Ben Affleck People's Choice Awards Speech: How To Donate To Eastern Congo Initiative

Oscar-winner Ben Affleck might play a superhero on the silver screen, but some consider him to be a superhero in real life, too. The “Gone Girl” star accepted the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Humanitarian Wednesday night after he founded the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) in 2010 to help enhance the quality of life for the people who live in the region.

Amy Adams, his costar in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” said Affleck immersed himself “to comprehend everything he could” about the people of Congo. “This is a country of survivors,” Affleck said in a pre-recorded clip. The actor said he wanted to bring attention to Congo, and as he did more research, he decided to start ECI so he could help as much as possible.

“A life lived just for yourself is not a life,” he said. “There’s is no guarantee that when you set out to change the world that you’ll be successful, but you’ll change yourself. And that I have found to be true.” With that compelling statement, the pre-recorded clip stopped and the crowd gave Affleck a standing ovation as he made his way to the stage to accept his award.

“This is incredibly humbling,” he said as he held the award in his hand. “I’ve been called a lot of things in my life, but humanitarian hasn’t been one-- until recently.” The actor dedicated his award to the people of Congo and the “real humanitarians” who help rebuild their country every day. “They inspire me every day with relentless optimism and perseverance.”

Affleck encouraged people to do what they could to help, even if that was to donate a few dollars online. People who want to help out can shop at Walgreens or Duane Read between now and Saturday. Make sure to purchase any Cover Girl, Gillette or Olay products, because for every unit that is told sold, PNG will donate one dollar per unit. People can also go to easterncongo.org to contribute.

Other celebs who have taken home the People’s Choice Award for People’s Favorite Humanitarian include Sandra Bullock and Jennifer Hudson.

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