Miss World Humanitarian Award
Miss World Humanitarian Award
The Lions Humanitarian Award is the highest honor of the association given to an individual or an organization with exemplary humanitarian efforts. This award includes a grant from LCIF of up to US$250,000 for continuing humanitarian activities. Lions clubs members may nominate deserving philanthropists, and the international president of Lions Clubs International and the LCIF chairperson select the winner. Prior recipients are listed below, in order of fiscal year.
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Miss World Humanitarian Award Laureates (2030 ~ 2021)
Soni Sood
Miss World Humanitarian Award 2025
Sonu Sood transitioned from a celebrated film actor to a nationwide "Messiah of Migrants" for his exemplary humanitarian efforts, primarily starting during the COVID-19 pandemic. His most impactful work involved arranging buses, trains, and chartered flights to safely transport thousands of stranded migrant workers back to their hometowns across India.Through the Sood Charity Foundation, his work extends far beyond immediate crisis relief. Key initiatives focus on empowering the underprivileged by providing:Education: Offering scholarships (like the Prof. Saroj Sood Scholarship) and coaching for competitive exams (Sambhavam).Healthcare: Sponsoring surgeries, providing medical aid, and supplying critical resources like oxygen during the pandemic.Employment: Launching platforms like Pravasi Rojgar to help job seekers find work.Sood’s philosophy centers on the transformative power of compassion and service. He views his role not as charity, but as a moral responsibility to his countrymen, striving to bring "hope, support, and dignity" to those in need. His hands-on, grassroots approach and tireless dedication have earned him global recognition, including the SDG Special Humanitarian Action Award from the UNDP and the Miss World Humanitarian Award.
Nita Ambani
Miss World Humanitarian Award 2024
The philanthropist Nita Mukesh Ambani has cemented her role as a leading figure in India's social sector, operating with a philosophy centered on inclusive growth and the transformative power of opportunity. As the Founder and Chairperson of the Reliance Foundation, her work touches millions of lives across diverse fields.Her key humanitarian work includes:Healthcare: Leading the Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, which provides accessible, world-class medical care, including extensive free services and significant mobilization of emergency support during the COVID-19 crisis.Education: Founding the Dhirubhai Ambani International School and spearheading initiatives that have supported thousands of underprivileged students through scholarships and educational programs.Women's Empowerment: Launching "Her Circle," a massive digital platform to foster collaboration and resources for women, alongside numerous programs focused on skill development and livelihood creation in rural communities.Arts and Culture: Establishing the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) to preserve and promote Indian art globally, emphasizing the power of culture as a catalyst for societal upliftment.Ambani believes that "leadership is not about influence, but impact; not just about success, but service." This dedication to holistic, scalable development—from sports and education to rural livelihood and health—earned her the "Beauty With a Purpose Humanitarian Award" at the 71st Miss World Finals.
Julia Morley
Miss World Humanitarian Award 2023
Julia Morley CBE, Chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organization, is the architect of the "Beauty With a Purpose" (BWAP) philosophy, which has defined the pageant's humanitarian mission since 1972. Her thoughts are rooted in the conviction that true beauty lies in service and impact. She rejects the idea of a beauty pageant merely showcasing looks, insisting that young women use their platform and talents to create "a real and lasting legacy."Morley’s inspiration came from a profound encounter in Singapore in 1971, where she observed an elderly woman tirelessly caring for homeless children. The woman's philosophy—"Isn't it better to light one candle in the darkness than not to see at all?"—became the guiding principle for BWAP.Under her leadership, BWAP has raised over $1.3 billion for humanitarian projects in more than 142 countries, focusing on health, education, and social inclusion for sick and disadvantaged children. This tireless dedication earned her the Variety Humanitarian Award (2016) and the high honor of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2022 for her services to disadvantaged people globally. Her work is a testament to her belief that beauty must be a force for good.
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Sir Winston Churchill
Miss World Humanitarian Award
Sir Winston Churchill’s humanitarian work was intrinsically tied to his lifelong commitment to liberal social reform and his overarching mission to preserve human freedom and democracy. His thoughts on humanity can be summarized through two phases:Progressive Domestic Reform
Early in his career as a Liberal politician (pre-1914), Churchill was a radical proponent of the emerging British welfare state. He tirelessly argued for:Social Justice: Introducing legislation for Trade Boards to establish minimum wages in "sweated" trades and setting up labour exchanges to combat unemployment.Public Welfare: Supporting public health insurance and a state-run system of old-age pensions. His actions were rooted in the belief that the state had a duty to protect the most vulnerable from the vicissitudes of life.Preservation of Civilization
During World War II, his humanitarianism took its most famous form: the fierce, indomitable will to defeat Nazi tyranny. For Churchill, defending democracy and liberty was the highest form of humanitarian service, saving Europe from a "monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime."While his legacy is complex and his imperialist views are controversial (particularly regarding the Bengal Famine), his postwar work emphasized world peace and global reconstruction. The Churchill Fellowship, established after his death, continues his spirit of curiosity, public service, and belief in the potential of every individual, regardless of their background.
