October 15, 2026, Atlanta, Ga. – Today, CARE announced a $1.25 million donation from Bruce Ackerman, one of the world’s most distinguished legal scholars, to support their humanitarian work in Gaza. The gift represents the entirety of the prize money Ackerman received as a recipient of the Tang Prize in Rule of Law, the highest recognition in the field of law.
“Professor Ackerman’s decision to give his full Tang Prize award to advance our lifesaving work in Gaza is extraordinary, and we are incredibly grateful,” said Michelle Nunn, CARE’s President and CEO. “His generosity will help us reach more families with health care, clean water, shelter, and food, at a time where Palestinians continue to endure deep suffering. We hope his example inspires others to support humanitarian relief in Gaza.”
“I am the child and grandchild of Jews who fled persecution in Eastern Europe, and I was raised to believe that every human life deserves protection,” said Bruce Ackerman. “Families in Gaza need help now, and I wanted my prize to help them survive. CARE is recognized around the world for providing emergency relief to people whose lives have been shattered by war, disease, and catastrophe, and its teams are on the ground in Gaza today. Giving my Tang Prize to CARE only enhances the honor of receiving it, and it is my hope that it will inspire others to give generously to support the Palestinians in Gaza who are facing unimaginable hardship.”
While a ceasefire was announced nearly a year ago, the violence has not stopped, and the crisis is far from over. Airstrikes continue, humanitarian access remains restricted, and people across Gaza still face widespread hunger, mass displacement, and dire health needs.
Despite all of this, CARE, directly and through local partners, has continued to reach people in need. Since October 2023, nearly 400,000 people in Gaza have received CARE-supported health services, from treatment for chronic and infectious diseases to psychological support and critical medications. CARE has also maintained maternal health care, even as routine pregnancy checkups and essential testing have become largely unavailable.
“For so many Palestinians across Gaza, these services are a lifeline. At our clinic in Deir al-Balah alone, our health teams, working alongside partners, see 250 to 300 patients a day,” said Beckie Ryan, CARE’s Interim Country Director in Palestine (West Bank/Gaza). “Recently, a woman came to the facility for a routine antenatal check. The teams identified her as a critical case and transferred her to a field hospital for an emergency cesarean, and we were able to save both her life and her baby’s. Afterward, we provided follow-up consultations, nutritional support, and wellbeing checks. This is the kind of support the clinic provides every day, in a neighborhood with no other health care options.”
With much of Gaza’s essential infrastructure destroyed or badly damaged, CARE and its partners have helped nearly one million people get safe water and sanitation, while also providing shelter assistance, dignity and hygiene kits, nutrition support, and cash assistance.
About Bruce Ackerman
Bruce Ackerman is Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University and the author of 19 books on political philosophy, constitutional law, and public policy. He accepted the Tang Prize in Rule of Law at an event in Taipei this past September.
About CARE
Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE PACKAGE® box, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside women and girls. Equipped with the proper resources, women and girls have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. In 2025, CARE worked in 121 countries, reaching 58.7 million people through 1,467 projects. To learn more, visit care.org.