At Venice's Teatro Goldoni, the 17th DVF Awards celebrated five global leaders. The event was dedicated to feminist icon Gloria Steinem following news of her death at age 92.
A tribute to Gloria Steinem’s 92-year legacy
The ceremony in Venice was deeply colored by the passing of Gloria Steinem, who died on the same day as the event. Diane von Furstenberg described Steinem as a "badass" who refused to be a victim and spent her life giving "glory to women ." As the report notes, Steinem had been a recipient of the DVF Award back in 2014, making this dedication a poignant full-circle moment for the foundation.
This connection highlights how the movement for women's rights has transitioned from the foundational activism of the 1960s to the diverse, multifaceted leadership seen in today's honorees. steinem’s spirit was felt throughout the room, serving as a reminder that while much has changed, the work of female empowerment remains ongoing.
Five women receiving $100,000 for their nonprofit work
Through the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, this year's ceremony provided $100,000 grants to five distinct leaders to further their nonprofit missions. The recipients include Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, who advocates for climate justice; Kenyan educator Wawira Njiru, whose Food4Education program feeds children; and French survivor Gisèle Pelicot. Other honorees were actress and activist Jane Fonda and photojournalist Lynsey Addario. Each woman represents a different sector of influence, from global politics and education to human rights and media.
Lynsey Addario on the struggle for truth in the age of AI
Photojournalist Lynsey Addario used her time at the Teatro Goldoni to address the precarious state of modern journalism.. She expressed concern over how artificial intelligence and attacks on free speech are eroding the credibility of visual evidence. According to the report, Addario noted that while a photograph once served as undeniable proof that an event occurred, the current digital landscape makes it increasingly difficult for the public to believe what they see.
Despite these technological challenges, Addario emphasized that empathy and communication remain essential tools for making a difference in conflict zones like Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza. She noted that she draws strength from the people she photographs,who continue to exhibit hope despite overwhelming circumstances.
Jane Fonda’s distinction between optimism and active hope
At 88 years old, actress and political activist Jane Fonda spoke about the necessity of movement-based leadership. She drew a sharp line between being optimistic and being hopeful, arguing that optimism can often be a passive state where one assumes things are fine. Fonda asserted that "hope comes with action" and described it as a muscle that must be exercised.
Her speech served as a reminder of her decades-long history of moving between Hollywood glamour and political barricades, most recently as a prominent voice in the global climate movement. Fonda’s presence underscored the evening's theme: that influence should carry a responsibiliy to enact real-world change.
What the $500,000 in total prize money will fund next
While the awards provide significant financial boosts, the specific immediate applications for the $500,000 total prize pool were not detailed in the initial report. It remains to be seen how each recipient will leverage their $100,000 to scale their respective organizations, such as Njiru's school-feeding initiative in Kenya. Additionally, the community is left to wonder how the DVF Awards will continue to evolve its mission in the wake of Gloria Steinem's death, a loss that marks the end of an era for the feminist movement.
Comments 0