Rosie O'Donnell to get honorary Tony Award

Rosie O'Donnell is getting a Tony Award.

The award's administration committee said Tuesday the former talk show host will receive the 2014 Isabelle Stevenson Award, an honorary prize given to members of the theater community for their philanthropic efforts.

The committee cites O'Donnell's commitment to arts education for New York's public school children. In 2003, the Emmy Award-winning O'Donnell founded a nonprofit arts education organization now known as Rosie's Theater Kids, which provides training in dance, music and drama for students attending public school in New York City.

"We are excited to announce Rosie as this year's Isabelle Stevenson Award recipient. Rosie exemplifies the spirit and the generosity of the Broadway community through her "pay it forward" mentality within the arts community and beyond. Rosie constantly works to make our world a better place, and unconditional generosity like hers deserves great recognition," said Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League and Heather Hitchens, Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing.

And O'Donnell is no stranger to the theater or to the Awards show itself. The comedian has hosted the Tony Awards three times and won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Special for the 52nd annual Tony Awards. Her theater credits include playing Rizzo in Tommy Tune's 1994 revival of "Grease"; "Seussical" and "Fiddler on the Roof"; "Love, Loss and What I Wore"; and the Encores! production of "No, No, Nanette." In 2004, O'Donnell produced the Boy George-inspired musical "Taboo."

The Tony Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, April 29, and the show, hosted by Hugh Jackman, will be broadcast live on Sunday, June 8, on CBS.