Angelina Jolie Honors Mariane Pearl

Originally posted Tuesday April 08, 2008 05:30 PM EDT

Angelina Jolie was radiant as she awarded her friend, journalist Mariane Pearl, with the Fern Holland Award Monday night at the Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards gala in Washington, D.C.

Jolie, who played Pearl in the film version of her book A Mighty Heart, spoke of Pearl's special gift as a mother and called her an example of "courage, hope and tolerance," reports the Washington Post.

Pearl, the wife of slain reporter Daniel Pearl, called Jolie "a sister" during her acceptance speech, and the two spent the day together, as their kids – Maddox, Pax and Adam – played.

On Tuesday, Jolie participated in a Council on Foreign Relations event in Washington D.C. The event was to help launch Jolie's new venture, the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, which will focus on the work of prominent charity organizations as well as tell the stories of the children in need.