Stars Shine For Remember Me Thursday® Global Pet Adoption Awareness Campaign

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2017 Spokesperson Kristin Chenoweth and 60+ Celebrities Unite Animal Lovers and Rescue Facilities for Homeless Pets

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Sep 14, 2017, 18:29 ET

RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif., Sept. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This month, Helen Woodward Animal Center will once again unite with animal welfare proponents and organizations worldwide for the 5th Annual Remember Me Thursday®. Honored on the fourth Thursday of September, the campaign asks pet lovers and animal rescue groups to create an unstoppable, integrated voice advocating for homeless pets to live in forever homes, not die waiting for them. Grassroots candle-lighting ceremonies and a global avalanche of social media buzz will shine a light on the millions of animals still awaiting adoption and encourage communities to opt to adopt and reduce the millions of homeless pets euthanized each year. As in previous years, some very big names are stepping forward to lend their support to the cause, including TONY® and EMMY® Award-winning actress, Kristin Chenoweth, who has been named the 2017 Official Spokesperson for the campaign. Helen Woodward Animal Center encourages the world to join with these philanthropic celebrities and to be a part of this very special day, Thursday, September 28^th, 2017.

Remember Me Thursday is a worldwide social media awareness day created by President and CEO of Helen Woodward Animal Center, Mike Arms. Mike Arms wanted to create a day that would unite people all around the world, in one united voice, to remember the orphan pets that didn't get a second chance, but shine a light on orphan pets who need homes right now. Visit our site to learn how you can be an advocate for adoptable pets and pet adoption: www.remembermethursday.org

As 2017's Official Remember Me Thursday Spokesperson, Kristin Chenoweth says, "On August 27 of last year, my beloved Maltese, Madeline Kahn Chenoweth went to Heaven. Though I still miss her so, I am grateful for all the happiness we shared. She was pure, unconditional love. The pain of losing her was worth it. Please take a moment and remember all of the sweet shelter pets just waiting for their opportunity to warm your heart on Remember Me Thursday.”

2017 Remember Me Thursday® Official Spokesperson Kristin Chenoweth. Photo credit: Gian Andrea di Stefano

As the campaign's 2017 Official Spokesperson, Kristin Chenoweth is a TONY^® and EMMY^®Award-winning actress with credits across stage ("You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown", "Wicked", "On the Twentieth Century"), film ("Rio 2") and television ("The West Wing", "Pushing Daisies", "Glee", "Descendants" and "American Gods"). She recently co-starred in "Hairspray" for NBC and her newest album "The Art of Elegance" was released in September 2016. Kristin received a coveted star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Live Performance, Stage/Theatre in 2015. Kristin's upcoming projects include Lionsgate/Hasbro's "My Little Pony: The Movie" as well as the animated film "The Star." She is also a new Mamma to her rescue Miss Thunder Boom Boom Chenoweth, affectionately known as Thunder Pup, who is a (bigger than expected) bundle of unconditional love, laughter and fluff.

Chenoweth's spokesperson-status is particularly meaningful to Helen Woodward Animal Center, as her support for Remember Me Thursday® began in its inaugural year.

Regarding her love of animals, Chenoweth stated: "On August 27th of last year, my beloved Maltese, Madeline Kahn Chenoweth went to Heaven. Though I still miss her so, I am grateful for all the happiness we shared. She was pure, unconditional love. The pain of losing her was worth it. Please take a moment and remember all of the sweet shelter pets just waiting for their opportunity to warm your heart on Remember Me Thursday®."

