Award-winning Author, Producer and Humanitarian Candy Spelling Joins American Humane Association's National Board of Directors

National Humanitarian Award Winner to Bring Lifelong Advocacy for Animals and Children to the National Stage

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Humane Association, the nation's voice for the protection of children and animals, today announced that National Humanitarian Award winner, First Lady of Television, bestselling author, and Broadway producer Candy Spelling is joining its national board of directors.

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"I am honored to serve children and animals in crisis in my new position as board member for American Humane Association," said Ms. Spelling. "I have always endeavored to support both children's and animal issues and am proud to be associated with American Humane Association, which for 135 years has championed the cause of the most vulnerable."

This past spring American Humane Association presented its prestigious National Humanitarian Award to Ms. Spelling to recognize her dedication to the organization's core values of compassion, caring and hope.

"Candy Spelling's lifetime of achievement in helping children and animals perfectly embodies the powerful spirit of those values, and her work is an inspiration to millions," said American Humane Association President and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert. "Having her join our nationally influential board as a powerful voice for both children and animals will benefit those in the greatest need across America."

Ms. Spelling's efforts on behalf of children and animals are well-known. She has worked with many organizations to assist needy children and their families, volunteered with animal rescue and shelter groups, is a judge for the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™, and has even enlisted the help of her own dog, Madison Spelling, who chaired a fund-raising event, "Bark for the Cure," to benefit research into canine cancer. In the summer of 2009, she was named "Ambassador for Tourism" for Los Angeles, joining Tom Hanks, Kobe Bryant and others representing the city for tourism. She was invited to join the Board of Directors for LA INC., the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau.  In 2010, Candy became a board member of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. She is a founding board member of the Los Angeles Parks Commission and was instrumental in creating the first non-profit Parks Foundation in Los Angeles. She is a Commissioner Emeritus for the Board of Recreation and Parks for the City of Los Angeles, an active panel overseeing hundreds of public parks and recreational areas serving millions of people who annually visit the public areas. She is an active Board of Governors Member of LA's Best, the after-school enrichment program that serves children in need through the city in partnership with the Los Angeles Unified School District, the City of Los Angeles and the private sector.

Ms. Spelling has attained great success with her Tony Award-winning Broadway play, Promises, Promises, starring Kristen Chenoweth, her current Broadway hit, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, starring Nick Jonas and Beau Bridges, and her newest Broadway show, Nice Work if You Can Get It, starring Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick.  She has gained widespread acclaim for her New York Times best-selling book, Candyland, and her recent record-breaking two-part series on HGTV, Selling Spelling Manor, Candy's insider tour of her famous 56-room Hollywood mansion that she and husband, television mogul Aaron Spelling, built and lived in for more than 20 years.

"America's children and animals need a powerful advocate like Candy Spelling," said Dr. Ganzert. "We are honored to have her as an ally to help the helpless and speak for those who don't have a voice."

American Humane Association
Since 1877 American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting children, pets and farm animals. 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.

SOURCE American Humane Association