Lady Gaga donates peace award to charity
Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Reykjavik, Iceland, yesterday (09.10.12), Gaga said: "I will be donating this grant to the Elton John Aids Foundation and I will be working closely with them to ensure the money goes specifically to those orphaned and disadvantaged youth in America born with HIV or AIDS.
"I dare you to be compassionate in a cynical age."
The LennonOno Grant For Peace is a biennial award in memory of John - who during his life was an ardent peace campaigner and anti-war activist - and Yoko insisted she is proud of Gaga for her efforts especially her tireless campaigning for gay rights.
She said: "Gaga is powerful and it's great that she is using her power to do other things than just singing."
Gaga is involved with several different charitable organisations, including her own Born This Way Foundation which aims to provide education and build better communities for young people.
The eccentric singer shared this year's LennonOno Grant For Peace prize with Russian punk band Pussy Riot, late writer Christopher Hitchens, author John Perkins and Rachel Corrie - an activist who was killed when protesting in Gaza.
The grant was first established in 2002 and is now given out every two years to honour people who are actively working for peace.