The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation tonight presented the 2012 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize of $1.5 million to HelpAge International, the only global organization with a singular focus on providing assistance to and advocating for disadvantaged older people.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – April 16, 2012 – The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation tonight presented the 2012 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize of $1.5 million to HelpAge International, the only global organization with a singular focus on providing assistance to and advocating for disadvantaged older people. The Hilton Foundation gives the annual award, the world’s largest humanitarian prize, to an organization that is doing extraordinary work to alleviate human suffering.
The 2012 Hilton Prize was formally presented at a special ceremony at the Global Philanthropy Forum’s 11th annual conference at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C. Robert Zoellick, outgoing president of The World Bank, delivered the keynote for the prize dinner.
“Over time, the World Bank’s aim should be to help countries move Beyond Aid,” said Zoellick. “There will always be a need for humanitarian aid, and for some time to come, poor and conflict-riven countries will require development assistance. The goal, however, should be to move beyond dependency. Our aim should be to shift from a paradigm of charity to one of mutual economic benefit.”
Our aim should be to shift from a paradigm of charity to one of mutual economic benefit.
Steven M. Hilton, president and CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, presented the award to HelpAge International CEO Richard Blewitt.
“Over the past three decades, HelpAge International has demonstrated that older people are their own best advocates and with support can claim their rights to health care, social services and economic and physical security,” said Hilton. “HelpAge’s work is even more urgent today as the world faces a monumental demographic shift, particularly in developing countries where the proportion of older people is growing fastest. By 2050 nearly one in five people in developing countries will be over age 60.”
“It is a great honor to receive the Hilton Prize and join such a prestigious group of Hilton Prize Laureates who, like HelpAge, are giving voice to people facing disadvantages and challenges and helping them bring about change for themselves,” said Blewitt. “The Prize is especially meaningful to draw the world’s attention to the historic transformation being brought about by global aging and the plight of millions of older people who face overwhelming financial, social and health hurdles every day.”
Special video messages were delivered by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Former Prime Minister Tony Blair and Executive Director of UN Women Michelle Bachelet. A long-time supporter of HelpAge’s Age Demands Action global grassroots campaign meant to help older people in developing countries challenge age discrimination, Tutu said, “Age Demands Action has proved beyond any doubt that when older people come together and speak out, policymakers act. Thanks to Age Demands Action, life is getting better for so many.”
Blair, whose Tony Blair Faith Foundation partnered with HelpAge International on the UN Day for Older Persons in October 2011, said about the organization, “Their tireless work has enabled the poorest and most vulnerable older people to claim their rights to challenge discrimination and to try to overcome poverty. It’s for this reason that HelpAge International is such a worthy winner of the prestigious Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Award.”
Bachelet, the first Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, who delivered the keynote at last year’s Hilton Prize ceremony, said, “For girls and women and the growing number of older women, the great progress we have made over the last few decades, is not enough. Until all of us share the same opportunities and public services, we can never truly prosper. I salute all of the good people and good work being done by HelpAge International. If we want to build a better world, we must put equal opportunity right at the center of our efforts, because when girls and women are empowered, the benefits extend to all of us.”
HelpAge International, headquartered in London, was formed in 1983 by organizations in Canada, Colombia, Kenya, India and the United Kingdom that had similar missions to support older people. Today it encompasses 94 HelpAge Affiliates in 70 countries and more than 3,000 independent partner groups and older people’s organizations. HelpAge has trained 25,000 professionals and 16,000 community members—including older people themselves—to provide health care, legal advice and financial support for older people.
The Hilton Prize receives nominations from throughout the world each year, and a distinguished independent international jury makes the final selection.
“Since 1996, the Hilton Prize has recognized organizations making extraordinary humanitarian contributions throughout the world. We hope that HelpAge International’s work will be an inspiration to other organizations and raise awareness of this critical humanitarian issue,” said Judy Miller, vice president of the Hilton Foundation and director of the Hilton Humanitarian Prize.