CONRAD N. HILTON HUMANITARIAN PRIZE
Facts-At-A-Glance
BACKGROUND
At $1 million, the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize is the world’s largest humanitarian
award. Inaugurated in 1996, the annual award is presented to a non-profit organization judged
to have made exemplary and extraordinary contributions in alleviating human suffering.
Following initial legal and background review, the Hilton Humanitarian Prize staff conduct an
extensive evaluation of the candidates, which is then submitted to the independent,
international jury for review. The jury makes the final selection.
PAST RECIPIENTS
St. Christopher’s Hospice (2001)
Casa Alianza (2000)
African Medical and Research Foundation (1999)
Médecins Sans Frontières (1998)
International Rescue Committee (1997)
Operation Smile (1996)
JURORS
Ms. Susanna Agnelli, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Italy
Dr. Francis M. Deng, Representative of the U.N. Secretary-General on Internally Displaced
Persons
William H. Foege, M.D., Presidential Distinguished Professor, Rollins School of Public
Health at Emory University
Mr. James R. Galbraith, Director, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Mr. Eric M. Hilton, Director, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Ms. Liv Ullmann, Hon. Chair, Women’s Commission for Refugee Women & Children
Professor Muhammad Yunus, Founder; Managing Director, Grameen Bank
HUMANITARIAN
CONFERENCE
The Hilton Humanitarian Prize is announced at a ceremony in conjunction with an
international humanitarian conference attended by decision makers from the humanitarian and
human rights fields. The one-day assembly of leaders from governments, non-governmental
organizations, foundations and multinational corporations is broadcast on the Internet and its
proceedings are published and distributed to world leaders. The 2002 keynote speaker in New
York will be Dr. Oscar Arias, former president of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize
Laureate. Previous keynote speakers include: United Nations Secretary-General Kofi
Annan; Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan; United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights, Mary Robinson; former United States Presidents George Bush and Jimmy
Carter; and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata.
CONRAD N. HILTON FOUNDATION
Facts-At-A-Glance
BACKGROUND
Established in 1944 by hotel entrepreneur Conrad N. Hilton. The Foundation remained
relatively small until his death in 1979 when it received the bulk of his estate. Offices are
located in Los Angeles, California, and Reno, Nevada, U.S.A.
ESTIMATED
CURRENT WORTH
The Foundation, Fund and related entities have total assets of nearly $1.9 billion. Since inception,
the Foundation and Fund have distributed nearly $356 million for charitable projects throughout the
world.
MAJOR PROJECTS
Blindness Prevention & Treatment
Water Development in Africa
Catholic Sisters Fund
Mentally Ill Homeless
Early Childhood Development
Substance Abuse Prevention for Children
Hotel and Restaurant Management Education
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Sept. 2002
10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 1000, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. 90067 -4011
Phone: 310-556-4694 Facsimile: 310-556-8130
Website: www.hiltonfoundation.org
CONRAD N. HILTON HUMANITARIAN PRIZE
Executive Biographies
Steven M. Hilton
President, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Steven Hilton has worked in the field of philanthropy for 19 years and was appointed president of the
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation in 1998. The grandson of hotel entrepreneur and founder Conrad N. Hilton,
he joined the Foundation in 1983 and was named vice president in charge of programs in 1989. In this
capacity, Hilton directed the Foundation’s grantmaking activities and had primary oversight of programs for
the multi-handicapped blind, mentally ill homeless, international water development, and early childhood
development.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Hilton worked for five years in hotel management in Alabama, Georgia and
California with the Hilton Hotels Corporation and was involved in aquaculture (fish farming) businesses. A
graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, Hilton earned his Masters of Business
Administration (MBA) degree from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).
Hilton serves on the boards of both the Foundation and the Conrad N. Hilton Fund. In addition, Hilton is a
board member of St. Joseph Center and the Southern California Association for Philanthropy as well as
serving on the Los Angeles Archdiocesan Finance Council.
Judy M. Miller
Director, Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize
Vice President, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Judy Miller oversees all aspects of the Hilton Humanitarian Prize, from the nomination process to the
final selection by an international panel of jurors. She has more than 30 years experience working in
both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, specializing in public relations, international marketing, and
government affairs.
Prior to joining the Hilton Foundation in 1997, Miller helped establish and manage for seven years a
national nonprofit organization combating alcohol abuse in the United States. Before that, she was
senior vice president, marketing, of a public relations and business consulting firm and for 15 years
implemented communications strategies for foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
For eight years Miller was also a commissioner of the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, the
largest municipal utility in the world, stepping down in 2001 as its vice president. She is a founding
director of Children Now, serves on the board of the Foundation for American Communications, and is a
member of the Pacific Council on International Policy and the International Women’s Forum, a global
network of women leaders in 19 countries.
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Sept. 2002
10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 1000, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. 90067 -4011
Phone: 310-556-4694 Facsimile: 310-556-8130
Website: www.hiltonfoundation.org