01/28/2026
Estimates are that approximately 500 million people died from smallpox in the 20th century. That was before Dr. Bill Foege, in his role at the CDC, stepped in with a solution and led the effort to eradicate the disease, the only major disease ever completely eradicated worldwide. If you look him up on Google, it will say this giant of a gentleman saved more lives than anyone in history. He modestly said that many people were involved, but he was the one who figured out how to do it and then led the effort.
Dr. Foege died in January at the age of 89. It was an honor for us to be involved with the creation and production of the Bill Foege Global Health Awards, honoring the icons of global health like Bill Gates, Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter, George W. Bush, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and others. It was a privilege to work with him and to claim him as our friend. He was the best of the best.
- Bob Hope, Chairman and Co-Founder, Hope Beckham Espinosa