Chenoweth leads an impressive list of celebrity supporters also aligning themselves with Remember Me Thursday®. Notable personalities, professional athletes, pet behaviorists and social media pet stars have signed on as "luminaries," committing to share their thoughts on pet adoption in videos and via their social media accounts throughout the campaign. At press time, 60+ influential luminaries have joined the cause, including:

Notable Film, TV and Stage Personalities: Alexander Jean, Andie MacDowell, Ashley Bell, Ashley Roberts, Bellamy Young, Beth Stern, Bonnie-Jill Laflin, Carrie Ann Inaba (2015 Official Spokesperson), Christian Siriano, Coco Austin, Courtney Lopez, Diane Keaton, Elaine Hendrix, Eric Paslay, Eric Roberts, Holly Madison, Ian Somerhalder & Nikki Reed, Katherine Heigl (2014 Official Spokesperson), Kathy Najimy, Kristin Bauer van Straten, Lou Wegner, Mark Steines, Pauley Perrette (2016 Official Spokesperson), Stephen Kramer Glickman, Wil Wheaton and Wynonna Judd.

International Celebrity: Gilberto Santa Rosa.

Professional Athletes: David Backes (Boston Bruins), Bryan Bickell (Chicago Blackhawks), Mark Buehrle, Jeff Carter (LA Kings), Liam Hendriks (Oakland A's), Kevin Kiermaier (Tampa Bay Rays), Anze Kopitar (LA Kings), Joey Logano (NASCAR), Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay Rays), Jake Muzzin (LA Kings), Ryan Newman (NASCAR), and Marc Rzepczynski (Seattle Mariners).

Animal Specialty Celebrities: Dr. Marty Becker, Wendy Diamond, Jackson Galaxy, Tamar Geller, Jill Rappaport, Hannah Shaw, and Victoria Stilwell.

Animal Celebrities: Alien Cat Matilda, Choupette Lagerfeld, Cole and Marmalade, Justin Fire Survivor, Lil BUB, Monty Boy, My Cat Kyle, Nala Cat, Norbert, Paddington, Pumpkin the Raccoon, Purrminators, Sauerkraut Kitty, Tango, Tuna, Vito Vincent, and Worried Cat.

Remember Me Thursday® was established in 2013 by Helen Woodward Animal Center President and CEO Mike Arms. Moved by the staggering statistic of the 2.7 million¹ homeless pets who lose their lives each year in the U.S., Arms put out a call to rescue organizations in an attempt to create a global awareness campaign. As creator of the International Pet Adoptathon and the International Home 4 the Holidays® program (placing over 13 million pets in homes since 1999), he was able to send out an expansive request and the response was significant.

Now in its fifth year, Remember Me Thursday® has been supported by 180 countries with hundreds of thousands of individuals and more than 700 separate animal welfare organizations around the globe holding candle-lighting ceremonies of their own, spreading the message on social media, or lighting a virtual candle. The enormous swell of celebrity support has resulted in the topic trending each year on both Facebook and Twitter, garnering more than 865 million social media impressions since its start.

To be a part of the 2017 Remember Me Thursday® campaign, individuals and animal welfare organizations are encouraged to get the entire world talking about pet adoption on Thursday, September 28^th, by tweeting, tagging, posting and sharing the beauty and life-saving significance of pet adoption using the hashtags #RememberTheRescue and #RememberMeThursday. Animal-lovers can win life-saving funds, toys and food for adoptable pets looking for forever families at their favorite non-profit, pet adoption organization. To enter the Remember Me Thursday Social Media Contest, simply upload your rescue pet's photo and story to the #RememberTheRescue Photo Wall for a chance to win!* (*Restrictions apply. Final selection remains at the sole discretion of Helen Woodward Animal Center).

For more information on Remember Me Thursday® and a full list of participating celebrities and animal welfare organizations, go to www.remembermethursday.org.

¹Animal 24-7 published by Merritt Clifton approximates the number of homeless pets euthanized at 2.7 million annually.

About Remember Me Thursday®
Animal lovers and organizations across the globe unite on the fourth Thursday in September to light a candle in remembrance of the millions of homeless pets who lost their lives without the benefit of a loving home and to shine a light via social media 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 successful Home 4 the Holidays program which, in partnership with national animal organizations, has placed over 13 million pets in homes since 1999. For more information, please visit www.remembermethursday.org or via hashtags #RememberMeThursday and #RememberTheRescue on social media.

SOURCE Helen Woodward Animal Center