Bono received the Liberty Medal for his humanitarian efforts in Africa, in a ceremony in Philadelphia last night. Bono encouraged all Americans to continue supporting humanitarian causes.

“When you are trapped by poverty, you are not free. When trade laws prevent you from selling the food you grew, you are not free. When you are a monk in Burma this very week, barred from entering a temple because of your gospel of peace … well, then none of us are truly free,” he said.

Bono, as well as the foundation Debt AIDS Trade Africa, which he helped to found, received the award. The $100,000 award will be donated to an African charitable organization.

“America has so many great answers to offer,” he said. “We can’t fix all the world’s problems, but the ones we can we must.”