Ripple of Hope Award

The Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award honors exemplary leaders across the international business, entertainment, and activist communities who have demonstrated a commitment to social change and reflect Robert Kennedy’s passion for equality, justice, basic human rights, and his belief that each of us can make a difference. Proceeds benefit the important work and programs of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.

The inspiration for the Ripple of Hope Award comes from Robert F. Kennedy’s most famous speech in 1966 when he visited South Africa during the worst years of apartheid:

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Robert F. Kennedy

Highlights from the 2023 Ripple of Hope Gala

On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, we honored our newest cohort of Ripple of Hope Award laureates: The Edwin Barbey Charitable Trust, a donor-advised fund of the Arizona Community Foundation advised by Peter and Pamela Barbey and their son Matt; Fran Drescher, SAG-AFTRA President, actor, writer, producer, best-selling author and activist; and The January 6th Select Committee, including Representatives Aguilar, Cheney, Kinzinger, Lofgren, Luria, Murphy, Raskin, Thompson, and Schiff. The ceremony featured emcee Alec Baldwin.

Highlights from the 2023 Ceremony
The Edwin Barbey Charitable Trust
Fran Drescher
The January 6th Select Committee
Panel discussion with Elaine Luria, Rep. Adam Schiff, Rep. Jamie Raskin, and moderator Jonathan Karl

Past Ripple of Hope laureates include Barack Obama, Tim Cook, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Belafonte, John Lewis, Hillary Clinton, Bono, and Joe Biden.