Watching Jerry Lewis receive his humanitarian award at the Oscars tonight, I was struck by the swell of respect that I felt for this classic comedian, who had raised $2B for muscular dystrophy. Showing his first function in 1951 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (yes, 58 years ago), it was hard to pull back and enjoy the extravagance of the Oscars afterwards. On the other hand, seeing “Slumdog Millionaire” take home award after award with such honest dignity and a sense of humanitarian-meets-cinematic integrity was rewarding.

How much does Hollywood give back and will there be a tide of “Slumdog” benefactors or humanitarians to follow the long-term charity work of past Tinseltown greats.

In terms of Mumbai, the depiction of the city - as a character - and camera work behind the film “Slumdog Millionaire” point to a deep love of the human spirit.

To see Hollywood stand up for the recent Mumbai attacks and celebrate a film of this glory and feel-good nature is important.

For those who were glad to see “Milk”s screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black, win for Original Screenplay, then recall Tom Hank’s Best Actor win for “Philadelphia” - those movies which have roused us and raise us.

Sean Penn, winning for Harvey Milk in the amazing “Milk” - with his acceptance words about the shame the grandchildren of those who supported Prop 8, against gay marriage will feel for their actions today. These brave words have typically wrested the awards away from the glitz and sparing acceptance speeches.

We will publish these grand speeches against the backdrop of those in the media world - both screen talent and media mogul alike - and see who has truly begun and kept the humanitarian stride alive.

For a good list of cause-related films:Participant Media, my former company, recently listed 81 Films that Pushed the Envelope for the 81st Awards year, produced by Wendy Cohen. Have a read as we plot our own Hollywood benefactor timeline.

Finally, more on Jerry Lewis, from Wikipedia:

Lewis has won several awards for lifetime achievements from The American Comedy Awards, The Golden Camera, Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the Academy Awards, and The Venice Film Festival, and he has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2005, he received the Governors Award of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Board of Governors, which is the highest Emmy Award presented.^[1] On February 22, 2009, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded Lewis the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. As a film innovator, Lewis is credited with inventing the video assist system.