Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Gave Out $100 Million at Last Night’s Bezos Courage Civility Awards

Last night in Washington, DC, the third annual Bezos Courage Civility Awards brought together past and present honorees for a cocktail party and award ceremony. This year’s winners were actor and activist Eva Longoria and Admiral Bill McRaven, a retired U.S. Navy Four-Star admiral and the former Chancellor of the University of Texas System.

As in previous years (when Van Jones, José Andrés, and Dolly Parton were celebrated), Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, presided over the night. The prize? $50 million to direct to the charities of their choice.

The night began with a cocktail party before guests sat for dinner and the ceremony. Following a greeting from last year’s award recipient, Dolly Parton, Sánchez moderated a fireside chat-style discussion with Van Jones and José Andrés.

Accepting her award, Longoria told the room, which included her friends Gloria Estefan and Ana Navarro: “Twelve years ago, I started the Eva Longoria Foundation because Latinos believe in the American Dream, but we don’t always have enough access to it.” She continued, “I am honored and thrilled to have this opportunity to build and expand on that work to invest in the infrastructure of opportunity for my community.”

The night ended with a musical performance by Jewel before Longoria’s birthday was celebrated with a surprise cake—candles and all!