhibited the following personal characteristics: A passion for excellence that went beyond intellectual curiosity; a concern for humanity rooted in a deep sensitivity to the well-being of others; and a broad vision that extended far beyond the particular and embraced something universal.
Second, the work of the nominees met the following criteria: it was significant and not a "quick fix"; it demonstrated enduring and meaningful impact; it was creative and innovative; and it was sufficiently tangible to serve as a model for replication elsewhere.
Third, candidates were actively working in the field in which they were nominated so that the award would enhance their potential for future societal contribution.[14]
Nominations were submitted by invited experts, who served anonymously. Submissions were researched and evaluated by Foundation staff and reviewed by jurors appointed by the Heinz Family Foundation. Jurors in each category made recommendations to the program’s board of directors, which selected the Award recipients. [15]
Chairman's Medal
In certain years, the Heinz Awards board also chose to honor the lifetime achievement of a particular individual. The award was a non-monetary prize, and the honoree was presented with the Heinz Awards medallion at the same ceremony as the other laureates.
Recipients
| Recipients of The Heinz Awards[16]
|
| 15th Heinz Awards with Special Focus on the Environment – 2009
|
| Category
|
Recipient
|
| Special Focus on the Environment
|
Robert Berkebile[33]
|
| Special Focus on the Environment
|
P. Dee Boersma
|
| Special Focus on the Environment
|
Christopher Field[34]
|
| Special Focus on the Environment
|
Ashok Gadgil[35][36]
|
| Special Focus on the Environment
|
Chip Giller
|
| Special Focus on the Environment
|
Deborah Rice
|
| Special Focus on the Environment
|
Joel Salatin
|
| Special Focus on the Environment
|
Kirk R. Smith[35]
|
| Special Focus on the Environment
|
Thomas Smith
|
| Special Focus on the Environment
|
Beverly Wright
|
See also
References
- ^ a b "Science, health pioneers win $250,000 Heinz awards". USA Today. September 25, 2006. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- ^ "The Heinz Awards :: The Awards". Heinz Family Foundation. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ a b Chandler, Lynn (March 5, 2001). "NASA Goddard Scientist to Receive Heinz Award". Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ a b "Dresselhaus honored with Heinz Award". MIT. May 2, 2005. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ a b c Carpenter, Mackenzie (September 25, 2006). "War victim photos capture Heinz Award for journalist". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on April 12, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- ^ a b Volz, J. (November 3, 2000). "Zigler wins prestigious Heinz award". American Psychological Association. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ "Heinz Family Foundation Announces Sunset of Heinz Awards Program", Heinz Awards website, 2025-12-15, archived from the original on 2025-12-19, retrieved 2026-01-06
- ^ "Herr Wins Heinz Award for Helping Physically Challenged". MIT School of Architecture. September 12, 2007. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
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- ^ a b c d e f "For His Innovative Work In Prosthetics, Herr Wins The Heinz Award For Technology, The Economy And Employment". Medical News Today. September 14, 2007. Archived from the original on January 3, 2009. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ a b Stephens, Tim (September 9, 2008). "Alumnus Joseph DeRisi wins $250,000 Heinz Award". UC Santa Cruz. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
- ^ a b "Environmental Watchdog Honored With $250,000 Heinz Award For the Environment". World-Wire. September 9, 2008. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ "The Heinz Awards :: 15th special focus". Heinz Family Foundation. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ "The Heinz Awards :: The Medallion". Heinz Family Foundation. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ "The Heinz Awards :: criteria + selection process". Heinz Family Foundation. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
- ^ "The Heinz Awards". Heinz Family Foundation. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ "The Heinz Awards :: Recipients". Heinz Family Foundation. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ Kosman, Joshua (September 12, 2012). "Mason Bates wins a $250,000 Heinz Award". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ "Teresa Heinz and the Heinz Family Foundation Celebrate Recipients of 18th Annual Heinz Awards". CNBC. October 12, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- ^ Yarris, Lynn (September 12, 2011). "Jay Keasling Wins Heinz Award". Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ "Fairbanks composer John Luther Adams collects Heinz Award". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. November 18, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ Kalson, Sally (September 13, 2011). "PSU professor's climate work wins 1 of 9 Heinz Awards". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ "Yale Graduates Receive Heinz Award". Yale University School Forestry & Environmental Studies. December 13, 2011. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ Ball, Eddy (October 2011). "Guillette honored by Heinz Foundation". National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Archived from the original on October 27, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ Lebwohl, Beth (June 8, 2011). "Joan Kleypas on ocean acidification". Earth & Sky. