National Constitution Center receives $2M to permanently fund annual Liberty Medal prize

The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has announced a planned $2 million endowment gift from longtime supporters Ira Lubert and Pamela Estadt to permanently fund the Liberty Medal’s annual $100,000 prize. The endowment will convert nearly two decades of sponsorship into permanent support for the award, which recognizes individuals and organizations advancing liberty worldwide. Established in 1988, the Liberty Medal has honored figures including Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The annual prize has often been directed by recipients to charitable and humanitarian organizations, extending the award’s impact to their communities and ongoing civic engagement.