The Franca Sozzani Award recognizes the social commitment and artistic achievement of individuals in the creative industries.
Established in 2017, the Franca Sozzani Award Dinner has helped to increase awareness of preventive genomics through sponsors including Belmond, Assouline, BPCM, Tommy Hilfiger, and YOOX. Additionally, generous giving from individual donors has provided high-impact funding to support a more proactive and equitable future of medicine directly.
The Genomes2People research program has secured competitive multi-million dollar NIH grants to address racial and ethnic disparities within the field of genomics, but the most groundbreaking ideas are too forward-looking and fast-moving for traditional federal funding. With philanthropic support primarily from the Franca Fund, Genomes2People continues to address the most pressing challenges facing our world today. Combined with efforts to address other social and environmental determinants of health, we are hastening the day when medicine transforms from a reactive enterprise to a preventive practice.
The Recipients
2017
Actress Julianne Moore was the first to receive the inaugural Franca Sozzani Award at the Venice Film Festival in September 2017. Moore was recognized for “her same strength and determination of Franca Sozzani” and because she “has combined excellence in arts with a strong civil and social commitment”.
2018
The recipient of the 2018 award was the dazzling Salma Hayek. “This award means a lot to me, it’s very moving,” she said in her emotional speech. “Franca was always an inspiration, I was in awe of her. With her example she motivated me to do things that I never thought possible doing”.
2019
Iman became the third recipient of the Franca Sozzani Award. “I’m honored to be a part of [Sozzani’s] legacy and to highlight what she stood for,” Iman told Vogue. “Franca used her platform to showcase, elevate and educate us about our society… [she] was at the forefront of inclusivity and body positivity”.