Bob Hope
Miss World Humanitarian Award
Bob Hope’s humanitarian philosophy was beautifully simple: he believed in using laughter as medicine and comfort. His work was fundamentally driven by a deep sense of patriotism and gratitude for the sacrifices made by the American Armed Forces.For nearly five decades, starting in World War II, Hope dedicated his Christmas holidays to traveling the globe, often into active combat zones, to perform for millions of U.S. troops. He performed 57 tours for the United Service Organizations (USO), viewing his presence as a moral necessity to boost morale and provide a vital, if temporary, link to home.Hope famously stated, "I decided to go where the soldiers were. My reward was the soldiers' laughter." This philosophy went beyond entertainment; it was a profound act of service and acknowledgment. He understood that in the bleakest circumstances, a moment of laughter was a powerful affirmation of life and hope.His commitment to the military earned him numerous civilian and military honors, including the Congressional Gold Medal and being designated an "Honorary Veteran." Beyond the USO, Hope and his wife, Dolores, were major philanthropists, generously supporting health, education, and various veteran causes throughout their lives, leaving a legacy defined by tireless service and boundless generosity.
Simon Cowell
70th Miss World Humanitarian Award 2010
The renowned television personality and music executive Simon Cowell has built a significant charitable legacy that focuses primarily on children and animal welfare. His humanitarian philosophy is rooted in a belief that success should be used to create opportunities and provide support for the most vulnerable.A key focus of his charity work is his role as a patron of Together for Short Lives, the leading UK charity for children with life-limiting conditions. He has been deeply affected by the children and families he has met, stating that visiting a children's hospice is a profound "perspective wake-up call" that "changed his life." He leverages his television shows, The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent, to raise significant funds and awareness for these causes.On animal welfare, Cowell is a devoted advocate, actively supporting organizations like Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and Humane Society International, often making substantial donations to rescue dogs from horrific situations, such as the dog meat trade in South Korea.In a move that highlights his thoughts on legacy, Cowell stated he intends to donate the majority of his estimated fortune to charities supporting children and dogs rather than passing it down to his son, emphasizing the importance of empowering his child to achieve success on his own merits. His overall message is one of responsibility: the wealthy have a duty to rise to global challenges and help those who need it most.
Miss World Humanitarian Award Laureates (2030 ~ 2021)
Audrey Hepburn
Miss World Humanitarian Award
Audrey Hepburn’s humanitarian philosophy was fundamentally shaped by her childhood experience of starvation and hardship in the German-occupied Netherlands during World War II, where she herself received aid from a post-war relief agency that would later become UNICEF. This personal history instilled in her a profound sense of moral obligation to "repay" the kindness she received.Appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1988, Hepburn dedicated the final, most passionate years of her life to bringing global attention to the suffering of children. She viewed her fame as a tool, eloquently stating, "There is a moral obligation that those who have should give to those who have nothing."Her work was relentlessly hands-on. She traveled to the world's most vulnerable communities—including famine-stricken Ethiopia and war-torn Somalia—witnessing the suffering firsthand. Her message was always one of humanization over politics, declaring, "Taking care of children has nothing to do with politics." She believed that people, "even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anyone." Her legacy is the embodiment of inner beauty found through selflessly helping others.
Frank Sinatra
Miss World Humanitarian Award
Frank Sinatra's humanitarian philosophy was deeply rooted in his working-class upbringing and his early, intense involvement with progressive causes. For him, charity was less a public act and more a moral necessity driven by a visceral rejection of prejudice and inequality.He was highly vocal in fighting against racism and intolerance, often speaking out publicly against bigotry at a time when few celebrities dared. Sinatra connected his humanitarian efforts to a broader desire for "decency—period," stating, "I'm for anything and everything that bodes love and consideration for my fellow man."Sinatra's generosity was legendary. He often gave large sums to various charities, including the United Way, the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army, and personally conducted global tours that raised significant funds for handicapped and orphaned children.When accepting the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1971, he articulated his philosophy best: he challenged the notion that one needed to be famous to help, asking the "John Does" who work tirelessly for their neighbors to "reach out and take your share of this [award]. Because if I have earned it, so too have you." His legacy is defined by this belief that true compassion must be a decentralized, everyday effort.