The Ivy Humanitarian Prize is an annual award to recognize individuals who have made outstanding humanitarian contributions toward improving the lives of children and their communities in the Americas over a period of more than five years.

The purpose of the Ivy Humanitarian Prize is to raise public awareness of the plight of over 50 million children who are orphaned, abandoned or living in extreme poverty in Latin America. The award also aims to create goodwill and encourage cooperation throughout the Americas.

This prize is awarded to anyone irrespective age, gender, religion or nationality.  The monetary value of the prize is $10,000.

History      Nominations      Selection       Funding       Impact       Winners

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HISTORY

The Ivy Humanitarian Prize for the Americas began in 1996 and has been awarded annually since then to a person who has made an extraordinary humanitarian contribution in the Americas. The award is granted annually to honor the recipients' extraordinary efforts with a monetary contribution given to his/her project or organization. The Ivy Humanitarian Prize has historically been awarded during a ceremony in Washington, D.C.

NOMINATIONS

If you know an individual who merits this Prize and you wish to nominate him or her, please complete this form.

Print the Ivy Humanitarian Prize Nomination Form

Nominations are being accepted until May 1.

If you cannot access the above form, you may request a nomination form by mail or fax.  Go to our Contact Us page and contact either Maria Bonnemaison or Anabella Jordan.

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SELECTION

A jury, composed of leading individuals and appointed by the President of the Ivy Inter-American Foundation, will receive and review nominations from embassies, individuals and organizations concerned about Latin America. The jury, with the approval of the Prize Committee and the President of the Foundation, will select the winner.

FUNDING

The Foundation welcomes and solicits the support of private donors and corporations, particularly those who do business in Latin America, to endow the Ivy Humanitarian Prize. The Foundation is actively looking for individuals and organizations who wish to help fund this prize.  Contributors will receive recognition at the award ceremony in Washington, D.C. 

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IMPACT OF THE AWARD

The Ivy Humanitarian Prize is a catalyst for recognizing and supporting a broad range of projects which benefit impoverished children and their communities in Latin America. By raising awareness and recognizing those who make a difference in the lives of suffering children, the Ivy Humanitarian Prize aims to broaden public support for humanitarian projects in the Americas.

WINNERS

• The 2004-05 prize went to Father William Wasson for founding Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos, Our Little Brothers, a Mexican organization that rescued thousands of orphaned and abandoned children of Mexico and for expanding his work throughout Latin America.
• The 2003 prize went to Fr. Gregory Ramkissoon for his work to care and educate children in Jamaica and other countries of Central America and for his pioneering work against AIDS in Jamaica.
• The 2002 the prize was presented to Ms. Stella Cardenas, a psychologist from Colombia, who has devoted her life to rescuing children from substance abuse and sexual exploitation. Her pioneering work has become a model for similar programs in Latin America.
• In 2001, the prize was awarded to Dr. Jorge Rojas for his work rehabilitating 60,000 burned children in Chile and neighboring countries.
• The 2000 went to Brother Jose Alirio Henao from Bolivia for his untiring devotion and personal involvement in every aspect of providing care for children with severe disabilities, as well as his ability to rally the community in his support.
• In 1999, Mrs. Rosilia Ruiz-Guerra received the prize for her deep compassion in opening her home to care for abandoned, mentally ill children and destitute, elderly people in Mexico.
• In 1998 there was a tie between two outstanding individuals from Peru‚ Father Luis Cordero for his innovative work with street children in Lima, and Mrs. Anne Goulden for her tremendous dedication to abandoned, seriously ill and disabled children in Piura.
• The 1997 the prize was awarded to Monsignor Romulo Emiliani for his extraordinary work to help the people of Darien, Panama.
• The first Ivy Humanitarian Prize, awarded in 1996, was presented to Mr. Jaime Jaramillo for his pioneering work with the sewer and street children of Colombia.

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