Sharon Stone to Be Honored With The Icon Award at 2017 Women's Choice Award Show

The WOMEN'S CHOICE AWARD SHOW announced today that Oscar nominated actress, producer, director, writer and humanitarian Sharon Stone will be honored with the Icon Award for her lifetime achievement in film and passionate activism to make the world a better place.

Fans around the world are currently voting to determine winners in three categories, including the "Shero," "Spotlight," and "Voice of Women" awards. The Shero Award will be given to a passionate activist doing incredible work that benefits girls and women. THE VOICE of Women Award will be given to a leader who has helped shape the positive portrayal of girls and women in entertainment and media. The Spotlight Award will be given to a celebrity using her platform to shine a spotlight on issues affecting girls and women. Fans can vote by visiting http://www.womenschoiceawardshow.com. Voting ends on Sunday, April 30, 2017 at 11:59 PM EST.

The winners will be announced live at the star-studded Women's Choice Award Show hosted by EMMY award winning veteran television journalist and personality Meredith Vieira, at the legendary Avalon Hollywood ballroom on Wednesday, May 17, 2017.

The Women's Choice Award Show is an important opportunity to let the voices of girls and women be heard in a big way with a show dedicated to honoring and celebrating trailblazing women. The show will also serve to inspire girls to step into their power and pursue their dreams.

"Sharon Stone is an incredible talent and one of Hollywood's leading ladies. But it is her admirable work off-screen that makes her our 2017 Icon Award honoree. Sharon donates her time and talent to many deserving causes. She has traveled the world to help care for the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the sick and those in need of clean water. Sharon has been on the frontlines in the fight against HIV/AIDS helping to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for amfAR. In her personal life, Sharon has defied the odds, bouncing back from a life-threatening health scare and coming out stronger on the other side. As a mother and a philanthropist, Sharon brings love and light into the world. Sharon is resilience personified and a testament to what a strong, smart woman can accomplish. We are so honored to celebrate Sharon at our Women's Choice Award Show," said Delia Passi, CEO of Women's Choice Award.

The Women's Choice Award Show is proud to include the non-profit I Am That Girl as the cause partner for this very special event. I Am That Girl Founder Alexis Jones will speak at the event and girls from the global I Am That Girl community will be on hand to present awards to Women's Choice Award Show winners. Girls from local I Am That Girl chapters will enjoy an inspiring and empowering night as VIP guests at the celebration. Guests at the Women's Choice Award Show will have the opportunity to make a donation onsite to support I Am That Girl.

The Women's Choice Award Show is proud to have the generous support of lifestyle and consumer brands including Exodo Tequila, Family Share, Gypsy Vodka, HoMedics, Kaiser Permanente, Kendra Scott, Luster Premium White, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Ricola, Santa Margherita Wines, Speedo, TrueCar, Voortman Cookies and Wise Foods.

Nominees for the Women's Choice Award Show were announced on International Women's Day proving that the future is female. Fans can visit http://www.WOMENSCHOICEAWARDSHOW.COM and rock their vote for their favorite extraordinary women. Bios for all of the Women's Choice Award Show nominees are available on the Women's Choice Award Show website.

Below includes the complete list of nominees:

WOMEN'S CHOICE AWARD SHOW 2017 NOMINEES:

SHERO AWARD:
Alicia Garza
Brittany Packnett
Carmen Perez
Dr. Knatokie Ford
Dr. Yvonne Cagle
Georgie Smith
Reshma Saujani

SPOTLIGHT AWARD:
Alyssa Milano
Amy Purdy
Deondra Brown
Elizabeth Falkner
Emma Watson
Keke Palmer
Maggie Q
Meryl Davis
Nura Afia
Priyanka Chopra

VOICE OF WOMEN AWARD:
Ana Navarro
Elaine Welteroth
Jennie Urman
Jennifer Pozner
Julie Taymor
Kara Holden
Maria Menounos
Tery Lopez

Media outlets can apply for credentials to cover the Women's Choice Award Show at:
http://womenschoiceawardshow.com/press/

ABOUT THE WOMEN'S CHOICE AWARD SHOW
The Women's Choice Award Show is the only awards show where girls and women vote for their favorite fierce female activists, advocates and artists. The Women's Choice Award Show official website at http://www.WOMENSCHOICEAWARDSHOW.COM houses the voting platform where fans determine the winners for the annual awards show. Delia Passi is the Founder and CEO of Women's Choice Award and serves alongside Amy Malin and Scott Malin of Trueheart Events as executive producers of the Women's Choice Award Show.

