Actor/director/writer Ben Affleck will be honored by the Writers Guild of America, West next month for his humanitarian efforts in the eastern Congo and charitable efforts domestically, the guild announced Wednesday.
Affleck will receive the WGAW’s Valentine Davies Award, which honors members whose humanitarian efforts “have brought dignity and honor to writers everywhere.”
“Perhaps must crucially, Affleck founded the Eastern Congo Initiative, a grant-making and advocacy group that works toward an eastern Congo with opportunities for economic and social development and the flourishing of a robust civil society,” WGAW President Chris Keyser said. “Affleck has traveled extensively in support of these initiatives with energy, commitment, intelligence and effectiveness, devoting large amounts of time and presence.
“And in doing so, he has raised the bar for what it means, in this community, to be a socially committed citizen,” Keyser said.
Affleck founded the ECI in March 2010 and has testified three times before Congress to raise awareness of the conflict and instability in the region. He has also been a supporter of charitable groups including Feeding America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, A-T Children’s Project and the Dana- Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund.
Previous recipients of the Valentine Davies Award include Norman Lear, Larry Gelbart, Carl Reiner, Phil Rosenthal and Sam Simon.
Affleck will receive the honor Feb. 14 during the WGA Awards ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza hotel in Century City.
— City News Service