Amazon.com and Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos has awarded two $100 million prizes as his inaugural courage and civility awards, the Independent reports.

Announced at a press conference following the first crewed space flight of Bezos's Blue Origin rocket ship, which carried Bezos and three fellow passengers, the prizes  recognize "leaders who aim high, pursue solutions with courage, and always do so with civility." The inaugural prizes — which Bezos described as a new philanthropic initiative — were awarded to activist Van Jones, who served as founding CEO of the REFORM Alliance and Dream Corps, and chef and humanitarian José Andrés, who established World Central Kitchen, which provides food in the immediate aftermath of disasters.

Jones told the Independent that the funds would be redirected to connect grassroots organizations with "the geniuses who have to disrupt" a variety of industries so they can look to disrupt poverty and other problems facing the world. Andrés said he was "honored" and "really grateful" for the funding, which will support World Central Kitchen.

"Sometimes dreams come true," Jones said during the press conference. "And the headlines around the world should be 'anything is possible if you believe'."

"This award cannot feed the world on its own," said Andrés. "But this award is the start of a new chapter for us. It will allow us to think beyond the next hurricane to the bigger challenges we face.…Now is the time to think really big."

(Photo: screenshot taken during press conference)