Andy Samberg Wins Johnnie Walker’s Keep Walking Award at Variety Event

Tonight, Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky joined Variety and unite4:good for the first ever unite4:humanity event held at the Sony Pictures Lot in Los Angeles.

Andy Samberg served as the master of ceremonies during the inspirational evening as the entertainment industry’s brightest stars and some of the world’s most influential leaders were recognized and honored.

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On their way into the ceremony, celebrities such as Eva Longoria, Wilmer Valderrama and Scott Wolfe took a moment as they stepped off the red carpet to sign limited edition metallic bottles of Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, a new blend created for celebratory occasions, as part of the “Gold for Good” effort to raise money for unite4:good. After signing for a good cause and before heading in to take their seats, guests including Katherine Heigl, Karina Smirnoff and Julie Louis-Dreyfus enjoyed Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve on the rocks.

The inaugural event was opened by Jane Fonda who set the tone for the evening by saying “service should be viewed as the rent we pay for life.” The Academy Award winning actress was followed by actor, producer and director Forest Whitaker who introduced the keynote speaker for the evening, President Bill Clinton.

After taking the stage, President Clinton said that he doesn’t think former presidents should get awards of any kind but is honored just to be at the event to lend his support.

As he addressed the crowd, President Clinton left the audience with a lasting message saying that “We are condemned to share the future or privileged to share the future. Are we going to share it in a positive or negative way? It’s what happens next that matters most.”

Though the former president is a hard act to follow, Wilmer Valderrama gladly took to the stage to present host, comedian and one of his personal friends Andy Samberg with the first ever Keep Walking Award.

Wilmer shared “As some of you may or may not know, our host this evening, the amazing Andy Samberg, is receiving the Keep Walking Award from Johnnie Walker, given in recognition of personal progress to someone who continually redefines themselves by taking next steps along their journey. Andy has graciously donated the award prize to unite4:good to be split among their founding affiliates. As a comedian, he is one of the best in the business and I, along with Johnnie Walker, can’t wait to see the potential that lies ahead as he continues to take his next steps. As one of the recipients on this donation I cannot thank you enough – please help me welcome back to the stage, my friend, Andy Samberg”.

Andy graciously accepted the award and then headed backstage to toast with the Johnnie Walker Master of Whisky and a special engraved bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. Upon receiving the rare Scotch whisky crafted for epic achievements, Andy said “Blue Label, I ain’t complainin’.” The celebrations didn’t end there as honorees including Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Creative Commitment in Television), Alicia Keys (Music Visionary), Philomena Lee (Everyday Hero), and Martin Scorsese (Variety Creative Conscience) were honored for their own epic achievements that evening.