Nellie Andreeva

george_clooneyNorth Hollywood, CA, July 21, 2010 – The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced today that it has selected George Clooney to be the recipient of the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award.  The award will be presented — for the first time in six years — to Clooney on Sunday, August 29 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE during the Primetime Emmy® Awards telecast on NBC.

emmyThe Bob Hope Humanitarian Award is presented to an individual in the telecommunications industry whose humanitarian work has brought credit to the industry and whose deeds and actions have a lasting impact on society. Since its establishment in 2002, only three other honorees have been selected to receive this prestigious award — Oprah Winfrey was the inaugural recipient in 2002, followed by Bill Cosby in 2003 and Danny Thomas in 2004 (presented posthumously, accepted by his daughter, actress Marlo Thomas). The recipients all serve as lasting role models that demonstrate the positive impact one individual can make, reflecting the life and accomplishments of Bob Hope.

Clooney’s determined commitment and efforts to increase awareness of human rights issues and spark constructive response to international crises make him a worthy recipient for the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. Whether it is his advocacy to stop genocide in Darfur, his subsequent founding of Not On Our Watch with Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Jerry Weintraub to focus global attention and resources on preventing mass atrocities, or quickly mobilizing the entertainment industry for the America: A Tribute to Heroes in the wake of 9/11, Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope in 2005, and most recently, the Hope For Haiti Now telethon, Clooney’s personal dedication to humanitarian concerns makes him the ideal choice for this recognition. (Coincidentally, Hope for Haiti Now has been nominated for a 2010 Primetime Emmy in the Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special category.)  Previously, he has been honored with the 2007 Peace Summit Award by The Eighth World Summit of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, and in 2008, Clooney was designated a United Nations Messenger of Peace, to serve as an advocate on behalf of the U.N. and its peacekeeping efforts.

“George was an obvious choice for this honor,” said John Shaffner, Chairman and CEO, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. “He has understood and harnessed the power of television, the most powerful medium of our time, to reach into the hearts of people around the world and compelled us to action on behalf of those in sudden and desperate need as well those tragically oppressed in Darfur.”

“Like my own father, George is a person who looks beyond himself to use his celebrity for good, to make a difference in the world, and to inspire others to do the same,” commented Linda Hope. “It’s particularly gratifying that he has been selected for this award, since our families have a history of friendship and a powerful, shared desire to help others.”

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