The LBJ Foundation honored Willie Nelson with the foundation's highest honor, the LBJ Liberty & Justice for All Award, at an outdoor gala Friday, May 12, at the LBJ Presidential Library. Musicians Eric Church, Sam Hunt, Elle King and Lyle Lovett played musical tributes to Nelson and Mark K. Updegrove interviewed the Texas legend.
Net proceeds from the gala will benefit the newly established Willie Nelson Endowment for Uplifting Rural Communities at the LBJ School.
Nelson has long advocated for sustainable agriculture, worked to eliminate global food insecurity and assisted those affected by natural disasters. Farm Aid, perhaps his best-known cause, has raised more than $70 million in aid and helped increase awareness about the plight of family farms. The Willie Nelson Endowment will fund research and student fellowships focused on sustainable agriculture, eliminating hunger, resilient energy, sustainable water, and natural disaster recovery to benefit rural communities.
"The endowment was created in honor of Nelson’s longtime philanthropy and commitment to family farms and sustainable agriculture.It will provide crucial funding for pioneering research endeavors and student fellowships, with a focus on sustainable agriculture, eliminating hunger, resilient energy, sustainable water and natural disaster recovery." - LBJ School of Public Affairs Dean JR DeShazo
The endowment has received $100,000 sponsorships from President and Mrs. Johnson’s daughters, Lynda Johnson Robb and Luci Baines Johnson, as well as Texas retailer H-E-B, which is the largest private employer in Texas.
Coverage of the event also celebrated the 90-year-old icon and included local Austin-based outlets like the Austin American-Statesman and national news such as the Associated Press.