Holly Robinson Peete
Viola Davis
Viola Davis has been given the Jacqueline Avant HollyRod Humanitarian Award, as verified by HollywoodUnlocked.com. Davis was awarded during the HollyRod Foundation DesignCare 2024 Gala.
Holly Robinson Peete
The foundation, established by Holly Robinson Peete and her husband, supports families affected by Parkinson’s disease and autism.
Robinson Peete
During the event, Robinson Peete spoke about Jacqueline Avant’s legacy, emphasizing her philanthropy and love for the arts.
Inception period
“This award is very special to me because Jacqueline was a founding donor of the HollyRod Foundation at its inception period,” Robinson Peete said. “If you knew her, you knew the definition of grace, joy, philanthropy and love for family. She loves the arts and was an inspiration to so many.”
The award
Kelly Rowland presented the award to Davis, praising her impact and commitment to uplifting others.
The spirit of this award
“Viola Davis perfectly exemplifies the spirit of this award, named after Jacqueline Avant who was a true champion of generosity, love, and philanthropy,” Rowland said. “Like Jacqueline, Viola’s kindness and commitment to making the world a better place reminds us all of the power we have when we choose to uplift others. Viola, we are beyond grateful for your courage, your brilliance and your heart.”
Her challenging childhood
In her acceptance speech, Davis reflected on her challenging childhood and the importance of self-love and compassion.
Two people
“I listen to what people say, that when you go into philanthropy, it’s about making the world a better place; and that’s absolutely what I want, but the two people that you owe the most to are your six-year-old self and your 80-year-old self,” Davis said. “I don’t know my 80-year-old self yet… but I know my six-year-old self because she’s still very much alive to me.”
Very little food
“She had a lot of dreams, but she didn’t have a lot of hopes. She was a bed wetter. She grew up with very little food and in abject poverty. She was probably called an [N-word] more times than she was called Viola – and ugly. But what happened with Viola, she was born into a world where she did not fit in. And if anyone comes to understand the definition of a hero, they are always born into a world that they do not fit in,” Davis added.
Philanthropic work
Davis emphasized her philanthropic work aimed at addressing childhood hunger, education, and domestic violence, expressing her desire to honor her younger self and help others feel seen and supported.
The last person
“I was reluctant to say this,” Davis said, “But until the last person who has a memory of you dies, you will never be dead, and I want to live forever. I want to honor little Viola, I want to be the hero that she needs next. I want to be that person that came through the dark and said, ‘I see you.’ That’s why I work with hunger. That’s why I work with education. That’s why I work with domestic violence. I see you. And as long as I am breathing, I know that my leg of this race is to pass the baton on to the next great runner who’s gonna get it and put it out into the world and make others feel less alone, like Ms. Avant. I thank her for her life. I thank her for even thinking that I am worthy of this award. And while I’m still breathing, I am going to leave something in people.”
The community
The gala attracted around 500 attendees, including notable figures like Magic Johnson. Other honorees included artists and professionals recognized for their contributions to the community.