Calendar of Events

Spotlighting the lifesaving work of The Humane Society of the United States, The Genesis Awards Benefit Gala celebrates the role that news and entertainment media and other high-profile individuals play in raising awareness of animal issues.

Tickets start at $350 each, and tables of 10 start at $3,500. Online registration is now open.

The Host: Award-winning television host, choreographer, and producer Carrie Ann, who shares her life with four cats and two dogs and recently launched her own foundation, The Carrie Ann Inaba Animal Project, will emcee the star-studded event.

Program Ads: Each year we are proud to present our guests with a beautiful souvenir program as a memento. This is an excellent opportunity for you and/or your company to convey a message to our 800 attendees from the major media, entertainment, humane, and business communities.

Sponsorships: Be a part of this unique and rewarding event! Packages start at $5,000. To learn about various levels and benefits, download the corporate sponsorship brochure, email Loraine Miscavage, or call 301-258-1418.

Mega pop star Ke$ha will receive The Wyler Award on March 23.

Schedule for the evening
5:00 p.m.—Hosted cocktails and silent auction
6:15 p.m.—Gourmet vegan dinner
7:30 p.m.—Program and awards presentation
After-Party to follow
All tickets include hosted cocktails, three-course gourmet vegan dinner, admission to the program and awards presentation, and admission to the after-party.

Hotel Information
We have secured a blocked room rate at The Beverly Hilton for guests who would like to stay there overnight or for the weekend. Guests can either book their room online at our personalized group web page or call the hotel directly at 310.274.7777. Guests should refer to “The Humane Society” to gain access to the group rate. Our discounted rate is applicable towards Deluxe Rooms only (one king bed or two double beds). Total cost per room per night is $253.40 (includes all taxes and fees). This room rate will be available until March 1 or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first.

Parking Information
Our rate for event day parking is $12 self parking and $17 for valet parking. Overnight self-parking is $25 per day.

More information
• Email us with any ticket/seating questions or call 310.440.0600.
• RSVPs will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Dress is black tie optional. To respect our purpose, we request that no fur be worn.
• Your contribution less $235 per ticket is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

A photographic exhibition featuring large format photographs of the 300 rabbits saved from a meat farm in Tasmania now living safely at Big Ears Animals Sanctuary. This exhibition is to highlight the beauty of the most misunderstood family pet, to show their beauty, and help educate. Mary Costello is a photographer who donates 100% of her proceeds from the images to the Big Ears Animal Sanctuary. This is an exhibition for the whole family.

Big Ears Animal Sanctuary is a 100% not for profit registered charity. It was co-founded by Brett and Jacqui Steele and is administered by a board of five very animal friendly people. The sanctuary is on a 25 acre property located in northern Tasmania.

The property provides sanctuary for many different species of animals, as you will see on this site. Some have been rescued, such as the battery hens and others needed new homes for various reasons, including neglect, mistreatment or abandonment. All animals live in harmony with each other and with us, their human guardians, and fellow animals.

All the animals at the sanctuary are provided with shelter, food, veterinary care and the freedom to engage in all their natural behaviours. The rabbits burrow and make warrens, the cows and donkeys graze and the pigs root around in the mud.

We are a ‘no kill’ Sanctuary.

Big Ears Animal Sanctuary is different to animal shelters in that the majority of the animals here are not moved onto other people. This is their home, a safe place for them to live out the rest of their days.

We believe there is no ‘difference’ between companion animals and animals slaughtered for food, clothes or experimentation. All animals are capable of experiencing the same emotions as humans, such as sadness or joy (one only has to observe a rabbit doing a ‘binky’ to know this).

We abhor the cruelty caused by modern factory farming techniques such as battery hen systems and confinement pig farming, believing it not only similar to concentration camps but also damaging to the health of the human consumers of these products.

We respect life of all forms and aim to show compassion and kindness to the creatures that have no voice in this world. We believe that being human gives us the responsibility to care, educate and work towards changing attitudes about the “us” and “them” mentality. After all, it wasn’t so long ago that women were considered property and there was a system in South Africa called apartheid. As these things have changed, so too, one day will be the way the world treats its animals. This is what we strive for.

On April 20 through April 28 (two weekends and the weekdays in between), groups from across the world will hold vegan bake sales. Each participating group gets to choose its venue, what to sell, and how it uses the proceeds. We invite you to participate! You can hold the bake sale on any day during the period—or on more than one day if you like. Just about anyone can join in.

In the first four years (2009-2012) of the event, participating groups have raised close to $200,000 for a variety of causes. This year, perhaps 150 or more bake sales spanning six continents will likely raise another $50,000 for their causes. Some of the bake sales have been remarkable; all have been memorable (here are some highlights). The Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale was named the 2009 “Veg Event of the Year” by VegNews Magazine, and past two years it has been featured on CNN.com.

WHY participate?

1. It’s a fun way to introduce people to the joy and tastiness of vegan foods.
2. Raise money for your cause.
3. Be part of an event that will publicize the many benefits of an animal-free diet.

HOW do you participate?

• Plan to hold a vegan bake sale sometime between April 20 and April 28.
• Let us (and the world) know by using our handy signup form (preferred) or emailing us at info@veganbakesale.org.
• Hold the bake sale.
• If inclined, please let us know how you did. Send a photo, or a link, whatever you’d like—celebrate and inspire.

