Savannah Guthrie to receive Tom Hanks Caregiver Champion Award
TODAY co-anchor to be honored at Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s Heroes & History Makers celebration with Tom Hanks, Senator Elizabeth Dole and a performance by Chris Young
Washington, DC (October 12, 2022)—The Elizabeth Dole Foundation announced Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of TODAY at NBC News, as the 2022 Tom Hanks Caregiver Champion Award recipient in recognition of her outstanding support of military caregivers. The award will be presented at the Foundation’s annual Heroes & History Makers celebration, on October 19 at The Anthem in Washington, DC and streamed live.
The event is the Foundation’s annual tribute to America’s 5.5 million military caregivers, the loved ones who voluntarily care for wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans at home. Senator Elizabeth Dole will be joined by Hidden Heroes Campaign Chair Tom Hanks and multi-platinum, global entertainer Chris Young.
The Caregiver Champion Award was named for Tom Hanks in recognition of his outstanding support of military caregivers. The award has previously been presented to former First Lady Michelle Obama; music superstar Tim McGraw; and actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise. Guthrie was selected in recognition of her devoted advocacy of those who serve and their families. Since joining the Foundation as a Hidden Heroes Ambassador in 2018, Guthrie has used her national platform to bring awareness to the 5.5 million loved ones caring for a wounded, ill, or injured service member at home.
“We are thrilled to honor our champion, Savannah, during our 10th anniversary celebration,” said Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “Over the past four years, she has become deeply invested in our cause. She has brought our caregivers' stories of service and sacrifice into millions of homes across America. And she has gone above and beyond, with such grace and compassion, to speak directly to military caregivers and ensure them that they are not alone.”
Senator Elizabeth Dole was the first to call the nation’s attention to the men and women caring for a wounded, ill, or injured service member or veteran at home. Military caregivers face increased emotional and physical stress, financial and legal troubles, employment difficulties, and feelings of isolation due to the enormous responsibility and severe lack of resources for those caring for someone who served. The Foundation is committed to recognizing, supporting, and empowering military caregivers.
The event is open to media. Media planning to attend must RSVP to Austin Courtney – austin@elizabethdolefoundation.org by 12pm on Wednesday, October 19. Once you RSVP, you’ll receive additional event details.
Heroes & History Makers is made possible by presenting sponsor USAA and support from:
AARP, Amazon Web Services, American Airlines, Amna Nawaz & Paul Werdel, Andrea Mitchell, Anna Palmer & Patrick Mellody, Bipartisan Policy Center, Blue Water Thinking, Bob & Candy Scherer, Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation, Booz Allen Hamilton, Boston Consulting Group, Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, C. Boyden Gray, Clarus Group, CGI Federal, The Coca-Cola Company, Comcast NBCUniversal, CVS Pharmacy, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, Diane Braunstein, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), DoorDash, Dr. Jo Sornborger, FedEx, Fox, Helena Berger, Hilton, Home Instead, Humana Military, Huron, The Independence Fund, Jenna & Lorah Dorn, Jim & Linda Beers, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Judy Woodruff & Al Hunt, Magellan Federal, Major Garrett, McKinsey & Company, MicroHealth, Mida Associates, LLC., National Government Services, NBCUniversal, Nemours Children’s Health, Northport Affiliates, LLC., Oracle Cerner, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Phil & Peg Soucy, Philips, Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, Prudential, Rex Wackerle, Ronald Marks III, Toivia, Tom & Linda Daschle, Tony Coelho, TriWest, Wells Fargo, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP).