Multiple award-winning actress Viola Davis, has been named as recipient of the 2018 Sherry Lansing award for The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment breakfast event scheduled for December 5 in Los Angeles.
The honor is presented annually to a female trailblazer and philanthropic leader in her industry. Per merit, Davis will receive the honorary award as a result of her works to end poverty in her hometown of Central Falls, R.I, where she has donated to its public library; her alma matter and the Seuge Institute for learning, a charter school. Aside that, through Davis partnership with Vaseline Healing Project, she returned to Central Falls in 2016 to launch a free health clinic for residents unable to afford health care. The actress has also been outspoken on issues of racism, inequality and sexual violence in Hollywood. From 2014-17, Davis served as an ambassador for the charitable initiative Hunger Is, raising more than $20 million to provide meals for children all over the country.
Matthew Belloni, editorial director of The Hollywood Reporter remarked, “Viola uses her fame in such selfless ways, amplifying the unheard voices of others, and has inspired tremendous change both in her Rhode Island hometown and across the globe. Her prodigious talent and commitment to do good is unparalleled, and she is the perfect embodiment of what it means to be a leader in the Hollywood community. I can’t think of a better recipient for the 2018 Sherry Lansing Award.”
Past recipients of the Sherry Lansing honorary award include some of Hollywood’s big names, Oprah Winfrey, Diane Keaton, Halle Berry, Jodie Foster, Glenn Close, Barbara Walters, Shonda Rhimes, Tina Fey, Barbra Streisand and Jennifer Lawrence.
