Joseph P. Kennedy

Harvard Institute of Politics (IOP) was created to serve as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy and inspire Harvard students into careers in politics and public service, much as President Kennedy was inspired during his days as a student at Harvard. The IOP also brings together the academic world with the world of politics and public affairs. All of this activity occurs on a non-partisan basis with the sole aim of promoting public service. Following President Kennedy's death in 1963, the Kennedy Library Corporation raised more than $20 million for both the construction of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, and for the creation and endowment of an institute at Harvard for the study of politics and public affairs. More than 30 million people from around the world, including school children, contributed to the fund. In 1966, the Kennedy Library Corporation presented Harvard University with an endowment for the creation of the Institute of Politics. The Institute of Politics is housed within Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and is affiliated with the Kennedy Presidential Library.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a nonprofit company headquartered in Washington, DC and ultimately controlled by the Government of the United States of America, that promotes theatrical performances and events. Deborah F. Rutter is currently the CEO of the firm.

Robert F. SmithJRF's ROBIE Achievement in Industry AwardRobert F. Smith is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, a leading $14 billion private equity firm focused on software and technology-related businesses. Since Vista's founding in 2000, Mr. Smith has overseen more than 170 completed transactions by the firm representing over $45 billion in transaction value. In November 2015, for the second year in a row and based on its performance over the last 11 years, Vista was named as world's #1 performing private equity firm, according to the HEC-Dow Jones annual ranking. An engaged philanthropist, Mr. Smith launched a national effort in 2010 entitled Project Realize, based on his visionary approach of "Free Market Philanthropy." He is the Chairman of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and the Founding Director and Chairman of the Fund II Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving the African-American experience, safeguarding human rights, providing music education, preserving the environment, and sustaining critical American values.