Humane Society of the United States raises $2 million in one night during star-studded gala
The devastation of Hurricanes Dorian, Irma and Maria over the past few years alongside other natural disasters have left many animals -- both in the wild and domesticated -- displaced and suffering.
The Humane Society of the United States has always been a pioneer in animal rights and rescue, from cats and dogs needing foster care and homes to supporting and honoring major corporations and individuals that have taken strides in fighting for animal rights.
On November 15, the Humane Society of the United States hosted its 10th annual To the Rescue! New York Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street, raising a whopping $2 million in charitable donations and auction to aid in HSUS and Humane Society International's mission to help animals in need from cruelty and neglect and at risk from natural disasters.
The gala was hosted by actor Jerry O’Connell and actress Rebecca Romijn, and was chaired by Georgina Bloomberg.
Take a look inside the New York City night below:
The HSUS honored Unilever with the Coporate Consciousness Award for their exceptional work in the fight to end animal testing.
Dr. Julia Fentem, Head of Unilever’s Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC), spoke to attendees about Unilever's plan to expand their mission beyond their work with HSI's #BeCrueltyFree campaign:
“We’ve got a new big initiative called AFSA (Animal Free Safety Assessment) where they’ve brought together all of the various activities looking at replacing animals for vaccine testing, chemical testing, cosmetics testing … the key thing is we’re doing that across multi stakeholder groups. We’ve got non-profits in there, big and small companies. The team at HSI really catalyzed a lot of the changes that we’re making. We’re moving towards a [global movement] — I think the more success we have, the more we can engage … we’ve been successful in being able to implement the alternatives for animal testing, the more the younger scientists want to get involved … they’ve grown up with the cutting edge science towards computational types of methods so involving the younger scientists in what we’re doing is one of the key parts, helping to train them and how the future then will be product safety assessments without any animal testing at all.”
HSUS also honored MUTTS© cartoonist and children’s book author Patrick McDonnell with the Voice for the Animals Awards and the Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust with the Humane Champion Award.
Guests were treated to an intimate performance by Grammy-nominated artist Gavin DeGraw and were treated to a delectable vegan meal by renowned chef Eddie Garza.
"To be in a room with so many supporters who make the world a greater place for animals is truly inspiring,” shared Kitty Block, President and CEO of the HSUS.
