Heinz Awards Explained

Heinz Awards
Awarded For:	Innovative contributions in: Arts (visual) Economy Environment
Sponsor:	Heinz Family Foundation
Date:	Established
Reward:	250,000

The Heinz Awards are individual achievement honors given annually by the Heinz Family Foundation. The Heinz Awards each year recognize outstanding individuals for their innovative contributions in three areas: the Arts, the Economy and the Environment. The award was established in 1993 by Teresa Heinz, the chairwoman of the Heinz Family Foundation, in honor of her late husband, U.S. Senator H. John Heinz III.^[1] The Heinz Award is considered to be among the largest individual achievement prizes in the world.^[2]

Two recipients in each of the three categories receive an unrestricted prize of 250,000 and a cast silver medallion. In 2009 through 2011, the Awards instead did a Special Focus on the Environment, and widened the awards to 10 people, each winner receiving 100,000 and a medallion. The Heinz Award medallion displays the likeness of Senator Heinz and the words "Shared Ideals Realized" on its front side, which is a quote from the late Senator Heinz. On the medallion's reverse side the image of a globe being exchanged between two hands is displayed.^[3]

Selection process

Criteria

As written by the Heinz Family Foundation, the candidates who are chosen must meet three standards:

First, nominees must exhibit the following personal characteristics: A passion for excellence that goes beyond intellectual curiosity; a concern for humanity rooted in a deep sensitivity for the well-being of others; and a broad vision which extends far beyond the particular and embraces something universal.

Second, work of the candidates for a Heinz Award must meet the following criteria: Be significant and not a "quick fix"; Have an enduring and meaningful impact; be creative and innovative; and be sufficiently tangible to serve as a model for replication elsewhere.

Third, candidates should be actively working in the field in which they are nominated so that this award will enhance their potential for future societal contribution.^[4]

Selection

Members of an anonymous Council of Nominators are chosen for their expertise in the fields relevant to the award for which they will be nominating. After the nominators have recommended the candidates, the nominations are forwarded to a jury consisting of noted experts in each of the three categories. The jury then chooses the final recipients and sends these to the program's Board for final approval.^[5]

The Chairman's Medal

In certain years, the Heinz Awards Board has also chosen to honor the lifetime achievement of a particular individual. The award is a non-monetary prize, and the honoree is presented with the Awards' medallion at the same ceremony as the other laureates.

Special Focus on the Environment

In 2009, in honor of the awards' 15th anniversary, an award for special focus on the environment was created in lieu of the traditional five awards. A larger group of 10 individuals were awarded 100,000 each, honoring those working in innovative ways to address the environment through the lens of the existing five categories.^[6]

Similarly, in 2010 and 2011 the Special Focus was continued, and in both years 10 individuals were again each awarded 100,000 each. In 2012, the Awards returned to the core five categories.^[7]

Recipients

Recipients of The Heinz Awards^[8]

1st Heinz Awards – 1995
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Henry Hampton^[9]
Environment	Paul and Anne Ehrlich^[10]
Human Condition	Geoffrey Canada
Public Policy	James Goodby^[11]
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Andrew Grove

2nd Heinz Awards – 1996
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Beverly Sills^[12]
Environment	Herbert Needleman^[13]
Human Condition	Marian Wright Edelman
Public Policy	C. Everett Koop
Technology, the Economy and Employment	William J. Rutter

3rd Heinz Awards – 1997
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Rita Dove^[14]
Environment	George Woodwell
Human Condition	James Comer
Public Policy	Ralph Cavanagh
Technology, the Economy and Employment	George Hatsopoulos
The Chairman's Medal	William R. Hewlett and David Packard

4th Heinz Awards – 1998
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	John Harbison
Environment	Amory Lovins
Human Condition	Carol Gilligan
Public Policy	Ernesto Cortes
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Ralph E. Gomory

5th Heinz Awards – 1999
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Walter Turnbull
Environment	Florence Robinson and Lois Gibbs^[15]
Human Condition	Luis Acosta and Frances Lucerna
Public Policy	Daniel Patrick Moynihan^[16]
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Dean Kamen

