International nonprofit Last Chance for Animals (“LCA”) will hold its annual star-studded fundraising gala honoring notable animal activists on Saturday, October 22, 2016, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. LCA Founder and President Chris DeRose announced today that this year’s benefit will feature a spectacular African-theme in celebration of the “Albert Schweitzer Award” honorees: Prince Emmanuel de Merode, Director of the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Anthony Caere, Head of Virunga’s Air Wing Unit. Merode was featured in the Academy Award nominated documentary film, Virunga, by Executive Producer Leonardo DiCaprio.
The “Philanthropist of the Year” award will be given to businesswoman, philanthropist, and producer Cindy Landon, and the “Vegan of the Year” award will go to New York Times best-selling author and activist Kathy Freston. Slated to receive the “Sam Simon Award,” named in honor of LCA’s devoted supporter the late Sam Simon, co-creator of The Simpsons, is former Los Angeles City Attorney and animal activist Robert Ferber.
Actress Katie Cleary (Iron Man 2) and radio personality Mark Thompson will serve as co-hosts of the evening. Celebrity award presenters and special guests to include: Pamela Anderson, Russell Simmons, model Kenya Kinski-Jones, actress Simone Reyes, Blue Zones’Dan Buettner, actor William McNamara, media personality Bonnie-Jill Laflin,psychotherapist/media personality Dr. Jenn Mann Berman, actor Martin Dingle Wall, actressStephanie Corneliussen (Mr. Robot), actress Allison Scagliotti (Drake & Josh), actor/activistDavid Chokachi, Asaf Goren (So You Think You Can Dance), and many others.
The gala will benefit LCA’s efforts to support the park rangers at Virunga and its critically endangered mountain gorilla population. Defending the park and its inhabitants from poachers, militants, and environmental exploitation is an on-going battle for Virunga’s rangers who risk their lives daily to protect part of the less than 900 mountain gorillas remaining in the wild. In the past decade, over 150 rangers in Africa’s oldest park have been murdered in what is considered the most dangerous conservation job in the world.
The evening will feature vegan cuisine, dancing, and live music. Click here for tickets and additional details.
ABOUT:
Last Chance for Animals (LCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating animal exploitation through education, investigations, legislation, and public awareness campaigns. Since its formation in 1984, LCA has succeeded as one of the nation’s pioneer animal advocacy groups. LCA’s educational and public outreach programs have empowered the public to make positive changes for animals in their communities. For more information, please visit: http://www.lcanimal.org.
