The late Atlanta media and sports legend Ted Turner was an influential philanthropist and environmentalist, who gave more than a billion dollars to causes he cared about in his lifetime and protected millions of acres of land. In addition to 24/7 cable news and the Braves’ first World Series championship in Atlanta, Turner leaves a legacy in funding efforts to address climate change, global poverty and nuclear weapons.
When he gave a billion dollars to the United Nations, creating the UN Foundation in the late 90s, it was the biggest individual charitable gift in history, according to the foundation.
In an email to WABE, UN Foundation President and CEO Elizabeth Cousens said the gift represented more than a third of Turner’s wealth at the time.
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