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Mia Farrow Given Marian Anderson Award

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Actress and human rights activist Mia Farrow has been given this year's Marian Anderson Award, which honors artists whose leadership benefits humanity.

Farrow was given the award at a Tuesday night gala at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.

Mayor Michael Nutter said Farrow was honored for her work to raise awareness of the plight of children in war-torn regions and on behalf of refugees around the globe.

The annual award is named after Philadelphia-born contralto Marian Anderson, who in 1955 was the first black soloist at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Previous winners have included Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Gere.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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