Jimmy Jean-Louis to get humanitarian award

LOS ANGELES, May 12 (UPI) -- Haitian-born actor Jimmy Jean-Louis is to be honored with a humanitarian award at the Cannes film festival, his representatives said Wednesday.

Jean-Louis is one of the stars of NBC's action-drama "Heroes" and the founder of Hollywood Unites for Haiti. He is to be presented with the award during International Luxury Media's 3rd annual Better World Awards' Glitter and Glam Ball.

The invitation-only, black-tie gala, cocktail reception and dinner is to take place at The Lotus VIP Club on Le Goeland Beach May 19.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell, who will receive the BWA Fashion Philanthropy Award, is to be among the special guests, along with Boris Becker, Prince Filliberto de Savoie, Princess Clotilde Courau, Elie Saab, Denise Rich, Hofit Golan, Troy Bayliss, Baden Cooke and Ana Cunya.

The recent earthquake in Haiti and its aftermath inspired Jean-Louis to change the focus of his charity Hollywood Unites for Haiti, which originally aimed to provide sports and cultural education to underprivileged youth on the island. Jean-Louis' representatives said the group mobilized for disaster relief after the magnitude-7 earthquake struck and now allocates 100 percent of its donations to helping Haitian citizens and raising global awareness of ways in which people can help.

"Haiti has suffered many setbacks in its rich history and yet the Haitian people have never lost the character to face adversity with creativity, resilience, and community," Jean-Louis said in a statement. "I want to do everything in my power to comfort those who desperately need help and rebuild the country that I love."