Grammy Award-Winner Mya Joins Team Animal League in the ING New York City Marathon to Raise Funds for North Shore Animal League America and Increase Awareness of Shelter Animals

Runners and Animal-Lovers Encouraged to Join Team Animal League to Help Save Lives and Raise Awareness for Shelter Pets

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Grammy Award-winning singer Mya will join fifty other animal-loving athletes aiming to raise $200,000 for the dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens of North Shore Animal League America, as members of Team Animal League in the ING New York City Marathon.  Team Animal League has a few slots open for runners interested in participating, and all animal lovers can show their support by sponsoring an individual or by donating to the entire team.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110912/DC66598)

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The members of Team Animal League, including shelter associate Michael Dorman (pictured with Mya) and runners from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Arizona, Minnesota, Florida, Texas, Colorado, and Colombia, South America, are in training, preparing to traverse the 26.2 miles through New York's five boroughs by foot on Sunday, November 6, 2011.  Before crossing the finish line, Team Animal League aspires to cross its collective pledge goal through the generosity of friends, family and supporters.  All donations will benefit the Animal League's life-saving mission to find permanent and loving homes for approximately 20,000 homeless pets each year, and to help educate the next generation to become more humane in the treatment of animals.

Known in the entertainment industry as an internationally known, respected and loved singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, and philanthropist, Mya is known throughout the animal loving community as a strong advocate and supporter of saving animals' lives.  Mya has five pets, including a sweet cat named Mellow who she adopted from the Animal League.  

"The Animal League's mission, saving the lives of precious animals, is one that touches my heart," said Mya.  "I am excited to join Team Animal League's runners, each of whom treasures the beautiful and innocent shelter animals known as Mutt-i-grees® and is equally committed to helping save as many lives as possible."

This is the fourth year that the Animal League, the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, has had the support of ING New York City Marathon participants.  In 2008, Animal League spokesperson Beth Stern founded Team Animal League as a runner, and since that time the Team has raised more than a half million dollars to help save animals' lives.

To learn more about Team Animal League, visit AnimalLeague.org.

About North Shore Animal League America
North Shore Animal League America, headquartered in Port Washington, NY, is the largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization in the world.  The Animal League reaches across the country to rescue, nurture and adopt pets into happy and loving homes. Over the past decade, the Animal League saved over 200,000 lives and has saved 1,000,000 animals since its inception. To learn more, visit www.AnimalLeague.org.

About Mya
In 2011, Grammy Award-Winning Artist Mya celebrates 13 years in the entertainment industry as an internationally known, respected and loved singer, songwriter, dancer, actress and philanthropist.  Most recently, Mya entertained the world and impressed millions as the highest scoring contestant on ABC's Dancing With the Stars.  Mya finished out the decade as one of Billboard's Hot 100 Artists of the Decade, a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award-Winning Actress and as the President and founder of her own non-profit foundation, The Mya Arts & Tech Foundation.  Mya's extensive repertoire includes the hits, "Case of the Ex," "Ghetto Superstar," "Free," "Lady Marmalade," "My Love Is Like ... Wo," and "Love is the Answer" which she recorded with Cedric Gervais.  Mya's 7th studio album "K.I.S.S." (Keep It Sexy & Simple) is available on myamya.com.  Follow Mya on twitter.com/MissMya.

Contact:  Devera Lynn
Phone: 516- 883-7633
Mobile: 516-474-5332
[email protected]

Cara Taback
Phone: 516.883.7636
Mobile: 516.840.0066
[email protected]

SOURCE North Shore Animal League America