6th Heinz Awards – 2000
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Peter Matthiessen^[17]
Environment	Paul Gorman
Human Condition	Robert P. Moses
Public Policy	Edward Zigler^[18]
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Mary Good

7th Heinz Awards – 2001
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Jacques d'Amboise (co-awardee)^[19]
Arts and Humanities	Arthur Mitchell (co-awardee)
Environment	James Hansen^[20]
Human Condition	Aaron Beck
Public Policy	John Holdren
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Steve Wozniak^[21]
The Chairman's Medal	Dorothy Height^[22] and Russell Train

8th Heinz Awards – 2002
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Dudley Cocke (co-awardee)
Arts and Humanities	Rick Lowe (co-awardee)
Environment	Jane Lubchenco^[23]
Human Condition	Cushing Dolbeare
Public Policy	George Lee Butler
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Anita Borg^[24]
The Chairman's Medal	Ruth Patrick

9th Heinz Awards – 2003
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Bernice Johnson Reagon
Environment	Mario Molina (co-awardee)
Environment	John Spengler (co-awardee)^[25]
Human Condition	Paul Farmer
Public Policy	Geraldine Jensen
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Paul MacCready

10th Heinz Awards – 2004
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	August Wilson
Environment	Peggy Shepard
Human Condition	Robert Butler
Public Policy	Julius Richmond^[26]
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Robert Langer
The Chairman's Medal	Richard Lugar and Sam Nunn

11th Heinz Awards – 2005
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Mark di Suvero^[27]
Environment	Jerry Franklin^[28]
Human Condition	Joseph Rogers
Public Policy	Sidney Drell^[29]
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Mildred Dresselhaus^[30]
The Chairman's Medal	Richard Goldman

12th Heinz Awards – 2006
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	James Nachtwey
Environment	Paul Anastas
Human Condition	William Thomas
Public Policy	Bruce Katz^[31]
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Leroy Hood^[32]
The Chairman's Medal	Elma Holder^[33] ^[34]

13th Heinz Awards – 2007
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Dave Eggers^[35]
Environment	Bernard Amadei (co-awardee)
Environment	Susan Seacrest (co-awardee)
Human Condition	David Heymann^[36]
Public Policy	Donald Berwick
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Hugh Herr^[37]

14th Heinz Awards – 2008
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Ann Hamilton^[38]
Environment	Thomas FitzGerald^[39]
Human Condition	Brenda Krause Eheart
Public Policy	Robert Greenstein
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Joseph DeRisi^[40] ^[41]

15th Heinz Awards with Special Focus on the Environment – 2009
Category	Recipient
Special Focus on the Environment	Robert Berkebile^[42]
Special Focus on the Environment	P. Dee Boersma
Special Focus on the Environment	Christopher Field^[43]
Special Focus on the Environment	Ashok Gadgil^[44]
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 Smith^[45]
Special Focus on the Environment	Thomas Smith
Special Focus on the Environment	Beverly Wright

16th Heinz Awards with Special Focus on Global Change – 2010
Category	Recipient
Special Focus on Global Change	James Balog^[46]
Special Focus on Global Change	Terrence Collins
Special Focus on Global Change	Gretchen Daily^[47]
Special Focus on Global Change	Richard Feely
Special Focus on Global Change	Cary Fowler^[48]
Special Focus on Global Change	Lynn Goldman^[49]
Special Focus on Global Change	Elizabeth Kolbert
Special Focus on Global Change	Michael Oppenheimer
Special Focus on Global Change	Daniel Sperling^[50]
Special Focus on Global Change	Frederick vom Saal^[51]

17th Heinz Awards with Special Focus on the Environment – 2011
Category	Recipient
Special Focus on the Environment	John Luther Adams^[52]
Special Focus on the Environment	Richard Alley^[53]
Special Focus on the Environment	Janine Benyus
Special Focus on the Environment	Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis^[54]
Special Focus on the Environment	Louis Guillette^[55]
Special Focus on the Environment	Joan Kleypas^[56]
Special Focus on the Environment	Nancy Knowlton^[57]
Special Focus on the Environment	Nancy Rabalais^[58]
Special Focus on the Environment	Sandra Steingraber

