The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative

Aurora Humanitarian Initiative Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit organization that seeks to address on-the-ground humanitarian challenges around the world with the focus on helping the most destitute. Its mission is rooted in the Armenian history as the Initiative was founded on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors and strives to transform this experience into a global movement. 

All Aurora’s activities are based on the universal concept of Gratitude in Action. It implies that countless people around the world who have received aid in times of crisis can best express their gratitude by offering similar assistance to others. By engaging Aurora supporters around the world, this becomes a global endeavor that snowballs, to expand the circle of saviors and most importantly – the number of those saved.

Addressing urgent humanitarian challenges, the Initiative provides a second chance to those who need it the most. True to its vision – “We believe that even in the darkest times, a brighter future is in the hands of those who are committed to giving others help and hope” – Aurora welcomes all who embrace this philosophy.

This commitment aims to promote action-based philanthropy focused on tangible results. This is achieved through showcasing and empowering Aurora Luminaries and the Initiative’s various programs: the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, Aurora Dialogues, and Aurora Grants.

The name of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative was inspired by the story of Aurora Mardiganian, born Arshaluys Martikian, a woman who lived through the atrocities of the Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire to tell the world the truth about those horrors. Aurora Mardiganian is a symbol of survival and redemption, and her name also means ‘dawn’ – ‘Arshaluys’ in Armenian – which stands for hope. 

The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative is the vision of philanthropists Vartan Gregorian (1934–2021), Noubar Afeyan and Ruben Vardanyan. In 2024, Dr. Eric Esrailian joined the Initiative as Co-Founder to help steward the organization toward its 10th anniversary year and beyond. Over the years, Aurora has gained the support of thousands of donors and partners. 

 

 

Chairman of the Aurora’s Advisory Board, Dr. Tom Catena, draws on his experience as a surgeon, veteran, humanitarian and the 2017 Aurora Prize Laureate to spread the message of Gratitude in Action to a global audience. 

Founder of the Mother of Mercy Hospital in Sudan’s war-ravaged Nuba Mountains, Dr. Catena has dedicated the last decade of his life to providing medical care as the only surgeon permanently based in a region the size of Austria. 

Tom Catena was appointed Aurora’s inaugural Chair in December 2018, a position he maintains in parallel with his ongoing responsibilities as Medical Director of the Mother of Mercy Hospital in Sudan. 

Board of Directors

Noubar Afeyan

Noubar Afeyan

Dr. Noubar Afeyan is founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering, a company that creates bioplatform companies to transform human health and sustainability.

Anna Afeyan

Anna Afeyan

Anna Afeyan is a trustee and co-chair of the Afeyan Foundation, a family foundation building and advancing innovative solutions to benefit communities around the world.

Anthony J. Barsamian

Anthony J. Barsamian

Anthony J. Barsamian is Managing Partner for over 25 years of Hutchings Barsamian Mandelcorn, LLP., an 8-attorney firm concentrating on Business and Commercial Transactions, Estate and Tax, and Family Succession Planning located in Wellesley Hills, Mass.

Ara Darzi

Ara Darzi

Professor Darzi is Co-Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London and Paul Hamlyn Chair of Surgery.

Eric Esrailian

Eric Esrailian

Dr. Eric Esrailian is a physician, Emmy-nominated film producer, investor, and entrepreneur. He is actively involved in philanthropic efforts connecting health, human rights, education, and the arts.

Alice Greenwald

Alice Greenwald

Alice Greenwald is founder and principal of Memory Matters, providing strategic advising services for museums, memorial projects, senior executives, and boards.

Raffi Gregorian

Raffi Gregorian

Dr. Raffi Gregorian is a former diplomat and Navy veteran currently working on a book tracing the intergenerational transmission of trauma’s influence on his work bringing genocidal killers, war criminals, and terrorists to account.

Arman Jilavian

Arman Jilavian

Arman Jilavian has been the CEO of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative that transforms the Armenian experience into a global movement based on the philosophy of Gratitude in Action since 2015.

Laura Kline

Laura Kline

Laura Kline is Senior Vice President and Partner of Corporate Communications and Social Impact for Flagship Pioneering.

 

About the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity

 

The US $1,000,000 Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity is a global humanitarian award. Its mission is to recognize and support those who risk their own lives to save the lives of others suffering due to violent conflict or atrocity crimes. The Aurora Prize Laureate is selected based on the nominee’s demonstration of courage, commitment and impact.

On behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, the Aurora Prize Laureate is honored with a $300,000 monetary award to support their vital work and a unique opportunity to continue the cycle of giving by allocating $600,000 to grassroots humanitarians and Laureate-designated humanitarian organizations that give a second chance to people in need. Additionally, the two Aurora Humanitarians (Finalists) receive a one-time payment of $50,000 each ($100,000 in total). 

