WASHINGTON, May 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The
oldest commemorative week in U.S. history – one that taught
generations of Americans the value of treating our animal friends
with kindness and compassion, is turning 100 this May and is
now looking to change the world for millions of animals still in
need.
"Be Kind to Animals Week®" (May
3-9) is the longest-running, most successful humane
education campaign in America, and has been supported by several
U.S. Presidents, movie stars from Shirley
Temple to John Wayne,
Eleanor Roosevelt to Betty White, and even Dennis the Menace and
Porky Pig. Look here for stunning facts, amazing photos, and
an unparalleled list of VIP supporters who have been part of this
iconic and historic part of our national culture and efforts to
build a more humane world during the last century.
A New Campaign to Recruit All Americans to
the Cause of Animals
Unlike most 100-year-olds, this historic, 100-year-old campaign
shows no sign of slowing down. In fact, for this Centennial, it is
ramping up efforts, launching an ambitious year-long campaign
called "Kindness 100" to recruit all Americans to become
animal advocates and help solve the remaining challenges still
facing millions of animals in need. The campaign, which kicks off
the first week of May, seeks to enlist a new generation to do four
simple things that can make a world of difference to billions of
farm animals, millions of animals abandoned to U.S. shelters each
year, animals in entertainment, and disappearing and endangered
species.
Kindness100.org – Where you can find "how
to be kind"
To reach children and adults nationwide, American Humane
Association is embarking on a year-long campaign starting with a
national media tour, educational roadshow to schools with a
traveling museum aboard its fleet of famed Red Star Rescue trucks
that save animals in disasters, and a website www.Kindness100.org
where readers can find a fascinating historical retrospective of
"Be Kind to Animals Week," a series of pre-K-5 curricula to teach
children compassion in all areas of life, official downloadable
proclamations for local, state and federal officials, and a
Kindness 100 Pledge with four things people can do to
improve the lives of millions – actually, billions – of
animals.
1,000,000 Challenged to Take the Kindness
100 Pledge
American Humane Association is challenging 1 million people to
take the Kindness 100 Pledge online at www.Kindness100.org to
protect and better the lives of animals in four distinct areas,
including 10 billion farm animals by seeking out humanely raised
foods, the 6-8 million animals abandoned each year by adopting from
a shelter, the more than 100,000 animal actors who entertain,
educate and charm us in film and television each year by looking
for the "No Animals Were Harmed®" end-credit, and the many
endangered and disappearing species of the world by cultivating
caring and understanding of magnificent creatures by taking their
children to accredited zoos, aquariums, and conservation centers.
This year, in honor of the centennial every person who takes the
pledge will join the illustrious figures of the past 100 years as
an Honorary Chair of Be Kind to Animals Week.
"The need has never been greater and the time has never been
better to start a new Compassion Movement," said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American
Humane Association. "To help all of the creatures of the world, big
and small, we encourage every American to celebrate 'Be Kind to
Animals Week' – not only for a week, but all year round. By
teaching our children the value of kindness and doing a few simple
things that require little or no cost, we may together build a
better world for our animals….and ourselves."
Created against the backdrop of World War I when millions of
horses were perishing on the blood-soaked battlefields of
Europe, Be Kind to Animals Week
has touched hundreds of millions of people, and over the years has
featured many iconic spokespeople and advocates including
President Warren Harding,
Shirley Temple, Eleanor Roosevelt, Milton Berle, Doris
Day, Porky Pig, Dennis the Menace, John Wayne, Lorne
Greene, Carol Burnett,
Clint Eastwood, Betty White and many others.
To join the movement and celebrate the centennial of "Be Kind to
Animals Week®," please visit www.Kindness100.org. To learn more
about how you can support American Humane Association's Kindness
100 campaign, and to help support America's first national humane
organization and the only one working for the protection of both
the nation's children and animals, please call 1-800-227-4645 or
email Anastasia Staten, Vice
President, Philanthropic Services at
anastasias@americanhumane.org.
About American Humane Association
American Humane
Association is the country's first national humane organization and
the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals.
Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront
of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable
from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today we're also leading the way
in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy,
medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions
of people every day through groundbreaking research, education,
training and services that span a wide network of organizations,
agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit
American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.
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SOURCE American Humane Association