Hilton Foundation Mourns Loss of Hilton Prize Director Judy M. Miller

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Philanthropist and activist Judy M. Miller, passed away on February 8, 2016 at her home in Los Angeles of natural causes. She was 77. Judy was known throughout the nonprofit community as a tireless advocate for vulnerable and disadvantaged people around the world. She served as Vice President and Director of the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize for 18 years, after a remarkable four-decade career in communications and marketing.

"Judy was a beloved member of our Foundation family and will be greatly missed," said Peter Laugharn, President and CEO at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. "We are very proud of her many accomplishments and will miss her dedication to discovering and advocating for nonprofit organizations that have made extraordinary advances in relieving human suffering."

Prior to her work at the Foundation, Judy led campaigns in advertising, public relations, politics, and government affairs for corporations, foundations and government agencies. Throughout her career, she was a pioneering advocate for women's rights. In 1975, she became the first woman executive in a major Japanese corporation (Suntory) and in 1981 was the first woman to work openly with men within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Ministry of Information). She later represented the King Faisal Foundation International Prizes presented annually in Riyadh.

Judy was passionate about her work and was recognized with several awards for her efforts to improve the lives of women and girls in particular.

Judy is preceded in death by her husband, Locke Miller who passed away in 1980. Judy is survived by her brother, Richard; her three daughters, Cathey, Cara and Colleen; and five grandchildren.

A celebration of Judy's life and memorial service will be announced in the coming weeks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Judy's memory to Sisters Saving Africa, Tostan, or the Arthritis Foundation.

About the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation was created in 1944 by international business pioneer Conrad N. Hilton, who founded Hilton Hotels and left his fortune to help the world's disadvantaged and vulnerable people. The Foundation currently conducts strategic initiatives in six priority areas: providing safe water, ending chronic homelessness, preventing substance use, helping children affected by HIV and AIDS, supporting transition-age youth in foster care, and extending Conrad Hilton's support for the work of Catholic Sisters. In addition, following selection by an independent international jury, the Foundation annually awards the $2 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to a nonprofit organization doing extraordinary work to reduce human suffering. In 2015, the Humanitarian Prize was awarded to Landesa, a Seattle-based land rights organization. From its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.4 billion in grants, distributing $107 million in the U.S. and around the world in 2015. The Foundation's current assets are approximately $2.5 billion. For more information, please visit www.hiltonfoundation.org.

Contact:  
Marc Moorghen, Communications Director
818.851.3721 / marc@hiltonfoundation.org

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SOURCE Conrad N. Hilton Foundation