The Aurora Prize Selection Committee is comprised of Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee; former President of Ireland Mary Robinson; President of Carnegie Corporation of New York Dame Louise Richardson; former President of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo; journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Dele Olojede; business leader, climate and equalities campaigner and former CEO of Unilever Paul Polman; human rights activist and Co-founder of The Sentry John Prendergast; Founder of Tent Partnership for Refugees and Founder and CEO of Chobani Hamdi Ulukaya; and Vice Chair of Clinton Foundation and Vice Chair of Clinton Health Access Initiative Chelsea Clinton. The Committee is chaired by the Co-Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London Lord Ara Darzi. Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian George Clooney is the Committee’s Honorary Co-Chair. 

We honor the memory of Elie Wiesel (1928-2016), inaugural Selection Committee Co-Chair, President of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, Nobel Laureate; Vartan Gregorian (1934-2021), Aurora Co-Founder and member of the Selection Committee; and Benjamin Ferencz (1920-2023), world famous peace and human rights activist, Selection Committee Honorary Co-Chair. 

THE AURORA PRIZE SELECTION COMMITTEE

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Elie Wiesel (1928 – 2016)

First Co-Chair

President of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity; Nobel Laureate

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Lord Ara Darzi

Chair

Co-Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London

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George Clooney

Honorary Co-Chair

Co-founder, The Sentry; Humanitarian, performer and film maker

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Chelsea Clinton

Member

Vice Chair, Clinton Foundation; Vice Chair, Clinton Health Access Initiative

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Leymah Gbowee

Member

Liberian peace activist and women’s rights advocate; Nobel Laureate

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Dele Olojede

Member

Journalist, Writer, Pulitzer Prize Winner

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Paul Polman

Member

Business leader, climate and equalities campaigner

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John Prendergast

Member

Human Rights Activist and Co-founder, The Sentry

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Dame Louise Richardson

Member

President, Carnegie Corporation of New York

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Mary Robinson

Member

Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Former President of Ireland

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Hamdi Ulukaya

Member

Founder, Tent Partnership for Refugees; Founder and CEO, Chobani

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Ernesto Zedillo

Member

Director, Yale Center for the Study of Globalization; Former President of Mexico

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Vartan Gregorian (1934 - 2021)

Member

Co-founder, Aurora Humanitarian Initiative; President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York

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Benjamin Ferencz (1920–2023)

Honorary Co-Chair

Lawyer, Human Rights Activist

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Elie Wiesel (1928 – 2016)

First Co-Chair

President of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity; Nobel Laureate

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Lord Ara Darzi

Chair

Co-Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London

Aurora Luminaries

 

Over the years, Aurora has empowered many humanitarians worldwide, raising awareness of their courageous work and creating a global network of like-minded individuals to elevate their ability to have a tangible impact on the lives they touch.

The Aurora Luminaries are grassroots activists helping the most vulnerable, whose basic needs and rights are often overlooked. The courageous work of these humanitarians has impacted tens of millions of people in need. More information is available here.

 

About the Aurora Dialogues

 

The Aurora Dialogues is a platform for the world’s leading humanitarians, academics, philanthropists, business leaders, and civil society to convene for a series of insightful discussions about some of today’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. In keeping with the spirit of the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, the Aurora Dialogues shine a light on the people who are working to address today’s issues in a real and substantial manner and seek to identify ideas that will deliver tangible change.

 

About the Aurora Grants

 

Through the Aurora Grants, we support initiatives focused on education and research, cultural preservation, and grassroots efforts that foster humanitarianism and raise global awareness of humanitarian action. These grants aim to inspire and empower communities worldwide to embrace and promote humanitarian values.

Launched in 2017 by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative in partnership with UWC International, Teach for All, and the African Leadership Academy, Young Aurora is one of Aurora Grants’ programs designed to encourage young changemakers to address pressing humanitarian concerns within their local school communities.

The Aurora Grants also support Armenia’s national repository of ancient manuscripts, the Matenadaran, and the Armenian Genocide Museum-institute, contributing to the preservation of Armenian culture and history.

While no longer active, the Aurora Scholarships have left a lasting legacy. Thanks to this program, 62 at-risk and vulnerable youth had the incredible opportunity to study at the United World College (UWC) network of schools and the American University of Armenia. These scholarships, now a cherished part of our history, honored individuals who embodied humanitarian values: the Lamya Haji Bashar Scholarship supported Yazidi students, the Amal Clooney Scholarship was awarded to a female student from Lebanon with a strong interest for human rights, and the Charles Aznavour scholarship was given to students from France and Francophone countries. 

The Vartan Gregorian Scholarship (Research Grants) Program supported early-career researchers exploring Armenian history in the 20th century and has empowered many young academics to pursue their passion.