Tyler Perry will be honored in April with a humanitarian award presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The Academy said Thursday in a press release it plans to break with tradition and award two Hersholt Humanitarian Award recipients this year — Perry and the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF).
“There has been such widespread generosity in our industry that limiting the Hersholt Humanitarian Award to one recipient, this year in particular, was impossible,” Academy President David Rubin said.
“Tyler’s cultural influence extends far beyond his work as a filmmaker. He has quietly and steadily focused on humanitarian and social justice causes from the beginning of his career, caring for people who are most often ignored,” Rubin added. “The work of the MPTF is more vital than ever, and the organization has gone above and beyond to help our community.”
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Now in its 100th year, the MPTF offers a variety of services to entertainment industry members and their families. Those services include financial assistance, end of life care, senior and childcare services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has provided support to nearly 9,000 people.
Both Perry and the MPTF will receive an Oscar statuette during the Academy Awards.
In his recent philanthropic work, the Madea film franchise creator donated $100,000 to the defense fund of Kenneth Walker, the boyfriend of Breonna Taylor, who is being sued for “battery, assault and emotional distress” by a Louisville police officer who responded during the officer-involved shooting of Taylor last year.
Just before Thanksgiving 2020, Perry also donated 5,000 boxes of food to families in the Atlanta area.
He is also founder of The Perry Foundation which helps with education, agriculture, technology, global sustainable economic development, health, human rights, and arts and culture.
The Academy will present the humanitarian awards at the Oscars on Sunday, April 25.
