Shilpa Shetty to present an award to Richard Gere

Hollywood star Richard Gere will be awarded for his social activism.The 56-year-old actor will be honoured with ‘ONE X ONE Difference Award’ at a special gala on September 9 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. Apart from honouring people who have fiercely endorsed social causes, the aim of this charity gala is to raise funds for child welfare.
Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty will be presenting the award to the actor. The two stars had previously come together in April this year for an AIDS awareness campaign in Delhi, but had kicked off a controversy by kissing onstage a number of times.Gere has been an advocate of AIDS awareness and has campaigned for several ecological causes. In 1999, he created the Gere Foundation India Trust to support a variety of humanitarian programs in India. He has also helped to establish the AIDS Care Home, a residential facility in India for women and children with AIDS.Shilpa’s spokesperson Dale Bhagwagar has said “it will be a matter of great prestige for Shilpa to be a part of this event.”The gala will be hosted by Oscar winner Matt Damon and will reportedly have performances by Shakira, Wyclef Jean of the Fugees, Montreal singing sensation Nikki Yanofsky, the African Children's Choir and many others.Apart from Gere, many other personalities will also be honoured with ONE X ONE award.