For this week’s Throwback Thursday, we are taking a look back at the first ever Goldman Prize ceremony, which took place on April 16, 1990 to coincide with Earth Day. Coincidentally, it was also Goldman Prize co-founder Richard Goldman’s 70th birthday.
The Goldmans sent out over 3,000 invitations to the ceremony, expecting only a small fraction to attend. Instead, 1,600 people sent RSVPs, and on the day of the event, a lively and supportive audience cheered the first six Goldman Environmental Prize winners: Lois Gibbs, Bob Brown, Janet Gibson, Harrison Ngau Laing, János Vargha, and Michael Werikhe. Audience members also enjoyed a special performance by Graham Nash, who will be returning to perform at the 2014 Goldman Prize ceremony.
Of that first ceremony, one attendee wrote to the Goldmans, “We came without too much advance thought, mostly out of curiosity, and left an hour and a half later in awe.”
Be sure to subscribe to the Goldman Prize YouTube channel today to see videos from the 1990 Goldman Prize ceremony and for your chance to see the 2014 Goldman Prize ceremony streaming LIVE on Monday, April 28, 2014 at 5:30PM.