Light a Candle on September 26 to Help Raise Awareness About the Plight of Homeless Animals
New York, NY – Monday, September 23, 2013 – The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals is joining the Helen Woodward Animal Center, Maddie’s Corner, pet lovers, and animal welfare organizations across the globe to mark the first annual Remember Me Thursday. This international effort, taking place on Thursday, September 26, 2013, calls attention to the millions of pets who lose their lives each year because they cannot find loving homes.
On September 26, millions of people across the world will light candles — both real and virtual — to shine a light on the pets awaiting adoption.
It’s easy to get involved in Remember Me Thursday. New Yorkers can join the campaign by:
- lighting a virtual candle on Thursday at www.RememberMeThursday.org;
- organizing a candle-lighting ceremony (for information go to www.RememberMeThursday.org);
- spreading the word about Remember Me Thursday through Facebook, Twitter, and other social media channels using the #LightForPets hashtag; and
- most importantly, by always choosing to adopt rescue or shelter animals rather than purchasing pet store animals, and encouraging friends and family to do the same.
Jane Hoffman, President and Chair of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, said, “The Alliance is proud to support Remember Me Thursday to raise awareness about the importance of adopting rescue animals.”
Among the celebrities who have used their social media voice to shine a light on Remember Me Thursday are Kristin Chenoweth, founder of Maddie’s Corner; Bernadette Peters, co-founder of Broadway Barks; Ellen DeGeneres, Kristen Bell, Katherine Heigl, Margaret Cho, Kathy Ireland, and many others.
The Remember Me Thursday global awareness campaign is championed by Mike Arms, President of the Helen Woodward Animal Center and creator of both the International Pet Adoptathon and International Home 4 the Holidays program, which, in partnership with other national animal organizations, has found homes for 8.3 million pets since 1999.
For more information on Remember Me Thursday and a full list of participating celebrities and animal welfare organizations, go to www.RememberMeThursday.org.
About Helen Woodward Animal Center
Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, California, the Center provides services for more than 57,000 people and thousands of animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs, both onsite and throughout the community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the International Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive and the Animal Center Education Services program, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world. www.animalcenter.org
About the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals®
The Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity that works with more than 150 partner rescue groups and no-kill shelters to offer important programs and services to save the lives of NYC’s homeless animals. Receiving no government funding, we are supported by donations from foundations, corporations, and individuals. As we mark our tenth anniversary in 2013, we are committed to transforming New York City into a no-kill community by 2015: where no dogs or cats of reasonable health and temperament will be killed merely because they do not have homes. www.AnimalAllianceNYC.org
About Maddie’s Corner
Maddie’s Corner was founded by actress/singer Kristin Chenoweth in honor of her beloved Maltese, Maddie. Our mission is to bring attention and support to animals in need and groups working on their behalf, as well as to highlight the many ways animals help people and enrich our lives. Our guiding vision is to foster a more humane, thoughtful, and tolerant society that will benefit the quality of life of both people and animals. www.maddiescorner.org
About Remember Me Thursday
Animal lovers and organizations across the globe unite on the 4th Thursday of September to light a candle in remembrance of the millions of orphan pets who lost their lives without the benefit of a loving home and to shine a light on the millions of orphan pets still waiting for their forever homes. The Remember Me Thursday global awareness campaign is championed by Mike Arms, President of Helen Woodward Animal Center, and creator of both the International Pet Adoptathon and International Home 4 The Holidays program which, in partnership with national animal organizations, has placed 8.3 million pets in homes since 1999. He is joined in partnership with the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, which represents over 150 animal welfare organizations in the New York City area, Maddie’s Corner, an organization founded to foster the quality of life of people and animals, and by animal organizations worldwide. www.RememberMeThursday.org
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Phone: (212) 329-1408
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