Ellen DeGeneres to receive People's Choice Humanitarian Award

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Talk-show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres is to receive the fourth annual Award for Favorite Humanitarian at Wednesday's People's Choice Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, CBS said.

"I am so honored to be receiving the People's Choice Humanitarian Award. I think it sums me up perfectly as I am both a human and an itarian," DeGeneres joked in a statement.

"DeGeneres was chosen as this year's honoree in recognition of her tireless efforts to help communities in need and bring awareness to organizations and charities that are making a difference in people's lives," a news release said. "As the recipient of the Favorite Humanitarian Award, DeGeneres has selected St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as the beneficiary of the annual donation presented by Walgreens."

Additionally, for every CoverGirl, Pantene, Crest and Oral-B 3DWhite product sold at Walgreens, Walgreens.com, or Duane Reade between Wednesday and Saturday, Walgreens will make a $1 donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The news of DeGeneres' recognition comes as her daytime chat program The Ellen DeGeneres Show has been renewed through 2020.

"For more than a decade, Ellen has anchored the daytime lineups of the NBC-owned stations, offering our viewers a great afternoon show, delivering a strong lead in for our early evening newscasts and helping to launch new hits," Valari Staab, president of NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, said in a statement. "We're proud of our partnership with Ellen, her fabulous team and our friends at Warner Bros., and we are thrilled to extend our relationship with them."

"There's a very simple explanation as to why Ellen is No. 1," added Ken Werner, president of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. "Day in and day out, Ellen delivers the best show on television. Ellen and her team produce a completely unique and exciting hour, which is appointment television for viewers everywhere. We are thrilled to continue our 13-year partnership with the NBC Stations which delivers to their communities the entertainment and inspiration of Ellen."