George and Amal Clooney Celebrated Global Changemakers at the Star-Studded Albie Awards in New York

At the second annual Albie Awards ceremony in New York City, the Clooney Foundation for Justice—co-founded and operated by none other than George and Amal Clooney—honored trailblazers and agents of change globally. Hosted by the Clooneys and Darren Walker of the Ford Foundation, the ceremony was held at the New York Public Library, where locals had a front-row view of the impressive A-list crowd invited to celebrate the honorees.

The Clooney Foundation for Justice, established in 2016, offers free legal services to individuals who need representation most, protecting and demanding human rights around the world. Today, the foundation operates in over 40 countries, supporting victims of abuse, war crimes, and politically unjust systems. The couple use their platform to spotlight stories that deserve to be heard, while encouraging others to do the same.

Last night, stars gathered in the name of justice, amplifying the work done by well-deserving individuals who sacrifice their time—and often endanger their lives—for the greater good. Among the crowd were Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Matt Damon, and Julianna Margulies, all of whom presented awards. The recipients included the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, Truth Hounds, Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, and finally, the Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege. Whether drawing attention to injustices toward women in Syria, providing support to Ukrainians on the frontlines of war, or fighting against rape as a weapon of war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, these recipients are heroes, and it’s the intention of the foundation to recognize them as such.

Also in attendance to honor these pioneers were Donatella Versace and Charlotte Tilbury, who served as proud sponsors of the night. The evening’s program offered insight into what each initiative stands for, and the realities its workers and volunteers are faced with daily. In the words of Mukwege, “If I didn’t have hope, I’d stop fighting.” With a moving performance by New York native Alicia Keys and another by the Oscar-nominated actor and singer Andra Day, it was a night that offered a greater understanding of the problems we as global citizens face—and how we can be part of the solution.