At a Monday celebration of Ted Turner’s life at the United Nations, his daughter said he donated $1 billion to U.N. causes and urged attendees to support the institutions that hold the world together.
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A celebration of Ted Turner’s life was held Monday at the United Nations in New York, where his daughter, Laura Turner Seydel, described the influence of Turner's earlier act of charity in inspiring a later $1 billion donation.
Seydel said Turner heard about a woman in Mississippi who donated her life savings of $150,000 for scholarships, and that it inspired him to “turn around and donate $1 billion to the United Nations.”
She said that in September 1997 Turner surprised a U.N. gala after receiving a Global Leadership Award by announcing the gift to U.N. causes, described as the largest individual donation in history at that time.
Seydel urged the audience of several hundred people to respond to the world’s “challenging times” by backing “the institutions that hold the world together,” and said, “Please use your ideas, resources and ambitions to back the institutions that hold the world together.”
Seydel added that Turner’s donation helped establish the United Nations Foundation, noting that while the U.N. can accept money from governments, it cannot accept money from individuals.
She said the foundation has received additional donations since the initial gift, including $3 billion to match Turner’s $1 billion.
Turner died in May at age 87 from the effects of Lewy body dementia, which he was diagnosed with in 2013, Seydel said at the ceremony.
She also recounted that Turner’s U.N. presence was personal for him, describing the U.N. as his “headquarters” and saying he would talk with people across roles, from senior officials to security guards and cleaners.
The event included remarks and tributes from U.N. officials and other figures, including Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a video tribute calling Turner “a one-of-a-kind visionary.”
Video tributes also included former U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, who said Turner “changed the trajectory of countries and lives around the world” by establishing the U.N. Foundation.
The family shared memories from several grandchildren and other performers who sang and were featured musically during the ceremony, including “Jackson” and appearances by the Harlem Gospel Choir.
In addition to the tributes, Nobel peace prize winner Maria Ressa spoke about her reporting career and called herself “Ted’s ripple,” saying “what he created shaped my world.”
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