The Heinz Family
Year
Affiliation
Areas of Focus
Arts | Environment | Science | Sustainable Development
Henry J. Heinz was born in 1844 in the Birmingham section of Pittsburgh. He began his business by peddling prepared horseradish. After entering into a partnership and forming Heinz & Noble, they sold the product in clear bottles to prove that unlike some foods, it was totally unadulterated. Heinz bought out his partner and through his benevolent management style made the H.J. Heinz company a pioneer in labor relations. He worked tirelessly against a large segment of the processed food industry to gain passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. It inaugurated the modern food industry and guaranteed purity to all consumers. Years of hard work and innovation made the man and his products internationally known and respected.
The Heinz family’s sustained philanthropic giving has supported the environment, education, economic opportunity and the arts as well as efforts to enhance the lives of women and children.
In 1995, the family made one of the largest grants ever to benefit the environment – 20 million to establish the Washington, D.C.-based H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment. The Center brings together representatives of business, government, the scientific community and environmental groups to collaborate on the development of fair scientifically sound environment policies.
Teresa Heinz will accept the award on behalf of the family. She is chairman of the Heinz Family Philanthropies and the Heinz Endowments, two of the nation’s most innovative philanthropic institutions. She is the creator of the prestigious Heinz Awards, an annual program recognizing outstanding vision and achievement in the arts; public policy; the environment; the human condition; and technology, the economy, and employment.
