Kinship Circle

Kinship Circle Joins Bravo TV's Top Chef in a Celebrity/Dining event to aid human and animal victims of haiti's earthquake
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Kinship Circle Joins Bravo TV's Top Chef Ron Duprat & Hollywood Unites For Haiti -
founded by NBC Heroes Star Jimmy Jean Louis - To Aid Haiti Earthquake Survivors

for immediate release / click here for print version

February 14, 2010 - Kinship Circle Animal Disaster Aidis pleased to announce it has been chosen as one of two charities to receive funds raised in the national celebrity event, Hearts For Haiti: An American Dining Relief Benefit.

The other beneficiary is Hollywood Unites For Haiti, a humanitarian charity in Los Angeles founded by NBC "Heroes" star Jimmy Jean Louis, in association with Pan American Development Fund.

For the event, Haitian-born Ron Duprat of Bravo's hit series "Top Chef" has teamed up with three recent contestants - Mattin Noblia, Hector Santiago and Michael Voltagggio - to welcome other fine chefs nationwide in a Relief Benefit on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2010. Chefs and restaurants will donate up to 10 percent of their receipts to Hearts for Haiti: An American Dining Relief Benefit.

2/4/10: This puppy finds help in the hands of an ARCH team member in Haiti. To date (February 8, 2010), ARCH members have treated more than 700 animals, mostly dogs. Other animals helped include cats, goats, sheep, pigs and cows. Photo courtesy of Best Friends / Delmas

Kinship Circle is no stranger to disaster aid. The St. Louis, MO based nonprofit mobilizes resources for animal victims via its network of trained responders in the U.S. and Canada. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Kinship Circle helped send volunteers and supplies to nearly 80 relief missions in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas.

The group's disaster aid network sprang to action after Haiti's 7.0 earthquake and aftershocks left Port-au-Prince and nearby areas in ruins. Kinship Circle joined forces with top animal protection groups worldwide to form Animal Relief Coalition of Haiti (ARCH), led by International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).

ARCH works on the ground, in compliance with the Haitian government, on rescue and veterinary care, as well as long-term measures to vaccinate animals and prevent disease outbreaks. The coalition has already supplied a mobile veterinary clinic.

At present, veterinarians, vet techs and animal disaster responders enter "tent communities" offering surgery for dogs with damaged limbs, medications, vitamins and fluids. They see some 40 - 50 animals at each site, mostly dogs and cats. The team has also administered vaccinations and vitamins to pigs.

"We've seen dogs, alongside pigs, navigating the wreckage in search of food and a place to rest," says Kinship Circle president Brenda Shoss. "Helping these animals lets stricken communities return to normalcy as quickly as possible. Animals play an integral role in the rebuilding of communities."

U.S. volunteers are in Port-au-Prince with the Dominican Republic's Dominicana para la Prevencion de Crueldad a los Animales (SODOPRECA) to medically assist dogs, cats, goats, pigs, horses, cows, chickens...or any small or large domesticated animals they encounter.

To support Kinship Circle's animal relief in Haiti, please visit:
kinshipcircle.org/haiti

For information on KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID, contact:
Brenda Shoss, Kinship Circle: Desk: 314-863-9445 / Cell: 314-795-2646
Email: info@kinshipcircle.org
** PHOTOS OF ANIMALS IN HAITI AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

For more information on HEARTS FOR HAITI, contact:
Valary Bremier: Office: 415-461-9300 / Cell: 415-686-7470
Email: valary@mindspring.com
** CHEF PHOTOS AND INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

2/4/10: A surprised cat waits for a medical check, in line with other Haitians and cats. ARCH has sent in a mobile veterinary clinic to increase our capacity to help the people and animals of Haiti. Photo courtesy of Best Friends

2/3/10: Animal disaster responders enter "tent communities" offering surgery for dogs with damaged limbs, medications, vitamins and fluids. The team has observed numerous dogs, some cats and also administered vaccinations and vitamins to pigs. Photo courtesy of ASPCA / Jeff Eyre