Zelda Williams, Patricia Arquette Honor Family Members at Noble Awards
In light of the #AskHerMore campaign that arose this past awards — which contends that celebrities in Hollywood should be asked about more than their red carpet style — the third annual Noble Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Friday could not have been more relevant.
The awards honored celebrities such as Kristen Bell, David Arquette, Rosario Dawson, Michelle Rodriquez, Gary Senise, both Nikki Reed and new fiance Ian Somerhalder and Herbie Hancock for their philanthropic work with disaster relief, poverty and hunger relief, animal rights, youth advocacy, human rights and social justice, among other causes.
All of the actual awards presented were made by patients in the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’ art program, and the event featured musical performances by Eric Benet, Steven Roth and G.R.L.
Arquette’s siblings Alexis Arquette, Richmond Arquette and Patricia Arquette (“Boyhood”) presented their brother, David, with his award for his efforts to aid the homeless. Patricia, who won her first Academy Award last week, said she was thrilled that her brother was being recognized.
“David blows my mind all the time,” she said. “He has the most incredible heart of anyone I’ve ever known.”
Backstage, David held his award and joked around, asking Patricia if she wanted to trade. But joking aside, David said he was grateful to be a part of an event that raises awareness for such great causes.
“(The Noble Awards) put their money where their mouth is,” he said. “They donate to the charity that you support, and they bring all these incredible philanthropists together.”
David supports Feeding America, which combats hunger nationwide, and the Ocean Park Community Center, which provides social services to people in Los Angeles. Patricia added that, to her, the whole event was beautiful.
“It is really inspirational to be here tonight to see how many great people there are in the world, and the great effect they’re having on others,” she said.
Recipient Bell, who supports No Kids Hungry — an organization working to end child hunger in America — said that she was inspired to get involved when she started having children. Her second daughter, Delta, was born in December.
“I had become concerned about childhood hunger here in America when I became pregnant. I was thinking a lot about children, and also was constantly hungry,” she said.
In her acceptance speech, she talked about the responsibility and gifts that accompany celebrity.
“I think it’s really important to not just look at it as a duty to use the spotlight to help others, but also as an honor and a privilege, which is truly what it feels like,” she said.
The event was particularly emotional when Zelda Williams, daughter of the late Robin Williams, accepted an award in honor of her father’s work with the Challenged Athletes Foundation, which provides support for people with physical challenges.
Williams read her acceptance speech from her phone, apologizing for the “faux pas,” explaining that she didn’t know there would be a teleprompter and didn’t bring her glasses, “and that doesn’t usually mix well with tears anyhow.”
Williams did shed a few tears, but it was clear that she shares her father’s sense of humor. A video montage that played before her speech showed her father working with his charity in his cycling clothes.
“My apologies, by the way, for subjecting you to the sight of my father in spandex,” Zelda said with a laugh. “Still, for a man so incredibly hairy and square, watching my dad on a bike was like watching a penguin spread his wings and take flight,” she said. “He’d take off at inhuman speeds, a smile on his face, and never look back.”
(Pictured: Producer and former wife of Robin Williams Marsha Garces with daughter and actress Zelda Williams at the third annual Noble Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.)
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