18th Heinz Awards – 2012
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Mason Bates^[59]
Environment	Richard J. Jackson
Human Condition	Freeman Hrabowski III
Public Policy	KC Golden^[60]
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Jay Keasling^[61]

19th Heinz Awards – 2013
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Abraham Verghese
Environment	Jonathan Foley
Human Condition	Salman Khan
Public Policy	Sanjeev Arora
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Leila Janah

20th Heinz Awards – 2015
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Roz Chast
Environment	Frederica Perera
Human Condition	William McNulty and Jacob Wood
Public Policy	Aaron Wolf
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Sangeeta Bhatia

21st Heinz Awards – 2016
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Troy Andrews
Environment	Hal Harvey
Human Condition	Nadine Burke Harris
Public Policy	Michelle Alexander
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Matthew Mullenweg

22nd Heinz Awards – 2017
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Natasha Trethewey
Environment	Gregory Asner
Human Condition	Angela Blanchard
Public Policy	Mona Hanna-Attisha
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Joseph DeSimone

23rd Heinz Awards – 2018
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Ralph Lemon
Environment	Ming Kuo
Human Condition	Norman Atkins
Public Policy	Sherri Mason
Public Policy	Enric Sala
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Linda Rottenberg

24th Heinz Awards – 2019
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Kevin Jerome Everson
Environment	Rue Mapp
Human Condition	Sarah Szanton
Public Policy	Amanda Nguyen
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Brandon Dennison

25th Heinz Awards – 2020
Category	Recipient
Arts and Humanities	Gabriela Lena Frank
Environment	Linda Behnken
Human Condition	Molly Baldwin
Public Policy	Katy Kozhimannil
Technology, the Economy and Employment	Alfa Demmellash and Alex Forrester
Special Award Commemorating the 25th Heinz Awards Anniversary	David Autor

26th Heinz Awards – 2021
Category	Recipient
Arts	Tanya Aguiñiga
Arts	Sanford Biggers
Economy	A Better Balance (Dina Bakst and Sherry Leiwant)
Economy	Bill Bynum
Environment	Gabe Brown
Environment	Jacqueline Patterson

27th Heinz Awards – 2022
Category	Recipient
Arts	Vanessa German
Arts	Cauleen Smith
Economy	Hilary Abell and Alison Lingane
Economy	Chrystel Cornelius
Environment	Rhett Ayers Butler
Environment	Anne Evens

28th Heinz Awards – 2023
Category	Recipient
Arts	Kevin Beasley
Arts	Roberto Lugo
Economy	Kathryn Finney
Economy	Leah Penniman
Environment	Nicole Horseherder
Environment	Colette Pichon Battle

See also

• List of awards for contributions to culture
• List of awards for contributions to society
• List of environmental awards

