In Defense of Animals Announces Guardian Award Recipients

Governor Schwarzenegger, Ellen DeGeneres and Others Will be Recognized At Hollywood Fundraiser on October 30th

Los Angeles - October 25, 2004 -In Defense of Animals (IDA) has announced its Guardian AwardÒ recipients for its annual fundraising event at Paramount Studios on October 30th. The recipients are Lifetime Achievement Award to Pat Derby, Performing Animal Welfare Society; Distinguished Guardian Awards to Keely Shaye Smith, Ellen DeGeneres, Ron Kagan, Cynthia Moss, James LaVeck and Jenny Stein, Eric Harr and Marc Bluestone; and a special Youth Guardian Award to Washo Dakota Shadowhawk. A representative of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be on hand receive a special recognition of the Governor's signing of legislation banning the cruel practice of force-feeding ducks to make foie gras and for his signing the law to ban the declawing of exotic cats. The Guardian Angels, citizen activists who spearheaded the passage of Guardianship language in animal related ordinances, will also attend and receive thanks.

Dr. Elliot M. Katz, DVM, IDA Founder and President of In Defense of Animals in announcing event says that, "There is a critically important paradigm shift occurring in how we humans perceive and relate to the animals we share our lives and planet with. The Guardian Awards were created to speed this shift in perception and consciousness by defining and acknowledging people who, through their courage, conscience and compassion, serve as role models for present and future generations.

Dr. Katz adds, "We are delighted to honor and show our gratitude to this year's Guardian awardees and our Guardian Angels, who through their words and deeds stir this new consciousness in our relationship with other species. These very special people, through their courage and conviction, have broken down interspecies barriers."

The Guardian Awards, which attracts celebrities, musicians, world-class athletes and luminaries is scheduled for Saturday, October 30th from 6:30 p.m. to midnight at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. The black tie event is preceded by a private 5:30 p.m. cocktail reception for sponsors, celebrities and other special guests. This year's host for the Los Angeles event is comedian Elayne Boosler with event chairs Lori and Jeff Hyland, IDA supporters and partners in the prestigious real estate frim Hilton & Hyland. A long list of celebrity honorary board members, guests and presenters include Dr. Jane Goodall, James Cromwell, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Basinger, Wendie Malick, David Chokachi, Maria Conchita Alonzo, Shannon Elizabeth, Joaquin Phoenix, Lionel Richie, Rod Stewart, Ed Asner, Peter Falk, Ali McGraw, Ed Beglay, Stockard Channing, Lisa Edelstein, Tippi Hedren and many more.

Musical entertainment includes "Kevin Toney's All Star Band" including Trumpeter Greg Adams (Tower Of Power, Elton John and Rolling Stones), Guitarist Jeff Pevar (Crosby, Stills and Nash and CPR), Saxophonist Andre Delano (Maxwell, Stevie Wonder and Jeff Lorber), Drums / Trevor Lawrence Jr. (Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder and Lionel Ritchie), plus special guest artists Stephen Bishop and Phi l p Jaymes Flowers. Guests will be treated to gift bags filled with animal friendly products and publications and will have the opportunity to bid on an amazing assortment of high quality silent auction items valued at more than $50,000.

Guests will be treated to Happy Drinks providing gin, vodka and rum; Lagunitas Beer; Corozan Ice Bar serving Tequila; Red Bull; G.R.A.C.E.; O2 Bar; and Classic Wines of California. Food highlights include vegan cuisine and deserts created by celebrity chefs and restaurants, including Vegan Fusion/Blossoming Lotus, La La Sweets, Down to Earth, Juliano's Raw, Akasha's Visionary Cuisine, Turtle Island Foods, Playfood, Carpe Diem, Organic Oasis Restaurant & Juice Bar, PAX Organica, AB Foods, LLC, May Wah Vegetarian Cuisine, Candle 79, Finbeck Foods, Chang's of Brentwood, Tofutti, Melissa's Produce, and Follow Your Heart/Earth Island. Edible Arrangements will provide special food setups.

Tickets are $250 and they are available online at the event website: www.guardianawards.org or by calling Nicole Otoupalik toll-free at: 1.800.338.4451. All proceeds benefit In Defense of Animals a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.

For press credentials please contact Susan Tellem or Tim Cridland at Tellem Worldwide at 310.479.6111 ext. 16.

In Defense of Animals, based in Mill Valley, Calif., is an international animal protection organization dedicated to ending the exploitation and abuse of animals by raising the status of animals beyond that of mere property and by defending their rights, welfare and habitat. IDA's efforts include educational events, cruelty investigations, boycotts, grassroots activism and hands-on rescue through our sanctuaries in Mississippi and Cameroon, Africa. For more information about IDA, visit the web site at www.IDAUSA.org or call 415.388.9641.