Captain Planet Foundation Honors Ted Turner at Gala
The environmental nonprofit marked its 35th year with a gala and concert in metro Atlanta, its first event since Ted Turner's death in May.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Cultural
The Captain Planet Foundation celebrated its 35th year at a gala and concert in metro Atlanta Saturday night, honoring cofounder Ted Turner. The event was the nonprofit's first since Turner's death in May.
Why it matters
The foundation, named for the animated series Captain Planet and the Planeteers, has trained over 10,000 young people as effective actionists. The event marks a milestone for the organization as it continues without its cofounder.
The foundation reports it has trained over 10,000 young people as effective actionists across its 35 years. The source does not detail the program's current enrollment or how that figure is tracked.
The players
Captain Planet Foundation
An environmental nonprofit cofounded by Ted Turner and Barbara Pyle, named for the animated series Captain Planet and the Planeteers created for TBS in 1989.
Ted Turner
A media executive who founded CNN and cofounded the Captain Planet Foundation, and who died in May 2026.
George McKerrow
The first recipient of the Ted Turner Legacy Award, who has served on the business board alongside Turner for 25 years.
Peter Conlon
President of Live Nation Atlanta, who received a Superhero of the Earth Award at the gala.
The details
At the Saturday gala and the Concert for the Planet, held at the Roxy adjacent to Truist Park, Marcia Gay Harden served as emcee while Yola and The Wallflowers performed. Live Nation Atlanta President Peter Conlon received a Superhero of the Earth Award from Jason Carter, and Laura Turner Seydel presented the inaugural Ted Turner Legacy Award to George McKerrow.
Timeline
May 2026: Ted Turner died.
Saturday, November 7, 2026: Captain Planet Foundation 35th-year gala and concert held in Atlanta.
Monday, November 9, 2026: United Nations Foundation set to honor Ted Turner at UN headquarters.
Cultural Legacy
The foundation traces its origins to the animated series Captain Planet and the Planeteers, which premiered on TBS in 1989. The 35th-year gala extends that program's environmental message into the nonprofit's ongoing youth training work.
The Concert for the Planet was held at the Roxy adjacent to Truist Park in Atlanta. The source does not indicate whether the event will be repeated or how the public can attend future programming.
The takeaway
The Captain Planet Foundation's 35-year record of training more than 10,000 young people shows how a television series can grow into sustained community work. Its first event without cofounder Ted Turner signals the next chapter for that effort.
What happens next
The United Nations Foundation is set to honor Ted Turner at UN headquarters in New York on Monday, November 9, 2026.
Further reading
For more on Atlanta's arts scene, see the Cultural section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Georgia Public Broadcasting.