The Women's Choice Award was founded in 2010 with the mission to empower women and has since been named to the Inc. 5000 list of America's Fastest Growing Private Companies for two years in a row. Brands that are recommended by women through national surveys and review panels earn the Women's Choice Award- and for every survey participant, the Women's Choice Award donates to a charity that supports the health and wellness of women and children. Brand and healthcare facilities that have earned and showcase the award seal are displaying their commitment to empower women.

ABOUT SHARON STONE Born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Sharon emerged early in life both as a natural beauty and scholar-winning several local beauty pageants and a writing scholarship to Edinboro College. She relocated to New York and was signed by modeling agent, Eileen Ford. Sharon was an immediate international modeling success, appearing in print and television ads for Clairol, Revlon and Diet Coke.

Sharon made her film debut as the blond goddess who catches Woody Allen's gaze on a passing train in Stardust Memories (1980). Sharon enjoyed great success in television roles, including Remington Steele, T.J. Hooker and Magnum P.I. as well as critically acclaimed roles as Robert Mitchum's daughter-in-law in the epic mini-series War and Remembrance.

Her first major film role was in Irreconcilable Differences, (1984) portraying the conniving, young actress-girlfriend of Ryan O'Neal. While studying with the famed coach and teacher, Roy London, Sharon was a hit in her role as Arnold Schwarzenegger's wife in Paul Verhoeven's sci-fi action blockbuster, Total Recall.

But Sharon entered the Hollywood pantheon fully in the incomparable Basic Instinct, in which she portrayed a bisexual author/sexual adventurer. The international box office smash hit was the top-grossing film of 1992. Sharon personified confidence and glamour with a classic 'old Hollywood' style always appearing elegant in couture by every major designer. Sharon commandeered the brush when it came to painting her own image and has become one of Hollywood's most sought-after leading ladies.

In 1995, Sharon won a starring role opposite Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci in Martin Scorsese's masterpiece, Casino, perfecting her honest portrayal of 'Ginger' and garnered an Academy Award nomination and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama. Soon after, Sharon starred opposite writer/director Albert Brooks in The Muse, alongside Andie MacDowell, earning her a Golden Globe nomination and achieving yet another fan-favorite iconic status with her portrayal of the iconic, delightful title character. Soon after, Sharon costarred in Simpatico with Nick Nolte and Jeff Bridges, based on the play by Sam Shepard. Sharon defined her broad ranging talent, appearing in multiple genre films, including the sci-fi spectacular, Sphere with Dustin Hoffman, Intersection with Richard Gere, directed by Mark Rydell, and the psychosexual thriller, Sliver, directed by Phillip Noyce, co-starring William Baldwin and Tom Berenger. Sharon starred in and served as co-producer in the successful western hit, The Quick and the Dead opposite Gene Hackman, directed by Sam Raimi. Soon after Sharon co-starred with Sylvester Stallone in the blockbuster action thriller, The Specialist and she starred in the gripping prison drama Last Dance directed by Bruce Beresford.

Sharon executive produced the critically acclaimed The Mighty, and she received a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of the mother of a disabled child, played by Kieran Culkin. Harry Dean Stanton and Gena Rowlands co-starred in this film. Sharon was a standout, starring in the remake of John Cassavettes' Gloria directed by Sidney Lumet. Sharon also starred in HBO's critically acclaimed series, If These Walls Could Talk 2, appearing opposite Ellen DeGeneres, and receiving a humanitarian award that same year for her role.

