In a ceremony held in Washington, DC, Freedom House honored democracy's bravest defenders and announced an audacious campaign to protect freedom worldwide—one that reaches back to a moment when democracy itself was on the brink. The event, emceed by actor and human rights advocate Nazanin Boniadi, recognized a global coalition of freedom fighters, from an imprisoned Hong Kong publisher to the nation of Finland, as the organization launched "Investing in Freedom's Future," an $85 million initiative marking its 85th anniversary.
The centerpiece of the evening was the Freedom Award, bestowed on Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old British media publisher who has spent more than five years imprisoned in Hong Kong under a Beijing-imposed National Security Law, almost entirely in solitary confinement. Lai built one of Asia's most influential independent media organizations and has long defended press freedom against authoritarian rule. His daughter, Claire Lai, accepted the award, introduced by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Ambassador Robert O'Brien. The award itself carries historic weight—it was first presented in 1943.
This year's honorees embodied the global struggle for democratic values. The Republic of Finland received the Leadership Award, becoming the only country to score a perfect 100 out of 100 points on Freedom House's Freedom in the World report, affirming that democratic institutions can endure and thrive even amid geopolitical upheaval. Salome Zourabichvili, the fifth president of Georgia, was recognized for her principled leadership against tyranny. Rosa María Payá Acevedo, founder of Cuba Decide, and Dr. Dionisio Gutiérrez, a businessman and activist, were also honored for their dedication to freedom. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press rounded out the year's recipients, underscoring the centrality of press freedom to all democratic struggles.
But the evening's most consequential announcement was the launch of "Investing in Freedom's Future," a five-year campaign to raise $85 million. The initiative draws inspiration from an unlikely partnership between bitter political opponents: in 1941, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie, her husband's Republican rival in the 1940 presidential election, set aside partisan divisions to co-chair Freedom House's founding, united in the belief that American leadership was essential in the fight against fascism. That spirit of cross-partisan unity animates the new campaign, which aims to strengthen Freedom House's global efforts to confront authoritarianism and support democracy's defenders.
"Even as the world's authoritarians collude to shape a darker world order, the fight to live in freedom cannot be extinguished," said Freedom House CEO Jamie Fly, "and the courage and accomplishments of our awardees are an inspiration to us all." Fly framed the campaign as part of a broader moment: as America marks 250 years since its founding democratic principles, Freedom House celebrates 85 years of defending and promoting democracy worldwide.
Major foundational gifts came from Dr. Sushma Palmer, in memory of Ambassador Mark Palmer, David Willkie, a descendent of the organization's co-founder, and Michael Abramowitz and Susan Baer. Original commissioned artwork by Laura Roosevelt was auctioned to benefit the campaign. These contributions signal deep philanthropic commitment to the organization's mission at a moment when democratic institutions face unprecedented pressure from resurgent authoritarianism globally.