Hugh Jackman Honors a Man Close to His Heart

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Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness took some time out to attend The Donaldson Adoption Institute's 10th Annual Taste of Spring Food & Wine Benefit honoring Jack Sussman, who as Executive Vice President for Specials, Music and Live Events for CBS Entertainment, has broadcast the special Home for the Holidays for 14 years. Home for the Holidays shines a light on foster children waiting for permanent, loving families, and shares stories of foster care adoption as well as features performances from popular musical artists.

Jackman, who is close with Sussman through working together on multiple award shows, has two adopted kids, Oscar Maximillian and Ava Eliot.

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"One thing that Jack does better than anyone, he knows how to put on a great show," Jackman said about his longtime pal in a heartfelt speech. "And he makes everybody -- everybody -- look great. ... We became beyond colleagues -- friends almost instantly -- because you are one of the true gentlemen in the business. ... I want to just tell everyone about one show that Jack does. It's not as big as the Grammys but I can tell you that it brings a tear to the eye -- Home for the Holidays ... It's unbelievably moving, and it's a passion project for Jack, and it's just one of the great things that he's contributed."

Sussman himself was proud to accept the honor.

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"What we do is we make this little show every year, and we've managed through our little show to move 44,000 kids into permanent homes," Sussman told ET. "That's a number that you love to hear -- makes you feel really good. You know in our business, you wake up every day to numbers -- reading a number like that puts a smile on your face."

Check out the video for more moving words from Jackman.