John and Laura Hardman to Receive the Inaugural Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award for Hope

ATLANTA (Oct. 29, 2026) – Dr. John B. and Laura Jones Hardman will be honored with the inaugural Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award for Hope on Friday, Oct. 30, recognizing their lifelong commitment to service and leadership in Atlanta and around the world.

WHO: John Hardman served as the Carter Center’s first CEO, leading the organization from 1993 to 2014. Laura Hardman, his wife, is an Atlanta civic leader who served as president of the Alliance Theatre and the Woodruff Arts Center and as a trustee of Emory University.

WHAT: The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award for Hope honors leaders who reflect the values of the former President and First Lady and carry on their legacy of compassion, leadership, and action.

WHEN: 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 30.

WHERE: The event will be in the Cecil B. Day Chapel at The Carter Center in Atlanta.

SPEAKERS: Carter Center Chair Jason Carter and CEO Paige Alexander will make remarks, as will Terry Adamson, a longtime friend of the Hardmans and Trustee Emeritus at the Center.

CONTACT: For more information, photos, and interviews, please contact media@cartercenter.org

Additional Background

Quotes

“John and Laura reflect the values my grandparents lived every day, both individually and together: service, humility, compassion, and a belief that each of us can make a difference,” said Jason Carter, chair of the Carter Center’s Board of Trustees and eldest grandchild of the Center’s founders. “This award honors Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s remarkable partnership and legacy, and there is no couple more fitting to receive its first-ever presentation than the Hardmans.”

“John and Laura embody hope, not as optimism alone but as disciplined service. They’ve led by remaining engaged, building institutions, caring for people, and continuing the work even when progress is difficult,” said Terry Adamson, a longtime friend of the Hardmans and Trustee Emeritus at The Carter Center. “Their lives and example connect the Center’s founding generation to its future and demonstrate courage, humility, partnership, and faith in the possibility of a better world.”

The Honorees

Dr. John B. Hardman is a prominent psychiatrist. He was in private practice and served as medical director of Charter Peachford Hospital before joining The Carter Center in 1989, overseeing efforts to reduce tobacco use and improve mental health. Beginning in 1992, he led the organization for more than two decades as its first CEO, guiding its growth into a globally respected institution recognized for its work advancing peace and improving health. Working closely alongside President and Mrs. Carter, he helped transform their vision into action and contributed significantly to the Center’s enduring humanitarian impact. He served on many community organization boards, including president and then chair of the Atlanta History Center.

As CEO, Dr. Hardman oversaw initiatives to train more than 25 million small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, expand election observation globally, reduce Guinea worm disease, and build an innovative public health training initiative in Ethiopia. Throughout his tenure, John brought a calming and deep commitment to human dignity, compassionate care, and public service.

Laura Jones Hardman is a leader and changemaker who worked with presidential candidate Jimmy Carter and later served President and Mrs. Carter during their White House years. Her civic service has focused on education, the environment, and art and cultural institutions throughout Atlanta, demonstrating the kind of dedicated community leadership that strengthens organizations and enriches lives. She was the second woman appointed to the Emory Board of Trustees, served as president of the Alliance Theatre, and served on the boards of the Woodruff Arts Center, Outward Bound, and Kaiser Permanente.

The Award

The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award for Hope recognizes couples or individuals whose leadership, compassion, and service embody the values President and Mrs. Carter championed throughout their lives. It celebrates people whose actions have inspired and improved the lives of others through extraordinary humanitarian commitment. The Hardmans are the first recipients of the award.

The physical award was crafted by Cherrylion Studios, led by sculptor Marty Dawes, who also created the “Hope” statue in the Rose Garden on The Carter Center grounds. The base of the award was created by the Carters’ grandson, Josh Carter, using wood and tools passed down by his grandfather. The award incorporates the image of a dove, a symbol of peace that President Carter painted in one of his many portraits of birds.

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