Oprah hasn’t slowed down a bit since the May finale of her 25-year-run on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show.’ Since the show wrapped, she has become more involved with her very own Harpo Studios, and even created her own global television channel, The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
Now Oprah is being recognized for her humanitarian work. According to Academy Awards officials, she will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award this November at the Governors Awards Dinner.
The Hersholt Award is given out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to someone in the film industry whose charitable work has brought tribute to the profession. The award was first given out 55 years ago and since then has been awarded to 34 individuals, the last being Jerry Lewis.
Oprah has always promoted giving back to the community. Over the years, she has worked for the Red Cross and The Clinton Foundation. In 1997 she started the Angel Network, which has since built over 55 schools and assisted over 1,000 families left homeless by Hurricane Katrina.
The academy said of Winfrey, “She has been especially dedicated to supporting educational initiatives and raising awareness of issues that affect women and children, both in the United States and around the globe.”
Oprah will be joined by James Earl Jones and Dick Smith, who will also be receiving Honorary Awards for their careers.
