In 1939 The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science honored Hersholt for his work as head of the Motion Picture Relief Fund. This
helped to support industry employees with medical care when they
were down on their luck and was used to create the Motion Picture
Country Home and Hospital in Woodland Hills, CA. This led to
the creation in 1956 of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian an honorary
Academy Award given to an "individual in the motion picture industry
whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry.".