Colin Kaepernick receives $10,000 Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award in Louisville
The former NFL quarterback was named Humanitarian of the Year at the 13th annual ceremony held at the Muhammad Ali Center.
By Peter Graham ·
Colin Kaepernick accepted the Humanitarian of the Year title on Saturday during the 13th annual Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards. The ceremony took place at the Muhammad Ali Center in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. The event has operated since 2013 to recognize individuals who follow the late boxer’s example in social advocacy. This year, the main award went to the former National Football League quarterback and civil rights activist.
The organization also presented awards to six young adults, all 30 years old or younger. These recipients are selected for embodying specific traits associated with Ali, including confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, respect, and spirituality. The group represents a mix of fields ranging from technology and environmental engineering to mental health care and visual arts.
Mateo Salvatto, a 27-year-old entrepreneur from Argentina, created a free communication application called Hearlo. He built the platform at age 17 to assist individuals with speech, hearing, and motor disabilities. The app has served more than 500,000 users. He is also a best-selling author and speaker who focuses on the intersection of technology and accessibility.
Sneha Revanur, 22, from San Jose, California, founded Encode. This international organization works to make artificial intelligence safer and more equitable. Revanur advocates for youth representation on AI oversight and advisory boards. Joseph Nguthiru, 28, from Nairobi, Kenya, started HyaPak. This startup turns invasive water hyacinth plants into biodegradable packaging. The process helps restore waterways and creates jobs for local communities.
Franziska Trautmann, 28, established Glass Half Full in New Orleans. Her organization recycles glass into sand for coastal restoration and raw materials for new bottles. The project has restored thousands of meters of coastline with support from the National Science Foundation. Trautmann described the experience as honoring and inspiring. She said it is incredible to be associated with such a legend.
Jin Dawod, 30, from Syria, leads Peace Therapist. This refugee-led organization provides mental health support to displaced people and host communities. The group has reached more than 80,000 people across 26 countries. Gab Mejia, 29, is a Filipino photographer and environmental engineer. He combines visual media with ecological design to address sociopolitical and ecological crises. His work has appeared in National Geographic, Vogue, and the BBC.