It’s that simple.

If you want to participate but cannot do so during the “official” time period, get in touch with us—we’ve got you covered. We strive to be as inclusive as possible.

There are only two rules:

1. Goods sold must be vegan. For baking, most importantly this means no dairy or eggs.
2. Don’t sell or distribute anything during the bake sale (books, brochures, etc.) that contributes to the intentional harming of animals.

You don’t have to be a vegan group or even an animal group to participate. We’re inviting school clubs, Girl Scout troops, church/temple/mosque organizations, even bunches of friends who want to join.

It’s an easy and enjoyable way to raise funds, and to raise awareness about food that is delicious and satisfying but does not involve exploiting or mass-killing animals. (Note that animals are slaughtered in huge numbers, and at all ages starting at newborn, in the dairy and egg industries). In addition, many people are allergic to dairy or eggs, and holding a vegan bake sale shows that you can make super-tasty versions of cakes, pies, cookies, and other desserts without these ingredients.

The Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale is sponsored by A Well-Fed World, which works to feed an ever-growing human population through a plant-based diet, thus saving people, animals, and natural resources.

Building on the momentum from 2009 through 2012, we expect the 2013 event to be bigger and have more media coverage—and be more fun—than ever.

You may be able to get funding for your participation! Send an email about your bake sale and estimated costs to grants@awfw.org to see if you qualify for a grant from A Well-Fed World.

The web site is filled with useful information to help you get your vegan bake sale going. For instance, we have links to over a thousand vegan baked good recipes and the web’s most complete collection of bake sale tips. Here are few that are handy to know right off the bat…

Tips for Getting Started

• You need to secure your venue. Possible locations include community centers, public squares, shopping centers, strip malls, pet supply stores, and sports arenas before or during an event. School and religious groups may want to hold the event in their respective schools and places of worship. Farmers markets, craft fairs, and festivals are other potential places for a vegan bake sale, although you often have to register early. Also, any vegan-oriented store will probably be receptive (if not wildly enthusiastic) about a vegan bake sale at or near their business. You may be able to have a bake sale in your office or apartment building lobby, or even on your front porch.
• You need to get all the necessary permissions for holding a bake sale at your desired location. This can range from almost nothing to dealing with multiple levels of officials and obscure regulations. For shopping centers and strip malls, you may need permission from the owner of the property, not just store management. Health ordinances vary from place to place, and sometimes a city code will override a state code. But the good news is that in most instances, bake sales are very easy to set up, in terms of legalities and permits.
  Note: In some European countries, additional restrictions may apply. Watch this space for more information and suggestions to make the process go as smoothly as possible.
• The bigger and busier the venue, the earlier you may need to reserve it. For best results, start those phone calls soon.

New to Vegan Baking?

It’s easier than you think. Just follow any of the million vegan baking recipes on the net or in cookbooks. Or, if you’re an advanced baker, you can usually make one or two minor changes (e.g., use nondairy milk instead of cow’s milk) and you’re good to go. Either way, with vegan baking you can create brownies, cookies, cupcakes, and other delectables—even cheesecakes—that are as tasty as you’ve ever had—or better! You’ll find lots of vegan baking tips and recipes on the web site, but also, in any search engine, just enter “vegan recipe” followed by whatever you want to bake, such as “chocolate chip cookies”or “zucchini bread,” and you’ll get plenty of good recipes and cooking hints.

OK, that’s it for now. Please email us at info@veganbakesale.org if you have any questions or suggestions. Check back often for updates and new information. The signup form is here. If inclined, check out our Facebook page or follow us on twitter.

Spread the news and the love. Fifth Annual Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale—April 20-April 28, 2013!

A collaborative effort between artists, filmmakers, activists and musicians all united under the banner of Animal Liberation.

For the past year or so a few of us have been exercising the idea of organizing a tour that was a collaborative effort between artists, filmmakers, activists and musicians all united under the banner of Animal Liberation. Taking lessons from the Total Liberation and the Primate Freedom Tours, and as the opportunity arose, we started work on what is now called the Open the Cages Tour. Essentially what we wanted to accomplish was a traveling Animal Liberation fest, including the first U.S. screenings of Maximum Tolerated Dose, and performances by bands and musicians who carry an animal rights message. In between events also participating in demonstrations and protests when the opportunities arise. A massive amount of time, energy and creativity went into the production of this tour, and there is still a lot more effort needed on our part to make it happen.

Vivisection is one of the most grotesque and unnecessary forms of animal abuse and exploitation in the world today. We planned this tour to not only educate people about the fraudulent scientific research and billions of taxpayer dollars that are invested in dead-end animal trials, but also to visit every major city on the west coast that has a university or company that participates in animal testing. Hoping to reignite the anti-vivisection campaigns in the cities we’ll be passing through, we also aim to make connections with like minded individuals who are interested in shutting down any and all companies that profit off of the suffering of other living, sentient creatures. The suffering that beagle puppies, primates, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs and other animals endure in these laboratories are not only a massive waste of life, but a waste of human knowledge as well.

Towards the abolition of ALL animal testing and exploitation. We will not be intimidated, we will not back down and we will NEVER compromise in defense of animals!

-The OTC team