Sharon enjoyed showing her athletic prowess as the gorgeous villain in the action adventure Catwoman, starring opposite Halle Berry. Sharon and co-star, Dennis Quaid had just released the Disney thriller, Cold Creek Manor, and soon thereafter Sharon appeared in the tender Jim Jarmusch's Broken Flowers, opposite Bill Murray. Other career highlights include receiving her first Emmy Award for Best Outstanding Guest Actress In a Drama Series for her critically acclaimed three-episode role on The Practice where she played 'Sheila Caryle,' a successful attorney who claims God speaks to her, and who has been subsequently fired from her law firm for being mentally incompetent.

In March of 2006, Sharon reprised her role as 'Catherine Tramell' in Michael Caton-Jones' Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction. Sharon then starred in the critically acclaimed, Bobby, the story of the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, a tour-de-force directed by Emilio Estevez, and co-starring, Anthony Hopkins, Demi Moore, Martin Sheen, William Macy, Shia Lebeouf, Helen Hunt and others. Sharon's exacting talent in strong character roles was also seen and loved by fans in the hard-hitting drama, Alpha Dog, in which she co-starred alongside Bruce Willis and Justin Timberlake, a powerhouse feature based on the life of Jesse James Hollywood, who became one of the youngest men to be on the FBI's Most Wanted List. Sharon's transformation in the film from concerned mother to obese, mentally unstable grieving parent remains an unforgettable study in tragedy. 2007 was a busy year for Sharon, she starred in two indie films: If I Had Known I was a Genius, directed by Dominique Wirtschafter, and soon thereafter When a Man Falls in the Forest directed by Ryan Eslinger.

In 2013, Sharon starred in the independent film, Lovelace opposite Amanda Seyfried and Peter Sarsgaard. The film centers on the porn actress, Linda Lovelace, who was used and abused by the porn industry before taking control of her life. Sharon played the religious mother of Linda. In 2014, Sharon appeared in Fading Gigolo for director John Turturro starring opposite Woody Allen and Sophia Vergara. Turturro played 'Fioravante, who decides to become a professional Don Juan as a way of making money to help his cash strapped friend Murry (Allen.) Stone portrayed a dermatologist and client of Fioravante, and in the film her character refers to attending "an AIDS fundraiser" mirroring her real life humanitarian work.

In 2013, Sharon co-produced, Femme a documentary about women around the world who are actively transforming and healing global society on a daily basis. The film interviews over 100 influential women including Jean Houston, Marianne Williamson, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Shirin Ebadi, Mairead Maguire and Gloria Steinem. Sharon starred and was executive producer of the TNT action-drama series, Agent X, and in 2016 appeared in the features The Disaster Artist with James Franco, and Mosaic with Steven Soderbergh.

Off screen, Sharon's charitable foundations have given life and hope to people around the world. A devoted humanitarian, Sharon and her sister Kelly founded Planet Hope, a foundation sponsoring diverse activities for homeless children and mothers of all ages and cultures. At the United Nations on World AIDS Day 1995, Sharon announced at a press conference that she had accepted an invitation to serve for three years as Chairwoman of amfAR's Campaign for AIDS Research. In 1998, as her term was coming to a close, Ms. Stone renewed her support of amfAR's vital innovative research programs by vowing to continue as campaign chairman until a safe and effective AIDS vaccine is developed. Since accepting this key position with amfAR, Sharon who jokes, "I'm in my 20th year of my three-year commitment" has travelled nationally and internationally on behalf of the Foundation and is now their Global Chairman for Campaign Fundraising. She has worked tirelessly to heighten awareness of HIV/AIDS as a threat to social and economic stability, and to underscore the urgent needs for continued AIDS research. Sharon is dedicated to this cause, helping to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for the battle against AIDS. As the Global Chairperson for Global Fundraising for 21 years, Stone has chaired amfAR events all over the world; Dubai, Milan, Mumbai and San Paolo. At the amfAR event of 2014, at the Cannes Film Festival, Sharon raised a record 31 million dollars in one night for AIDS/HIV research.