External links

• HeinzAwards.org

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Heinz Awards :: The Awards . . June 7, 2009.
2. News: Herr Wins Heinz Award for Helping Physically Challenged . MIT School of Architecture . September 12, 2007 . June 15, 2009 .
3. Web site: The Heinz Awards :: The Medallion . . June 7, 2009.
4. Web site: The Heinz Awards :: criteria + selection process . . March 21, 2011.
5. Web site: The Heinz Awards . . September 20, 2023.
6. Web site: The Heinz Awards :: 15th special focus . . December 4, 2010.
7. Web site: The Heinz Awards :: 16th Global Change . . December 4, 2010.
8. Web site: The Heinz Awards :: Recipients . . June 7, 2009.
9. News: The Senator's Legacy; Winners of Inaugural Heinz Awards Announced . . January 27, 1995 . June 8, 2009.
10. News: Anne Howland Ehrlich . Center for Conservation Biology . June 8, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090209043755/http://www.stanford.edu/group/CCB/Staff/anne.htm . February 9, 2009.
11. News: Prestigious Award Won by Authors of New Arms Control Association Report on U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy . . May 2, 2005 . June 8, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090430071150/http://legacy.armscontrol.org/pressroom/2005/20050502_Drell_HeinzAward.asp?print . April 30, 2009 . dead.
12. News: Beverly Sills Achievements . Beverly Sills Online . June 8, 2009.
13. News: Needleman gets Heinz Award. University of Pittsburgh. December 7, 1995. June 8, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20120216062529/http://mac10.umc.pitt.edu/u/FMPro?-db=ustory&-lay=a&-format=d.html&storyid=5497&-Find. February 16, 2012. dead.
14. News: Brozan . Nadine. Chronicle . . November 12, 1996 . June 8, 2009.
15. Web site: The Heinz Awards:recipients. www.heinzawards.net. en. 2017-03-20. 2013-05-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20130508193403/http://heinzawards.net/recipients/all?sort=year. dead.
16. Web site: Daniel Patrick Moynihan . . March 10, 2015.
17. News: Howard . Hilary. Peter Matthiessen . . June 8, 2009 . June 8, 2009.
18. News: Volz . J.. Zigler wins prestigious Heinz award . . November 3, 2000 . June 7, 2009.
19. Web site: Jacques d'Amboise . . June 7, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110514043845/http://www.nationaldance.org/about_founder.htm . May 14, 2011 . dead .
20. News: Chandler . Lynn. NASA Goddard Scientist to Receive Heinz Award . . March 5, 2001 . June 7, 2009.
21. News: Chaffin . Bryan. Heinz Foundation Honors Steve Wozniak With Award & US$250,000 . The Mac Observer . February 4, 2001. June 7, 2009.
22. News: Kalson . Sally . CMU professor honored for work purifying water . . September 21, 2010 . May 19, 2013.
23. News: Smith . Diana . CC Alumna Wins Largest Individual Achievement Award . . June 7, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100602163428/http://www.coloradocollege.edu/Publications/Access/March2002/Lubchenco.htm . June 2, 2010 . dead .
24. News: Gilbert . Alorie. Computer scientist Anita Borg dies . . April 8, 2003 . June 7, 2009.
25. News: Two scientists share Heinz Award for the Environment . San Diego Earth Times . August 2003 . June 7, 2009.
26. News: Roache . Christina . Julius B. Richmond, giant in public health and pediatrics . Harvard Science . July 31, 2008 . June 7, 2009.
27. News: Sculptor Mark di Suvero Wins Heinz Award . . May 3, 2005 . June 7, 2009.
28. News: Jerry Franklin . Forest News Watch . July 7, 2005 . June 7, 2009.
29. News: Nuclear arms adviser Sidney Drell to receive Heinz public policy award . Stanford University News Service . May 3, 2005 . June 7, 2009.
30. News: Dresselhaus honored with Heinz Award . . May 2, 2005 . June 7, 2009.
31. News: Bruce Katz '85 Receives Heinz Award for Public Policy . . September 25, 2006 . June 7, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081201090917/http://www.law.yale.edu/news/3480.htm . December 1, 2008 .
32. News: Leroy Hood wins Heinz Award . . September 26, 2006 . June 7, 2009.
33. News: Science, health pioneers win $250,000 Heinz awards . . September 25, 2006 . May 19, 2013.
34. News: Carpenter . Mackenzie . War victim photos capture Heinz Award for journalist . . September 25, 2006 . May 19, 2013.
35. News: Thompson . Bob. Author Dave Eggers Cops $250,000 Heinz Award . . September 12, 2007 . June 7, 2009.
36. News: David L. Heymann . . March 10, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150314041210/http://www.who.int/dg/adg/heymann/en/ . March 14, 2015 .
