The American's George Clooney receives Humanitarian Emmy

George Clooney, who’ll be appearing Anton Corbijn’s killer thriller The American (due out from Focus on September 1), has been chosen to receive the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at this year’s Emmy Awards (which will air on August 29, a few days before The American opens). John Shaffner, Chairman and CEO, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences commends their choice by stating, George “has understood and harnessed the power of television, the most powerful medium of our time, to reach into the hearts of people around the world and compelled us to action on behalf of those in sudden and desperate need,” The Academy site goes further to name just a few of his television appeals:

Whether it is his advocacy to stop genocide in Darfur, his subsequent founding of Not On Our Watch with Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Jerry Weintraub to focus global attention and resources on preventing mass atrocities, or quickly mobilizing the entertainment industry for the America: A Tribute to Heroes in the wake of 9/11, Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope in 2005, A Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and most recently, the Hope For Haiti Now telethon, Clooney’s personal dedication to humanitarian concerns makes him the ideal choice for this recognition.