Jennifer Garner to be honored as Harvard’s 2022 Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year

Posted by Brandy McDonnell on Jan 19, 2022 | 0 comments

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts – Harvard University’s the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, the oldest theatrical organization in the United States, has announced Jennifer Garner as the recipient of its 2022 Woman of the Year Award.

Garner will be honored for her “impactful presence in the world of entertainment,” from her performances in the television show “Alias” and the movies “13 Going on 30,” “Love, Simon” and “Yes Day” to her role as a philanthropist and entrepreneur.

The Woman of the Year festivities are set for Feb. 5 and will begin when Garner leads a parade through the streets of Harvard Square. Following the parade, the Hasty Pudding Theatricals will host a celebratory roast for Garner, after which she will be presented with her Pudding Pot at Farkas Hall, the Hasty Pudding’s historic home in Harvard Square since 1888.

The Woman of the Year Award is the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ oldest honor, bestowed annually on performers who have made lasting and impressive contributions to the world of entertainment, according to a news release. Established in 1951, the Woman of the Year Award has been given to many notable and talented entertainers including Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johansson, Anne Hathaway, Kerry Washington, and most recently Viola Davis, the 71st Woman of the Year.

The date of the parade, Feb. 5, also is the scheduled opening night for the Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ latest performance.

“As a talented actress and philanthropist, Jennifer is a role model to all of us at Hasty Pudding Theatricals. It is so wonderful to celebrate her in this exceptional year with the organization’s return to the stage,” said Hasty Pudding Man and Woman of the Year Coordinator Jacqueline Zoeller in a statement.

Jason Bateman (“Ozark,” “Arrested Development”) will be honored as the recipient of Hasty Pudding’s 2022 Man of the Year Award on Feb. 3.

Garner, who last year embarked on a new partnership across multiple new films with Netflix, is known for her versatility in a wide range of starring roles, from the popular TV series “Alias” to acclaimed films like “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Juno.” She most recently starred in and produced the film “Yes Day,” based on the children’s book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, which became Netflix’s biggest Kids & Family film release.

She will next be seen opposite Ryan Reynolds, Mark Ruffalo and Zoe Saldana in Netflix’s sci-fi film “The Adam Project,” directed by Shawn Levy. Garner also will produce and star in the Apple TV+ limited series “The Last Thing He Ever Told Me,” based on the eponymous New York Times bestseller, as well as the Netflix comedy “Family Leave.”

Garner is a Save the Children Trustee and has worked with the organization for more than a decade. In addition to bringing Save the Children’s early childhood education programs to her home state of West Virginia, she has advocated on Capitol Hill and traveled to Arkansas, California, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Washington to meet with lawmakers, press and philanthropists to raise awareness and funds for the organization. In 2014, Garner joined the global nonprofit’s board of trustees, deepening her commitment to issues affecting children in America and around the world.

In 2017, Garner co-founded the organic food company Once Upon a Farm with Cassandra Curtis, Ari Raz and former Annie’s president John Foraker. Together, the visionaries have grown the company with a goal of providing children with the best tasting, most nutritious and highest quality food utilizing sustainable methods.

As a businesswoman, Garner also has worked with major brands including Neutrogena and Capital One, and most recently joined the Virtue Labs team to amplify the company’s premium hair care line.

For more information on the Hasty Pudding Theatricals, go to www.hastypudding.org.

-BAM

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