The Dante Alighieri Honorary Award will be presented yearly to the most distinguished people and institutions worldwide that have done meaningful humanitarian work for humankind  and  those that have brought awareness to expand the knowledge of The Divine Comedy throughout the world.

The 2008 Honorary Award Recipients are:

Tangerine Dream for restoring a silent film masterpiece, "L'Inferno"
Roberto Benigni for bringing The Divine Comedy alive by reciting it by heart throughout Italy.
Loreena McKennitt for bringing awarness to the world of Dante's work through the writing Dante's Prayer song
RAI for publishing the reading in Italian by Vittorio Gassman
Dante Society for consistently expanding the knowledge of The Divine Comedy worldwide.
UCLA Italian Department for excellency in the continue education of all of Dante's works.
Milla Jovovich for expanding the knowledege of The Divine Comedy through music.

Gina Lollobrigida for her humanitarian work around the world.
Anderson Cooper - for bringing awareness of a "Planet in Peril".
Ron Frike for enlightening humankind of the many human cultures through "Baraka"
Princess Diane for her extraordinary humanitarian work throughout the world.
Dick Marty - for making a stand against torture and human rights.
Elton John for his devotion to save the lives of people affected with the AIDS virus.
Bono for his effort to bring awarness and help to people affected with the AIDS virus in Africa.
Oprah for bringing knowledge by opening a school in empoverish Africa
Leonardo DiCaprio for his committed effort to bring awareness of our Environment.
Al Gore for using his celebrity status to enlighten us about a world in danger.
Peter Gabriel for bringing awareness to the world about Apartheid throught a story song about Steven Bico.
Nelson Mandela for pardoning a repressive and torture regime in South Africa.
Doctors Without Borders - for saving lives in Africa by providing healthy food to the needy.
Angelina Jolie - for showing the world that kids are precious regardless of race and politics.
60 Minutes for consistently bringing awareness of delicate issues in our society.