Swanee
Hunt is a former United States Ambassador to Austria, a philanthropist, author,
adjunct Lecturer at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and the director of
its Women and Public Policy Program. The daughter of an oil tycoon, Swanee Hunt
has been involved in philanthropic activities for much of her life. In 1981, she
and her sister founded the Hunt Alternatives Fund, which has provided more than
$60 million in funding for social change programs, including children's rights,
women's rights, gay and lesbian rights, veterans' rights, violence prevention,
leadership development and the environment. Their fund also includes The Women
Waging Peace Network, a network of 500 women peace builders from more than 40
conflict areas around the world that advocates for the full participation of women
in the peace process. In 2005 Swanee Hunt was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize
as part of the 1000 Women for Peace project and in October 2007 was inducted into
the National Women's Hall of Fame.