37. News: For His Innovative Work In Prosthetics, Herr Wins The Heinz Award For Technology, The Economy And Employment . . September 14, 2007 . June 7, 2009 . January 3, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090103163551/http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/82411.php . dead .
38. News: Visual Artist Honored with Heinz Award for the Arts and Humanities . . November 2008 . June 7, 2009.
39. News: Environmental Watchdog Honored With $250,000 Heinz Award For the Environment . World-Wire . September 9, 2008 . June 7, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081121080531/http://world-wire.com/news/0809090001.html . November 21, 2008 . dead.
40. News: Stephens . Tim . Alumnus Joseph DeRisi wins $250,000 Heinz Award . . September 9, 2008 . https://archive.today/20110720082416/http://press.ucsc.edu/text.asp?pid=2399 . dead . July 20, 2011 . June 7, 2009 .
41. News: UCSF virus hunter DeRisi wins Heinz award . . September 10, 2008 . June 7, 2009.
42. News: Alum Berkebile wins Heinz Award . University of Kansas, School of Architecture & Urban Planning . December 4, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100626151337/http://www.saud.ku.edu/node/378 . June 26, 2010 . dead .
43. News: Carnegie's Christopher Field To Receive Heinz Award . . September 15, 2009 . December 4, 2010 . August 15, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100815064946/http://carnegiescience.edu/news/carnegie_s_christopher_field_receive_heinz_award . dead .
44. News: Berkeley Lab's Ashok Gadgil Wins Heinz Award . Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory News Center . September 15, 2009 . December 4, 2010.
45. News: Yang . Sarah. Two UC Berkeley faculty among 10 recipients of $100,000 Heinz Awards . UC Berkeley News . September 15, 2009 . December 4, 2010.
46. News: Risch . Conor. James Balog Receives $100k Heinz Award for Climate Photo Project . Photo Daily News . September 22, 2010 . December 4, 2010.
47. News: Dr. Gretchen Daily Receives Prestigious Environmental Awards . . September 22, 2010 . December 4, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101122072831/http://www.nature.org/pressroom/press/press4697.html . November 22, 2010 . dead .
48. News: Rhodes Alumnus to Receive Prestigious Heinz Award . Rhodes College News . September 21, 2010 . December 4, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606032332/http://www.rhodes.edu/news/19211.asp . June 6, 2011 . dead .
49. News: Turner . Bronwyn . Dr. Lynn Goldman wins Heinz Award . . October 24, 2010 . December 4, 2010 . March 23, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120323093826/http://galvestondailynews.com/story/185526 . dead .
50. News: Professor Daniel Sperling receives environmental Heinz Award . . September 27, 2010 . December 4, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110616054349/http://caes.ucdavis.edu/NewsEvents/spotlight/professor-daniel-sperling-receives-environmental-heinz-award . June 16, 2011 . dead .
51. News: Volkmann . Kelsey. Mizzou researcher wins $100,000 Heinz award . . September 21, 2010 . December 4, 2010.
52. News: Fairbanks composer John Luther Adams collects Heinz Award . . November 18, 2011 . May 17, 2013.
53. News: Kalson . Sally . PSU professor's climate work wins 1 of 9 Heinz Awards . . September 13, 2011 . May 17, 2013.
54. News: Yale Graduates Receive Heinz Award . Yale University School Forestry & Environmental Studies . December 13, 2011 . May 17, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131023072826/http://environment.yale.edu/news/article/yale-graduates-receive-heinz-award/ . October 23, 2013 . dead .
55. News: Ball . Eddy. Guillette honored by Heinz Foundation . . October 2011 . May 17, 2013.
56. News: Lebwohl . Beth. Joan Kleypas on ocean acidification . . June 8, 2011 . May 17, 2013.
57. News: Alumnae Environmentalists Win Heinz Awards . . September 14, 2011 . May 17, 2013.
58. News: Associate Wins Heinz Award . . November 22, 2011 . May 17, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130220182656/http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/coastal-pollution/hypoxia/cscor-associate-wins-heinz-award/ . February 20, 2013 . dead .
59. News: Kosman . Joshua . Mason Bates wins a $250,000 Heinz Award . . September 12, 2012 . May 17, 2013.
60. Web site: Teresa Heinz and the Heinz Family Foundation Celebrate Recipients of 18th Annual Heinz Awards . CNBC . November 23, 2020 . October 12, 2012.
61. News: Yarris . Lynn. Jay Keasling Wins Heinz Award . . September 12, 2011 . May 17, 2013.