Celebrating the Extraordinary Advocacy of a Leader in Animal Welfare
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (Aug. 14, 2019) – On Saturday, August 24, 2019, Helen Woodward Animal Center will present San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan with the 2019 “Humane Award.” The prestigious annual award will be presented in front of an invitation-only group of high-level donors at the Lomas Santa Fe Country Club (1505 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach, CA 92075) between 11:00am and 1:00pm. Media is invited to attend and is asked to RSVP.
Most notable for the work she has done to protect children and families, District Attorney Summer Stephan has devoted her life to providing justice to the voiceless and most vulnerable. As a prosecutor for nearly 30 years and a national leader in the fight against human trafficking, Stephan rose through the ranks to become Chief of the DA’s North County Branch, Chief of the Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Division and Chief Deputy District Attorney. In 2018, the voters elected Stephan as San Diego County District Attorney.
DA Stephan’s accomplishments are many. In addition to leading the second largest DA’s Office in California and managing a professional staff of over 1,000 employees, she serves as the People’s Prosecutor for all of San Diego County and its over three million residents. She holds leadership positions in public safety on the national, state and local level, serves as Chair of the Human Trafficking subcommittee for the National District Attorneys Association, and has spearheaded such campaigns as “Know the Price,” which focused on reducing sexual assaults of college students, and “The Ugly Truth” Human Trafficking Campaign.
Despite this intense workload, DA Stephan has still found time to dedicate to the most voiceless of all – animals. In May 2018, Stephan launched the DA’s office’s first-ever Animal Cruelty Prosecution Unit, which provides prosecutorial consistency countywide, investigative support and dedicated expertise for animal abuse cases. Since its founding, the DA’s Animal Cruelty Unit has prosecuted 53 cases for animal cruelty; nine of those cases also have domestic violence charges, six cases have child abuse charges and two have elder abuse charges along with the animal cruelty charges.
“Animal cruelty can be horrific,” stated Stephan, “When animals in a home are abused or neglected, it is a warning sign that others in the household may be in danger. These cases are difficult because the animals can’t speak for themselves and that’s why it’s so important that our community, our neighbors, look out and speak up. ”
The Humane Award is presented annually by Helen Woodward Animal Center President, Mike Arms, to a person or entity that has made a significant positive impact on the animal welfare world – devoting time, energy, and resources to improving the quality of life for orphaned animals. Past recipients include Bo Derek, Carrie Ann Inaba, Kristen Bell, Diane Keaton, Betty White, Jackson Galaxy, Tippi Hedren, and Linda Blair.
“It means a lot to me to present this year’s Humane Award to someone who is working on a political level to make such an important difference in the world of animal welfare,” stated Helen Woodward Animal Center President Mike Arms, “DA Summer Stephan is an exemplary leader who is modeling the way we hope other states will begin to look at animal cruelty cases. We are honored to call her a friend to Helen Woodward Animal Center.”
For more information on Helen Woodward Animal Center or the Humane Awards, log on to www.animalcenter.org or call (858) 756-4117 x350.
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About Helen Woodward Animal Center
Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, non-profit organization where “people help animals and animals help people.” Founded in 1972 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., the Center provides services for more than 90,000 people and more than 10,000 animals annually through adoptions, educational and therapeutic programs both onsite and throughout the community. Helen Woodward Animal Center is also the creator of the International Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption drive, the International Remember Me Thursday® campaign and The Business of Saving Lives Workshops, teaching the business of saving lives to animal welfare leaders from around the world. For more information, go to: www.animalcenter.org.