Anderson Cooper Praises Ted Turner's Philanthropy at UN Celebration
At a United Nations celebration honoring the life of media mogul and CNN founder Ted Turner, Anderson Cooper delivered a video tribute highlighting Turner's significant philanthropic contributions. Cooper specifically lauded Turner's decision to donate $1 billion to the U.N., noting that such a gesture was not necessarily popular in America but demonstrated Turner's commitment to global causes regardless of public opinion. Turner's daughter, Laura Turner Seydel, revealed that her father was inspired by a Mississippi washerwoman's $150,000 donation for scholarships, prompting him to make his historic gift to the U.N. in September 1997. This donation, the largest individual gift at the time, led to the establishment of the United Nations Foundation, which has since garnered an additional $3 billion in matching donations. The event also featured tributes from other CNN figures like Wolf Blitzer and Christiane Amanpour, who emphasized Turner's dedication to a global perspective and community.
