Actress Katherine Heigl has been named spokesperson for the 2014 Remember Me Thursday campaign, a global pet adoption awareness event organized by Helen Woodward Animal Center. She is joined by Alan Cumming, Diane Keaton, Kristin Chenoweth, and other performers, sports figures, and animal behaviorists who will take part at a scheduled candle-lighting ceremony on Thursday, September 25, to bring attention to shelter animals waiting to find their forever homes.
On September 25, pet parents around the world will light candles to honor the millions of cats and dogs who lost their lives because they weren’t adopted into loving homes. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 3.4 million cats and dogs are euthanized each year.
Heigl is known for her role on Grey’s Anatomy, and she has appeared in numerous films. She is set to star in the NBC drama State of Affairs this Fall.
“Every day in America, 10,000 pets are killed for lack of a good home,” she said. “It is important to not forget those animals who have been euthanized in our shelters across America and to focus on those still waiting for a home. Remember Me Thursday is our opportunity to bring to light these homeless pets and I am honored to be the spokesperson for such an important and powerful message.”
Helen Woodward Animal Center President Mike Arms came up with the idea for Remember Me Thursday. His call for participation for Remember Me Thursday drew responses from 139 countries including Germany, Mexico, Canada, Spain, the Philippines, Japan, Puerto Rico, Australia, the United Kingdom, and many more. He expects there will be more than 100,000 individuals holding candle-lighting ceremonies of their own, spreading the message through social media, and visiting the Remember Me Thursday website.
This marks the second year for Remember Me Thursday campaign continues to expand with multiple candle-lighting ceremonies and special events already organized internationally, as well as an A-list lineup of celebrity supporters.
While Heigl will be serving as spokesperson, Emmy and Tony-award winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth will lend her voice to the campaign’s official song “It Will Be Me.”
Other actors, comedians, pet behaviorists, and professional athletes will show their love for orphan pets by reminding the public to light a candle on Thursday, September 25, 2014. Animal loving celebrities are also sharing their thoughts on pet adoption in a series of public service announcements. They include:
Alan Cumming: Currently starring on Broadway in his Tony Award -winning performance as the Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret, as Eli Gold in the CBS series The Good Wife and author of the upcoming memoir, Not My Father’s Son (Day Street Books, October 2014).
Anže Kopitar: Professional ice hockey player, Olympian, two-time Stanley cup winner, and the alternate captain of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.
Beth Stern: TV host, model, animal advocate, and the national spokesperson for North Shore Animal League America.
Carrie Ann Inaba: Television host, choreographer, and producer, who is best known for her role as a judge on the ABC hit, Dancing With The Stars and founder of charitable organization The Carrie Ann Inaba Animal Project.
David Backes: NHL hockey player and captain of the St. Louis Blues, two-time Olympian and Silver medalist, co-founder with wife Kelly of the non-profit organization, Athletes for Animals, a united team of professional athletes with a shared passion for rescuing and protecting the welfare of homeless pets nationwide.
Diane Keaton: Actress, director, producer, screenwriter, and author. Diane is a lifelong animal lover, Board Member of Helen Woodward Animal Center, and proud guardian of many rescued creatures.
Eric Roberts: Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated actor of both film (Runaway Train, Pope of Greenwich Village, The Expendables) and television (Less Than Perfect, Heroes, Crash).
Ian Somerhalder: Actor and philanthropist, best known for playing Boone Carlyle in the TV drama Lost and Damon Salvatore in the TV drama The Vampire Diaries. He is founder of the Ian Somerhalder Foundation which aims to empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures.
Jackson Galaxy: Cat behaviorist and the host of Animal Planet’s My Cat From Hell.
Jeff Carter: Olympic Gold Medalist, two-time Stanley cup winner, and current player for the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings.
Kathy Najimy: Actress of film (Sister Act, Hocus Pocus, Rat Race, Wall-E), television (VEEP, The Big C, Numb3rs, Veronica’s Closet, and King of the Hill), and stage (The Kathy and Mo Show, Dirty Blonde) and outspoken activist on women’s, gay, and animal rights issues.
Kristin Bauer van Straten: American film and television actress including HBO series True Blood, Seinfeld, and sorceress Maleficent in the ABC series Once Upon a Time, and producer of Out For Africa, a documentary about the plight of endangered elephants and rhinos.
Mark Buehrle: Professional baseball player, World Series Champion, five-time World Gold Glove Award winner, and starting pitcher of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Sara Rue: Critically-acclaimed actress best known for the roles she played as Claudia Casey on the sitcom Less Than Perfect, Carmen Ferrara on the comedy-drama Popular, and Kim on Malibu County.
Tamar Geller: famed canine coach and author of The Loved Dog: The Playful, Non-Aggressive Way to Teach Your Dog Good Behavior (Gallery Books, 2008) and 30 Days to a Well-Mannered Dog (Simon and Schuster, 2011) and founder of nonprofit Operation Heroes & Hounds pairing shelter dogs with injured military.
Source: Helen Woodward Animal Center
