Mary J Blige and Edward Norton celebrated for their charity work

Mary J Blige and Edward Norton were celebrated for their charity work at Russell Simmon's annual gala on Saturday.

The music mogul hosted the Art for Life benefit event for the Rushg Philanthropic Arts Foundation at his East Hampton in New York.

Norton and Blige, as well as Jimmy Choo co-founder Tamara Mellon were feted for the generosity and career achievements during the ceremony.

Singer Jennifer Hudson performed a short set.

Norton took to the stage to accept his awad and applauded Simmons' own charity work to improve and help youths florish.

He told the audience: "When you don't invest in the inventors of tomorrow, the economists of tomorrow, the doctors of tomorrow, (they) won't emerge because you haven't taught people to think in their individual creative ways. Creativity fuels everything that makes America dynamic."