Showbiz
'Vampire Diaries' star Ian Somerhalder to pick up animal rights award
Published Thursday, Feb 16 2012, 00:29 GMT | By Leah Simpson | Add comment
Ian Somerhalder will receive the prestigious Wyler Award at The Humane Society of the United States' upcoming 26th Genesis Awards.
The Vampire Diaries star will collect the accolade on Saturday, March 24 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
The Wyler Award is bestowed on a celebrity or public figure who raises awareness of animal issues via the media.
Somerhalder is being recognised for highlighting problems such as shark finning, the Canadian seal hunt, fur in fashion and endangered species.
Somerhalder joins Wyler Award alumni Sir Paul McCartney, Hayden Panettiere, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, and Kristin Davis.
The 33-year-old said: "The tireless efforts of The Humane Society of the United States to protect animals around the world has always been an inspiration to me and I'm honoured to be recognised with this year's Wyler Award."
Beverly Kaskey, senior director of The HSUS's Hollywood Outreach and executive producer of the annual Genesis Awards, commented: "Ian is the epitome of a new kind of advocate who leverages his fame and an array of media platforms to draw public attention to animal protection concerns and other issues that he cares deeply about.
"From addressing Congress to making TV appearances to regularly blogging to informing his million-plus followers on Twitter, Ian is a major voice and force for animals and a most deserving recipient of The Wyler Award."
The ceremony will be hosted by Dancing with the Stars' Carrie Ann Inaba.
> Nina Dobrev, Ian Somerhalder confirm dating rumours?
The Vampire Diaries star will collect the accolade on Saturday, March 24 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
© PA Images
The Wyler Award is bestowed on a celebrity or public figure who raises awareness of animal issues via the media.
Somerhalder is being recognised for highlighting problems such as shark finning, the Canadian seal hunt, fur in fashion and endangered species.
Somerhalder joins Wyler Award alumni Sir Paul McCartney, Hayden Panettiere, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, and Kristin Davis.
© PA Images
© PA Images
The 33-year-old said: "The tireless efforts of The Humane Society of the United States to protect animals around the world has always been an inspiration to me and I'm honoured to be recognised with this year's Wyler Award."
Beverly Kaskey, senior director of The HSUS's Hollywood Outreach and executive producer of the annual Genesis Awards, commented: "Ian is the epitome of a new kind of advocate who leverages his fame and an array of media platforms to draw public attention to animal protection concerns and other issues that he cares deeply about.
"From addressing Congress to making TV appearances to regularly blogging to informing his million-plus followers on Twitter, Ian is a major voice and force for animals and a most deserving recipient of The Wyler Award."
The ceremony will be hosted by Dancing with the Stars' Carrie Ann Inaba.
> Nina Dobrev, Ian Somerhalder confirm dating rumours?
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