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Richard Gere, who has donated time and money to Tibetan independence and HIV/Aids care, has accepted a prestigious humanitarian award given by the city of Philadelphia.
The actor was given the Marian Anderson Award, named after the black American opera singer who achieved international acclaim by the mid-1930s but faced racial segregation at home.
Gere, 58, accepted the honour and its US$100,000 ($131,000) honorarium at a gala at the Kimmel Centre for the Performing Arts.
"I'm not worthy of this award in any way whatsoever," Gere said. "I can't tell you how this makes me feel. My heart is so wide open."
