Academy Award-winning actor Anthony Hopkins will be honored as the 2004 Caritas Award recipient May 21, at the Saint John's Health Center Caritas Award Gala. The annual black-tie event, which benefits the Emergency Department of the Santa Monica-based hospital, will begin at 7 p.m. at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills.

"Anthony Hopkins has been a very dear friend and longtime supporter of Saint John's, so we are particularly pleased to be able to honor him at this event," said Sister of Charity Marie Madeleine Shonka, president of Saint John's Health Center.

The first Spirit of Saint John's Award will be awarded to Dr. Ruben F. Mettler, retired chairman and CEO of TRW, Inc., past member of the Saint John's Health Center Board and a member of the Foundation Board of Trustees. Following the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, Mettler served as co-chair of the capital campaign to rebuild Saint John's Health Center, which was severely damaged by the quake.

The Caritas Award Gala is hosted by the Saint John's Health Center Foundation and the Irene Dunne Guild, a support group of the hospital. This year's event is chaired by Santa Monica resident Su-z Schneider.

Tickets to the 2004 Caritas Award Gala are $375 each. For more information or to obtain tickets, call Saint John's Health Center Foundation at (310) 829-8424.