WPCNR DOINGS. From SPCA. September 30, 2006: The SPCA of Westchester has announced that Stockard Channing, movie, television and stage actress, will act as the host of its fourth annual Top Hat & Tails fundraiser on Saturday, October 14, 2006 at historic Lyndhurst mansion in Tarrytown, NY. Channing will emcee the evening’s program, reinforcing to attendees the urgency of the prevention of abuse to animals.
“Stockard Channing is not only an incredible actress and personality, she is a friend to animals and she believes in our mission,” said Deborah Mehne, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “We are honored and privileged to have her help in raising awareness about animal cruelty in Westchester.”
Like other guests at the event, Channing will attend with her dogs Bishop and Louie.
Channing has a celebrated acting career, spanning many genres. In 2006, she received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in “Out of Practice.” Channing was nominated for the 1994 Academy Award Best Actress for her role as Ouisa Kittredge in “Six Degrees of Separation” (a reprisal of her role in the Broadway show). Her movie roles include Rizzo in the movie musical “Grease” and a free-spirited woman who falls in love on the Internet in the film “Must Love Dogs.”
Channing’s television career includes an award-winning performance in the television movie “The Matthew Shepard Story,” in which she played Shepard’s mother, and playing First Lady Abigail Bartlett on the popular series “The West Wing.” Her stage career includes starring roles in “The Lion in Winter,” “Joe Egg,” “House of Blue Leaves,” and “Four Baboons Adoring the Sun,” among others.
The event (black-tie optional) will include dinner, dancing, silent and live auctions and an awards ceremony. There will also be a fashion show where furry, four-legged friends will work the “dogwalk”, and music will be provided by “Furry Murray and the Bow Wow Band”.
A not-for-profit humane organization, the SPCA of Westchester serves as the sole animal cruelty prevention and intervention agency for Westchester County. Each year our agents investigate over 1,000 cases of suspected animal abuse resulting in steps to correct the problem if evidence of cruelty is found. Through our Simpson Spay/Neuter Clinic, the SPCA offers to the public low-cost spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations in an effort to help people keep their pets healthy. Each year our animal shelter adopts more than 800 homeless companion animals into loving new homes and reunites another 300 lost pets with their families. Recognized as a “no-kill” shelter, the SPCA never euthanizes an adoptable animal unless it is terminally ill and suffering or exhibits extreme aggression. The SPCA of Westchester was voted Best Animal Shelter of 2005 by Westchester Magazine. For more information, visit www.spca914.org.
