World-renowned chef José Andrés believes that food is a powerful tool in “building longer tables” and forging unity in times of crisis. In pursuit of this mission, he founded World Central Kitchen in 2010.  

Traveling to war zones and natural disasters around the world, Andrés and the organization have delivered nearly one billion meals to those in need. For his efforts, the internationally recognized humanitarian received the 2026 Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage, which is awarded to individuals who, by standing up for moral principles at great personal risk, have made a significant impact on society.  

The prize honors the legacy of Ivan Allen Jr., former mayor of Atlanta and a Georgia Tech alumnus known for his courageous leadership during the Civil Rights Movement. It was presented to Andrés by President Ángel Cabrera.  

“He has turned culinary skill into a weapon against despair, and his unwavering stand for human dignity amid gunfire and rubble demonstrates unparalleled courage. He confronts famine, war, and disaster with unyielding moral conviction — not from an office thousands of miles away from harm, but right at the heart of our most pressing global crises,” Cabrera said.  

Growing up in Spain, Andrés watched as his mother made the most of every ingredient between paychecks, and his father invited all who were hungry to their table. As a chef and a humanitarian, Andrés feels that he embodies the ideals instilled in him at a young age.  

“My mother taught me to cook for the few and do it with love. From my father, I learned how to feed anyone who showed up; to care for the many. Those early lessons of the power of food to nurture a family, to take care of friends or people who you didn’t know but that you were welcoming to your longer table anyway, became very important to me,” he said.  

As a sailor in the Spanish Navy, Andrés traveled the world before eventually moving to New York City, where he began his career as a cook at Eldorado Petit, a Spanish restaurant. Now, among the most decorated chefs in the culinary industry, as a two-star Michelin recipient, the José Andrés Group operates 40 restaurants. In 2010, when tragedy struck Haiti in the form of a devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake, Andrés knew he wanted to do more to spread hope through food.  

“When you go to many situations — war, hurricanes, or other disasters — you realize that food and water are one of the most important things that you can do for people. It is the very basis of starting to look to the future with hope,” he said.  

World Central Kitchen was operational in Ukraine within hours of the Russian invasion in 2022, and missions continue today both in Ukraine and Gaza. In 2025, Andrés was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden. To an audience inside the Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech, Andrés explained how World Central Kitchen has illuminated the goodness of humanity as thousands of restaurant employees, volunteers, and community members join together in missions across the globe.   

“When I go to emergencies, I always realize that in the worst moments of humanity, the best of humanity always shows up. I often feel selfish because when I go, I come back so fulfilled by the hope and empathy I find everywhere,” Andrés said.  

Along with his humanitarian work, Andrés is an Emmy Award-winning television personality, New York Times bestselling author, and educator, and has twice been named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People.” Despite the accolades, his friends say that Andrés is most fulfilled when he is helping others; at the event, he was introduced by Jon Riberas, chairman of Gonvarri Steel Industries in Madrid, and Enric Sala, founder and leader of Pristine Seas, a global conservation initiative.  

“When people think of José, they often think of the world-class chef. The man who brought the soul of Spain to the American table. But those of us who know him well, and those who have seen him in the mud of a hurricane or the dust of a conflict, know that the apron is merely the armor,” Sala said. “Ivan Allen Jr. risked his career because he knew that the human condition Georgia Tech talks about is not just a theory, it’s a responsibility. José lives that same responsibility.” 

During a fireside chat with Cabrera, Andrés also spoke about the importance of reducing food waste, the role of food in driving economic development for communities, and investing in programs that train people to staff kitchens and restaurants.  

Previous recipients of the award include John Lewis, Andrew Young, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and Christiane Amanpour.  

Thanks to a generous grant from the Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Foundation, the Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage includes a $100,000 stipend.