Journalists Dmitry A. Muratov of Russia and Maria Ressa of the Philippines were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Oct. 6 for their work to defend freedom of expression in their home countries. Muratov has stated that he plans to donate his share of the prize money — around $500,000 — to charitable causes. Among the recipients will be the Circle of Kindness Foundation, which supports children with SMA and other rare conditions.

“I will not take or receive even one single cent of it. That is out of the question. Since it is a Peace Prize, I believe it should contribute to that cause,” Muratov told UN News.

Muratov, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, has used his acclaim and connections to help support children with SMA since early 2020, according to The New York Times. He was inspired to back this cause after a reporter on his team alerted him to the extreme financial burden families face in seeking treatment for their children with SMA.

Aside from the Circle of Kindness Foundation, Muratov has announced he will split his winnings among donations to a health foundation that supports journalists; the Anna Politkovskaya Award; the Vera Institute of Justice; a children’s hospice in Moscow; and the Dmitry Rogachev National Research Center, which treats children with leukemia.