"I know how deeply she cares about making our world a better place," Clinton said before presenting the humanitarian award to Perry

Hillary Clinton has made another public appearance at a charity gala after losing the 2016 presidential election three weeks ago.

The former Secretary of State was met with a roaring standing ovation when she surprised Katy Perry (and practically everyone else) at the UNICEF Snowflake Ball inside Manhattan’s Cipriani Wall Street on Tuesday evening.

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At the Octavia Spencer-hosted gala, Clinton, 69, presented the singer, 32, with UNICEF’s Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award. “[Katy] has the spirit and the energy and the compassion that Audrey Hepburn brought to her work for UNICEF,” the Democratic presidential nominee shared in her speech, also describing Perry as “someone whose powerful voice and creative lyrics remind us when you get knocked down to get back up.”

Dressed in a stunning metallic Marchesa gown, the “Roar” songstress was accompanied by boyfriend Orlando Bloom, who was honored with the same humanitarian award last year. The couple sat together the entire night, and were spotted sharing kisses and being very tender with one another.

“She has been a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF since 2013, she has traveled the world advocating for the rights and needs of children, she has visited some of the poorest places on Earth and lent her voice to kids who would otherwise be voiceless from remote villages to Vietnam and Madagascar,” Clinton said about Perry’s work with the organization. “She has put a spotlight on child poverty and encouraged the empowerment of women and girls.”

During her speech, Clinton also touched on her relationship with Perry throughout the election, during which the singer stumped for her and performed at the Democratic National Convention in addition to several Get Out the Vote concert events.

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“I have seen Katy’s commitment to the causes she believes in firsthand. I’ve gotten to spend time with her and I know how deeply she cares about making our world a better place,” Clinton continued. “She is serious about understanding the complex problems we face and pulling people together to solve them. We need champions like Katy now more than ever, her passion, her energy and, yes, her voice, louder than a lion, so, Katy Perry, congratulations and thank you so much.”

Perry, who was brought to tears, thanked Clinton in her acceptance speech. “I’ve always had a voice – a singing voice – but I’ve never had a voice like I’ve had before. Hillary has lit that voice inside of me, and that light will never go out, it will continue to get brighter and brighter and brighter. Thank you, Hillary. You motivate me and so many millions of people,” she expressed.

The proud Hillary supporter also made a small dig at president-elect Donald Trump when she said, “Even though I’ve only been on a few field visits, I’m happy I’ve helped highlight the effects of climate change, which is real.”

Alongside Perry, interior designer and lifestyle expert Moll Anderson was honored at the star-studded event that was attended by Allison Williams, Tea Leoni, Tamron Hall, Brooke Burke-Charvet, Kyle Maclachlan and Maggie Q. Sara Bareilles and the cast of Broadway’s The Color Purple performed.

Caryl M. Stern, the president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, expressed her gratitude for both Clinton and Perry’s work with the organization in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE. “Children need dedicated, passionate champions now more than ever, and we were so thankful that Secretary Clinton joined us in honoring Katy Perry’s incredible work for the world’s children,” she said. “This year’s UNICEF Snowflake Ball was a powerful reminder of our collective ability to put children first.”