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Harrison Ford Celebrates Michael J. Fox as the “Most Stubborn Optimist I Know” at THR’s Social Impact Summit
The Hollywood Reporter’s Social Impact Summit honoured celebrities and organisations using their public profiles for charitable work, with awards for John Mayer, Stephen and Ayesha Curry, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Harrison Ford praised Fox as an exceptionally determined optimist, highlighting the foundation’s long-running work on Parkinson’s disease and the wider significance of sustained advocacy.
The Los Angeles event, held at the DGA Theatre on 22 July, accompanied THR’s annual Philanthropy issue and was presented with the Social Impact Fund. Speakers also addressed refugee protections, mental health and inequalities affecting Black-led organisations; actress Sepideh Moafi drew on her family’s refugee experience, while panellists discussed the health and funding challenges faced by Black men and community groups.
In short
- Harrison Ford celebrated Michael J. Fox’s optimism and advocacy.
- THR honoured charitable work by major entertainment and sports figures.
- Speakers addressed refugees, mental health and racial funding inequalities.
Explained simply
The Hollywood Reporter's Social Impact Summit is an annual event where the entertainment industry recognises celebrities and organisations working on philanthropic causes. The 2026 summit acknowledged achievements across areas including health research, refugee protection and efforts to tackle inequality.
Michael J. Fox is an American actor best known for the Back to the Future films and the television series Family Ties. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in the mid-1990s, a progressive neurological condition affecting movement and coordination. He subsequently founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which funds research into the disease and supports people living with it.
Celebrity philanthropy and sustained advocacy by public figures can significantly amplify charitable work by raising awareness and attracting resources to important causes. When well-known individuals consistently champion specific issues, they help draw public and financial attention to areas that might otherwise receive less spotlight.
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