Global Leaders Honor Ted Turner’s $1 Billion Legacy at United Nations
Family and diplomats celebrate CNN founder Ted Turner's historic $1 billion UN donation and lasting vision for global cooperation and peace.
POLICY WIRE — New York, USA — A global assembly of diplomats and activists recently gathered to celebrate the life of media pioneer Ted Turner, reflecting on his profound commitment to international unity.
’s daughter, Laura Turner Seydel, shared that her father was moved by a story of a Mississippi washerwoman who gave her $150,000 savings to student scholarships. This act of individual generosity inspired Turner to match the gesture with scale; Seydel told the audience he felt compelled to do something truly important and big and significant.
In September 1997, Turner made history at a U.N. gala. While accepting a Global Leadership Award, he announced a $1 billion gift to United Nations causes, which stood as the largest personal contribution ever recorded at that time.
Turner passed away in May at the age of 87 following Lewy body dementia, a condition he faced since 2013. During the memorial service, Seydel scattered his ashes in locations he cherished, including the floor of the UN Economic and Social Council chamber where the event was held.
Seydel described the UN headquarters as her father’s true home, noting that he treated everyone with equal respect, ranging from the secretary-general and ambassadors to the cleaning and security staff.
The historic $1 billion donation served to establish the United Nations Foundation, as the U.N. cannot receive direct funding from individuals. Seydel noted that since its inception, an additional $3 billion has been donated to match the original gift.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised Turner in a video tribute as a one-of-a-kind visionary. He credited Turner’s pursuit of peace with helping the organization reach its goals in health, environmental protection, and global disarmament.
Former chief chief Ban Ki-moon also stated that Turner changed the lives of people and nations globally. Ki-moon emphasized that it remains vital for the world to continue championing the causes Turner defended during these uncertain times.
The event featured tributes from CNN veterans such as Wolf Blitzer and Christiane Amanpour. Blitzer reflected on Turner’s belief that a world sharing the same news would be more peaceful, while Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa thanked him for a career that took her places she never imagined.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)