Ted Turner's $1 billion UN pledge inspired by Mississippi washerwoman
His daughter revealed that an additional $3 billion has been donated to match the original gift since 1997, according to the Times of India.
Ted Turner's 1997 decision to pledge $1 billion to United Nations (UN) causes was inspired by a story about a Mississippi washerwoman, according to the Times of India. The woman had donated $150,000 of her savings for college scholarships.
At a celebration of his life held at the UN, his daughter Laura Turner Seydel said that another $3 billion has since been donated to match his original gift. The gift led to the establishment of the United Nations Foundation to channel private donations to UN programmes.
Turner, who founded CNN and died in May at age 87, reportedly said he would do something significant after hearing the woman could give so much from so little. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described him as a visionary whose work helped expand the reach of the UN.
The foundation has supported causes including global health, education, environmental protection and disaster relief. Former UN chief Ban Ki-moon said Turner changed the trajectory of countries and lives by establishing the foundation.
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper noted that the $1 billion gift was not an easy applause line in America, but Turner believed he could do impossible things. Turner later signed the Giving Pledge to give away the majority of his fortune.