The British Red Cross has today (Tuesday 10 March 2015) awarded J.K. Rowling its prestigious Humanity Award. The award honours prominent philanthropists and humanitarians whose work has changed people’s lives across the world.

The author was chosen to receive the award in celebration and recognition of her charitable work and advocacy for humanitarian issues.

J.K. Rowling is founder and president of the international charity Lumos, which works to transform the lives of disadvantaged children across the world and to put an end to the harmful systematic institutionalisation of children. She is also president of the Gingerbread charity for one-parent families. In 2000, J.K. Rowling set up the Volant Charitable Trust, which supports a wide number of causes related to inequality and social deprivation, particularly women’s and children’s issues, as well as MS research through the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic in Edinburgh. The trust has supported the Red Cross and its disaster appeals over a number of years.

Previous recipients of the British Red Cross Humanity Award have included Nelson Mandela, Sir Bob Geldof and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

J.K. Rowling was presented with her award by British Red Cross Chief Executive Mike Adamson in Edinburgh today. Speaking following the presentation, J.K. Rowling said:

“I have long admired the impact of the Red Cross's work in the aftermath of conflict or a disaster and it is a privilege to help support it. I am truly honoured to accept this Red Cross Humanity Award and to find myself in such distinguished company.”

British Red Cross Chief Executive Mike Adamson, said: “Few people can have touched as many lives through their generosity and courage to speak out as J.K. Rowling and she is an inspiration to others to give and to act. Her passion to change lives and help people is something we share here at the Red Cross and I am delighted to be able to present J.K. Rowling with the British Red Cross Humanity Award.”