On Sunday, Oscar-winning actress and philanthropist Angelina Jolie was acknowledged for her humanitarian work in a brief clip during the 86th Academy Awards. Last November, Joie received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for writing and directing In the Land of Blood and Honey, the 2011 film set against the background of the Bosnian War.

Jolie is a strong advocate for women and girls around the world. She donated $200,000 to the Malala Fund to promote women’s rights to education in Pakistan, and recently announced the opening of an all-girls primary school in Afghanistan. During her inspiring acceptance speech, Jolie humbly reminded us why we do the work we do.

Above all [my mother] was very clear that nothing would mean anything if I didn’t live a life of use to others. I didn’t know what that meant for a long time. I came into this business young and worried about my own experiences, my own pain. It was only when I began to travel and look and live beyond my home that I understood my responsibility to others. And when I met survivors of war and famine and rape, I learned what life was like for most people in this world, and how fortunate I was to have food to eat, a roof over my head, a safe place to live, and the joy of having my family safe and happy…. I will do as my mother asked, and I will do the best I can with this life, to be of use.

Women In Philanthropy is one of six plenaries for WINGS Forum 2014: The Power of Networks. Follow on Twitter with #WFnetworks. Watch the video below.