Miley Cyrus licks piano for charity auction

Miley Cyrus helped raise money for a Los Angeles charity by licking a piano.

The Wrecking Ball hitmaker was one of the honorees at the Los Angeles Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Center's Vanguard Awards gala on Saturday night (07Nov15), but before she was presented with a special prize, Cyrus upped the value of one of the top items going under the hammer.

The singer took to the stage at the Hyatt Regency Plaza Hotel and ran up to the white grand piano, which was signed by various celebrities, and licked the side of it.

Donated to the center by Orange is the New Black star Ruby Rose, the one-of-a-kind instrument wound up going to the highest bidder for $50,000 .

Cyrus, who was given a Vanguard Award in recognition for her work with LGBT homeless youth, turned serious when she accepted the prize, saying, "I want all of you to know that I feel beyond grateful to be in a room full of so many people who care so much about others because unfortunately that is way too rare in the world that we live in today. I'm thinking of tonight not as celebrating what we've already done but what we're doing and what we're going to do in the future."

Veteran actress Jane Fonda was also feted with a special vanguard prize.