‘Idol Gives Back’ earns special Emmy award

updated 8:38 p.m. ET Aug. 6, 2007

Fox’s “Idol Gives Back,” which provided millions of dollars in aid to children in extreme poverty, and HBO’s “The Addiction Project” educational campaign will receive the television academy’s 2007 Governors Award.

“We salute these programs for harnessing the power of television to educate and inform viewers about two very significant issues that touch all of us,” academy chairman Dick Askin said in announcing the award Monday.

Part concert and part public-service campaign, “Idol Gives Back” joined “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest and Ellen DeGeneres with musicians, humanitarians and corporate sponsors to raise more than $74 million for poor, homeless and sick children in the United States and Africa.

“We are so proud to have been able to leverage the power of ‘Idol’ with the support of our dedicated viewers across America to raise so much money and awareness for such worthwhile charitable organizations,” creator and executive producer Simon Fuller said in a statement.

“The Addiction Project,” a partnership between HBO, the National Institutes of Health and the Robert Wood Johnson foundation, included a series of documentary films and outreach events in more than 100 cities to build awareness of addiction as a chronic brain disease that responds to medical and behavioral treatments.

Slide show ‘Idol’ auditions Thousands turn out in San Diego for a chance at stardom on season 7 of the hit show. more photos

“It’s a topic which affects the lives of millions of Americans, and HBO considers it a privilege to have made some small contribution to helping people understand the challenges and treatment opportunities of this terrible disease,” HBO chairman and chief executive Bill Nelson said in a statement.

The Governors Award is the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ highest honor, recognizing the achievements of an individual, company or organization. Past recipients include Jerry Lewis for his work with the Muscular Dystrophy telethon and mtvU’s Campaign for Darfur.

The awards will be presented Sept. 8 at the creative arts Emmy ceremony, which honors technical achievements and guest actors in series.

The prime-time Emmys are scheduled to air live on Fox on Sept. 16.

MORE FROM AMERICAN IDOL

‘Idol’ rat pack: 10 finalists prepare for tour

‘Idol’ rat pack: 10 finalists prepare for tour ‘Idol’ auditions return to talent magnet ‘Idol’ wannabes sing in rain as auditions begin Lambert says he's gay in interview Send us your photos from the ‘Idol’ auditions ‘Idol’ winner Allen duets with Huckabee Overeager AT&T employees helped ‘Idol’ fans Adam keen on Queen but won’t rock exclusively Scott ‘shocked’ duet was cut from ‘Idol’ finale Hold off on those ‘Idol’ conspiracy theories   Add American Idol headlines to your news reader: