The ESA Foundation, the charity branch of the Electronics Software Association, has announced that it will honor Shigeru Miyamoto with the 2009 ESA Champion Award.

The award will be presented to Miyamoto at the Foundation’s yearly “Nite to Unite for Kids,” a fundraising dinner that will see its proceeds go to a variety of American children’s charities.

Former ESA Champion award winners include George Lucas, Ken Kutaragi, former EA stalwart Bing Gordon, and GameStop CEO Dan DeMatteo.

Michael Gallagher, the president and CEO of the ESA, gave the reasoning behind the award. “Miyamoto-san truly has defined video games as we know them today. With his remarkable creativity and passion for fun, family entertainment, Miyamoto-san and his team at Nintendo have produced many iconic games that appeal to audiences of all ages."

Those who wish to attend the Nite to Unite for Kids charity event can contact the ESA; tickets for individuals begin at $500.