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George Clooney to receive Emmy humanitarian prize

LOS ANGELES — Actor George Clooney, who led a galaxy of stars in a January telethon fundraiser for Haiti’s earthquake victims, will receive a special Emmy Award for his humanitarian efforts on August 29.

The 49-year-old Hollywood heartthrob will be honored for hosting the “Hope for Haiti Now” television special, as well as his efforts to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina and raise awareness of the crisis in Darfur.

“George was an obvious choice for this honor,” said John Shaffner, chairman and CEO of the Television Academy.

“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 as those tragically oppressed in Darfur.”

The Bob Hope Humanitarian Award was established in 2002 and Clooney will be its fourth recipient.

Clooney, who is also a producer, screenwriter and Oscar-winning director, has joined other humanitarian campaigns, such as when he backed then-British prime minister Gordon Brown in calling for the release of Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

“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,” said Hope’s daughter, Linda.

“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.”

Previous recipients of the awards were Oprah Winfrey, Bill Cosby and Danny Thomas, who received it posthumously in 2004.