Sharon has twice served as host and auctioneer at amfAR's Two by Two for AIDS and Art auction in Dallas, helping raise nearly $2 million for AIDS research. This effort continues Sharon's successes of 2000, hosting an art auction for Phillips Auction House that raised $1.2 Million. Soon thereafter as an auctioneer for Cinema Against AIDS Venice at the Venice Film Festival, Sharon raised over $500,000 and launched a special line of vanity cases that she personally designed for the luxury brand Louis Vuitton which have raised over $3,000,000 for AIDS research.

Sharon was also instrumental in the Race for The Cure, the nation's largest fundraiser for breast cancer research. The AIDS Awareness Committee of Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presented Sharon with a Ribbon of Hope award for AIDS awareness and education. She also received the Humanitarian Award in 2000 from the Human Rights Campaign and in 2002; Sharon received the Honoree and Recipient of Global Conference Institutes Healthcare & Medicine Humanitarian Award. The award recognizes one individual in the world who has demonstrated a profound commitment and devotion to healthcare and humanitarianism, has enhanced the quality of lives through their work, and influences the course of history through ongoing contributions of health care and medicine.

In 2013, Sharon was honored by the Nobel Peace Laureates at the Nobel Summit in Warsaw Poland, with the "Peace Summit Award" for her continuous work with HIV/AIDS. She was presented the award by his holiness, the Dalai Lama. Adding to her acclaim, the French Government commended Sharon the Chevalier de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1995 (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters). In May 2005, Sharon was elevated to Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres. Sharon also received the Bollywood Woman of Conscience Award for her steadfast support of many charitable and philanthropic organizations, in particular, the Bridge Fund. Sharon Stone's Bridge Fund mission is to promote sustainable economic development, environmental conservation, and cultural heritage preservation in Tibet.

Project Angel Food honored Sharon with an "Angel Award" for her commitment to the Project Angel Food mission and for her ongoing contributions to the fight against AIDS. Project Angel Food prepares and delivers free meals daily to more than 1,600 people living with HIV/AIDS, all types of cancer, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and other serious illness throughout Los Angeles. Sharon is the recipient of the "Spirit Award" from the National Centre for Lesbian Rights for her support of gay and lesbian civil rights.

Sharon was honored with the prestigious Harvard Humanitarian Award to celebrate her ten years as an advocate for AIDs research. And Sharon put her star power to use at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland where she raised more than $1 million in five minutes to fight the Malaria epidemic in Tanzania. Sharon was awarded Redbook's Mothers and Shakers Award for outstanding women and their tireless efforts to impact the world.

To benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the gulf coast states, Sharon teamed up with songwriters Denise Rich, Mark Feist and Damon Sharpe, co-writing and producing the song entitled "Come Together Now." Sharon lined up a galaxy of legendary music stars who performed on the CD track including Joss Stone, Wyclef Jean, Celine Dion, Patti LaBelle, Backstreet Boys, just to name a few.

In 2006, at the Women's World Awards, Mikhail Gorbachev commended Sharon's philanthropic efforts with the World Charity Award. In 2007, Sharon was awarded the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award, which is given to those who truly embody the fighting spirit of Ali in the race to find a cure for Parkinson's disease. Her dedication to the fight against AIDS and her work with amfAR was also honored that year with the Einstein Spirit Award, and the Smart Cookie Award. In 2008 Sharon was an honorary guest at the Karolinska-Nobel Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. She presented a lecture on Health initiatives for peace for members of the Nobel Committee, students & faculty of the Karolinska-Nobel Institute at the Nobel Forum. Sharon believes that her role is, in order, that of mother, then activist, and lastly, actress. She will undoubtedly continue to excel in her efforts through her celebrity status and use it as a productive tool to make charitable contributions to various humanitarian causes around the world. Her ceaseless energy for these causes and many others, inspire Sharon to continually drive herself to achieve her ultimate goals, which are to find an end of HIV/AIDS, relieve hunger and homelessness, and find peaceful solutions in a very troubled world.

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