The DVF Awards, supported by The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, are given annually to provide recipients with the exposure and resources necessary to extend their efforts on behalf of women all over the world. The DVF Awards were conceived by Diane von Furstenberg in 2010 with the goal of honoring women who have displayed leadership, strength, and courage in their commitment to their causes. Every year, each Honoree receives a $50,000 grant from the Foundation to further their work. The inaugural DVF Awards were presented on March 13, 2010 at a ceremony hosted by Diane von Fürstenberg and Tina Brown at the United Nations on the closing night of The Women in the World Summit. Each year, two DVF Awards are given to women within The Vital Voices Global Partnership. In addition, the Inspiration Award is given to a woman who has demonstrated strength and courage in the face of adversity, and is using her experience and influence to effect positive change. The People’s Voice Award is also given annually to a woman chosen from a field of nominees selected by The DVF Awards Board of Advisors and voted on by the public at DVFAwards.com. The Lifetime Leadership Award honors an individual who has dedicated her life and body of work to instilling in other women the courage to fight, the power to survive and the leadership to inspire. Past recipients include Gloria Steinem, Ingrid Betancourt, Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and Robin Roberts.
Presenters at The DVF Awards have included Meryl Streep, Iman, Olivia Wilde, Jessica Alba, Deborah Winger, Gabby Douglas, and Chelsea Clinton.
2016 Honorees
The International Award: Maria Pacheco, Wakami
The International Award: Agnes Igoye, Huts for Peace
The People’s Voice Award: Emily Greener, I AM THAT GIRL
The Inspiration Award: Sarah Jones, Girls Educational and Mentoring Services’, The Legal Aid Society and Sanctuary for Families
The Lifetime Leadership Award: Dr. Martine Rothblatt, Los Angeles LGBT Center and The Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
2015 Honorees
The International Award: Adimaimalaga Tafuna’I, Women In Business
The International Award: Samar Minallah Khan, Ethnomedia
The People’s Voice Award: Becky Straw and Jody Landers, The Adventure Project
The Inspiration Award: Gabrielle Giffords, Americans for Responsible Solutions
The Lifetime Leadership Award: Melanne Verveer, The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security at Georgetown University
2014 Honorees
The DVF Award: Kah Walla, STRATEGIES!
The DVF Award: Liron Peleg-Hadomi & Noha Khatieb
The People’s Voice Award: Veronika Scott, The Empowerment Plan
The Inspiration Award: Alicia Keys, Keep a Child Alive
The Lifetime Leadership Award: Gloria Steinem, Equality Now and Donor Direct Action
2013 Honorees
The DVF Award: Sunitha Krishnan, Prajwala
The DVF Award: Andeisha Farid, Afghan Child Education and Caring Organization (AFCECO). The People’s Voice Award: Tammy Tibbetts, She’s the First The Inspiration Award: Natalia Vodianova, Naked Heart Foundation The Lifetime Leadership Award: Robin Roberts, Be the Match2012 Honorees
The DVF Award: Panmela Castro, Rede Nami The DVF Award: Chouchou Namegabe, South Kivu’s Association of Women Journalists The People’s Voice Award: Layli Miller-Muro, Tahirih Justice Center The Inspiration Award: Jaycee Dugard, The JAYC Foundation The Lifetime Leadership Award: Oprah Winfrey, The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation2011 Honorees
The DVF Award: Sohini Chakraborty, Kolkata Sanved The DVF Award: Kakenya Ntaiya, Kakenya Center for Excellence The People’s Voice Award: Taryn Davis, The American Widow Project The Inspiration Award: Elizabeth Smart, Elizabeth Smart Foundation The Lifetime Leadership Award: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton2010 Honorees
The DVF Award: Danielle Saint-Lot, Femmes en Démocratie The DVF Award: Sadiqa Basiri Saleem, The Oruj Learning Center The People’s Voice Award: Katherine Chon, The Polaris Project The Lifetime Leadership Award: Ingrid Betancourt, The Ingrid Betancourt Foundation