Ben Affleck to Receive Third Annual People’s Choice Award for Favorite Humanitarian

The People’s Choice Awards announced today that two-time Academy Award winner Ben Affleck will receive the third annual People’s Choice Award for Favorite Humanitarian, presented by Walgreens, during the live telecast of PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2015, from the Nokia Theater L.A. Live on Wednesday, January 7th, 2015 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network.

“We are so pleased to honor Ben with the 2015 People's Choice Humanitarian Award," said executive producer Mark Burnett. "This award has become an important part of our show. It highlights a different side of a celebrity and helps bring awareness to a cause that our audience can support.”

Affleck was chosen as this year’s recipient in recognition of his work with Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI), which he founded in 2010. ECI is both a grant-making and advocacy based organization that partners with the Congolese people to increase the quality and quantity of investments in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Over the last five years, ECI has made grants and investments to support local solutions that create smart, effective and sustainable economic and social development opportunities. In partnership, ECI has worked to amplify Congolese voices and share with the world the abundance of proven community-based approaches that are key to creating a peaceful and vibrant society. To date, ECI has made investments to strengthen and revitalize DRC’s cocoa and coffee sectors, help reintegrate former child soldiers into society and address the health needs of woman and children.

Walgreens, the official retail sponsor of PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS 2015, is once again presenting the award for Favorite Humanitarian in conjunction with the company’s purpose to champion everyone’s right to be happy and healthy. Past winners of the award include Sandra Bullock in 2013 in recognition of her work with the Warren Easton High School in New Orleans, and Jennifer Hudson in 2014 to honor her work with the Julian D. King Gift Foundation.

CHEAT TWEET:

.@BenAffleck, founder of @EasternCongo, to be honored by @PeoplesChoice Awards & @Walgreens with Humanitarian Award. Live Jan 7 9/8c on CBS.

ABOUT BEN AFFLECK

In 2010, Ben founded Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI), a grant-making and advocacy organization focused on investing in and working with the people of eastern Congo. ECI believes that local, community-based approaches are essential to creating a sustainable and successful society in eastern Congo, and works to increase the quality and quantity of investments in the region.

Since 2007, Affleck has made nine trips to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with a focus on the eastern provinces. He has focused on understanding the causes and consequences of conflict on the continent, and learning about African solutions to the problems affecting the DRC. In May 2008, a film crew from ABC’s Nightline joined Ben on a trip to the DRC, meeting with a diverse set of individuals – including President Joseph Kabila; former armed group leader Laurent Nkunda; refugees and internally displaced people; former child soldiers; and leaders from local and international NGOs, among others – to gather a range of viewpoints on the issues in the region. Nightline produced a full episode about the trip narrated by Ben; it aired in June 2008.

In late 2008, he directed a short film and public service announcement, “Gimme Shelter,” about the humanitarian crisis in the DRC. The film was utilized as part of the UNHCR’s international campaign to aid those displaced by violence.

Affleck has testified before Congress three times to advocate for U.S. and international engagement in Congo, most recently before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in February 2014. In addition to extensive travel throughout the DRC, Ben’s learning and advocacy trips have taken him to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Republic of Congo, Sudan and Zanzibar. He is a longtime political activist and strong supporter of many charitable organizations, such as Feeding America, A-T Children's Project, and the Jimmy Fund.

ABOUT EASTERN CONGO INITIATIVE

Founded by Ben Affleck in 2010, Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) www.easterncongo.org is a grant-making and advocacy initiative focused on working with and for the people of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since its inception, ECI has provided 80 grants to 34 Congolese community-based organizations. ECI’s mission is to increase the quality and quantity of investments into DRC by supporting innovative Congolese-led solutions. ECI envisions a DRC vibrant with abundant opportunities for economic and social development, where a robust civil society can flourish, and where public and private partnerships, combined with domestic and international advocacy create new opportunities for the Congolese people.

ABOUT WALGREENS

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com), the nation's largest drugstore chain, constitutes the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing enterprise. More than 8 million customers interact with Walgreens each day in communities across America, using the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice. Walgreens operates 8,229 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens digital business includes Walgreens.com, drugstore.com, Beauty.com, SkinStore.com and VisionDirect.com. Walgreens also manages more than 400 Healthcare Clinic and provider practice locations around the country.

ABOUT PEOPLE'S CHOICE

Now in its 41st year, the People’s Choice Awards is the only major awards show voted on entirely by the public for fan favorites in movies, music and television. The People’s Choice official website at www.PeoplesChoice.com houses the voting platform where fans determine the categories, nominees and winners for the annual awards show. Every year, potential nominees are determined by national ratings averages, box-office grosses, music sales and People’s Choice data, then vetted through EPoll Market Research. Fred Nelson is the President of People’s Choice, and Mark Burnett and Jane Mun are the Executive Producers of the awards show. The awards show, and digital, mobile and social extensions of the brand are owned by Procter & Gamble, and produced by United Artist Media Group (UAMG) a joint venture among MGM, Mark Burnett, Roma Downey and Hearst Corporation.

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