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ a b "Alumnae Environmentalists Win Heinz Awards". Harvard Magazine. September 14, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ "Associate Wins Heinz Award". National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. November 22, 2011. Archived from the original on February 20, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ Risch, Conor (September 22, 2010). "James Balog Receives $100k Heinz Award for Climate Photo Project". Photo Daily News. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ "Dr. Gretchen Daily Receives Prestigious Environmental Awards". The Nature Conservancy. September 22, 2010. Archived from the original on November 22, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ "Rhodes Alumnus to Receive Prestigious Heinz Award". Rhodes College News. September 21, 2010. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ Turner, Bronwyn (October 24, 2010). "Dr. Lynn Goldman wins Heinz Award". Galveston Daily News. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ "Professor Daniel Sperling receives environmental Heinz Award". UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. September 27, 2010. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ Volkmann, Kelsey (September 21, 2010). "Mizzou researcher wins $100,000 Heinz award". St. Louis Business Journal. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ "Alum Berkebile wins Heinz Award". University of Kansas, School of Architecture & Urban Planning. Archived from the original on June 26, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ "Carnegie's Christopher Field To Receive Heinz Award". Carnegie Institution for Science. September 15, 2009. Archived from the original on August 15, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ a b Yang, Sarah (September 15, 2009). "Two UC Berkeley faculty among 10 recipients of $100,000 Heinz Awards". UC Berkeley News. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ "Berkeley Lab's Ashok Gadgil Wins Heinz Award". Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory News Center. September 15, 2009. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
- ^ "Visual Artist Honored with Heinz Award for the Arts and Humanities". Ohio State University. November 2008. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ "UCSF virus hunter DeRisi wins Heinz award". San Francisco Chronicle. September 10, 2008. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ Thompson, Bob (September 12, 2007). "Author Dave Eggers Cops $250,000 Heinz Award". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ "David L. Heymann". World Health Organization. Archived from the original on March 14, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
- ^ "Bruce Katz '85 Receives Heinz Award for Public Policy". Yale Law School. September 25, 2006. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ "Leroy Hood wins Heinz Award". The Seattle Times. September 26, 2006. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ "Sculptor Mark di Suvero Wins Heinz Award". ARTINFO. May 3, 2005. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ "Jerry Franklin". Forest News Watch. July 7, 2005. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ "Nuclear arms adviser Sidney Drell to receive Heinz public policy award". Stanford University News Service. May 3, 2005. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ Roache, Christina (July 31, 2008). "Julius B. Richmond, giant in public health and pediatrics". Harvard Science. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ "Two scientists share Heinz Award for the Environment". San Diego Earth Times. August 2003. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ Smith, Diana. "CC Alumna Wins Largest Individual Achievement Award". Colorado College. Archived from the original on June 2, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ Gilbert, Alorie (April 8, 2003). "Computer scientist Anita Borg dies". CNET News. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ "Jacques d'Amboise". National Dance Institute. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ Chaffin, Bryan (February 4, 2001). "Heinz Foundation Honors Steve Wozniak With Award & US$250,000". The Mac Observer. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
- ^ Kalson, Sally (September 21, 2010). "CMU professor honored for work purifying water". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- ^ Howard, Hilary (June 8, 2009). "Peter Matthiessen". The New York Times. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
- ^ "Daniel Patrick Moynihan". Heinz Family Foundation. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
- ^ Brozan, Nadine (November 12, 1996). "Chronicle". The New York Times. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
- ^ "Beverly Sills Achievements". Beverly Sills Online. Archived from the original on March 25, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
- ^ "Needleman gets Heinz Award". University of Pittsburgh. December 7, 1995. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
- ^ a b c "The Senator's Legacy; Winners of Inaugural Heinz Awards Announced". The Washington Post. January 27, 1995. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
- ^ "Anne Howland Ehrlich". Center for Conservation Biology. Archived from the original on February 9, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
- ^ "Prestigious Award Won by Authors of New Arms Control Association Report on U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy". Arms Control Association. May 2, 2005. Archived from the original on April 30, 2009. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
External links