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Pretty Woman star Richard Gere gets Marian Anderson Award

Tuesday, 13 November 2007

Pretty Woman star Richard Gere gets Marian Anderson Award

Hollywood actor Richard Gere, who starred in Pretty Woman, has received the Marian Anderson Award, which is a humanitarian honour awarded by the city of Philadelphia in America.

Richard Gere, 58, was presented with the Marian Anderson Award for his work as an activist on global concerns, however, he didn’t think he deserved it and is reported to have said: "I'm not worthy of this award in any way whatsoever."

Richard Gere, who is a practising Buddhist, as co-founder of the Tibet House and chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet, had supported the country’s independence from Chinese rule since 1978.

Richard Gere had also started a charity to benefit HIV/Aids sufferers and created a philanthropic Richard Gere foundation.

Richard Gere received the award to the value of $100,000 (£48,400) at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

The Marian Anderson Award takes its name from the black American opera singer who was acclaimed worldwide but who faced racial segregation where she lived.

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