Richard Gere is about to be handed the 2007 Marian Anderson Award for his advocacy efforts on behalf of independence for Tibet and better care for HIV/AIDS patients.
- June 20, 2007
AceShowbiz -
A Golden Globe winning actor, Richard Gere is about to be honored for his advocacy work. The movie star, who first became famous during the 1980s, is about to be handed this year Marian Anderson Award, mainly to honor his advocacy efforts on behalf of independence for Tibet and better care for HIV/AIDS patients.
Naming some of Gere's advocacy efforts are serving as the chairman of the board of the International Campaign for Tibet and has sponsored the Dalai Lama on two trips to the United States. He, in addition, also started a foundation bearing his name and a public charity, Healing the Divide, that work to better medical care for HIV/AIDS patients.
"His accomplishments as an actor are only surpassed by his accomplishments as a humanitarian and as an advocate for human rights issues around the world," Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street said Tuesday June 19th in announcing the award.
Gere is slated to receive the award, given by the city each year to an artist or performer for humanitarian efforts, November 12th later this year at a gala featuring a concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra.
