Gere honored for humanitarian work

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Hollywood actor Richard Gere has been chosen to receive the 2007 Marian Anderson Award for his humanitarian work and film career.

Gere is expected to stop by the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia Monday evening to pick up the prize at a ceremony that will feature performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Measha Brueggergosman and Patti LaBelle, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

The actor is the first native-born Philadelphian to receive the Anderson award, a prize honoring individuals who have used their talents to entertain, as well as improve society, the newspaper said.