CROWN MEDIA FAMILY NETWORKS PARTNERS WITH AMERICAN HUMANE FOR SHELTER-TO-SERVICE AND MILITARY DOG REUNIFICATION PROGRAMS
Sponsorships a Key Component of Company's Overall
Pet Rescue and Advocacy Corporate Initiative
New York, NY - November 15 - Crown Media Family Networks, home of Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, has joined forces with American Humane, the country's first national humane organization, as the exclusive media sponsor of two programs that recognize the significant and often restorative bonds between military veterans and canines.
The first is a new program being developed with American Humane to rescue shelter dogs and train them as service animals for military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and other disorders. Crown Media is also sponsoring American Humane's ongoing initiative to reunite retired military dogs with the military human handlers with whom they served in active duty. Military dogs are classified by the government as "equipment," and when they are taken out of active duty following years of heroic service, the process of reuniting them with their human handlers can often be arduous and take years.
Both sponsorships are new components of Crown Media's long-running overall corporate pet rescue and advocacy campaign, which includes partnership programs with North Shore Animal League and Best Friends Animal Society.
Awareness of the multi-faceted campaigns is also heightened through the network's television programming, including its annual "American Humane Hero Dogs Awards(TM)," "Kitten Summer Games," "Hallmark Channel's Paw Star Game" and "Kitten Bowl," now in its fourth year.
"Every day, nearly 200 military veterans nationally are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome, of which an average of 20 take their own lives, while as many as four million dogs are euthanized in shelters every year," said Bill Abbott, President and CEO, Crown Media Family Networks. "By rescuing and training shelter dogs and pairing them as service animals for our veterans in distress, this program is addressing two critical issues - and potentially saving two lives - at once.
"Similarly, being a part of bringing together the two-legged and four-legged military veterans who served and sacrificed for our country in battles around the world is its own reward. These programs are win-win and we are incredibly proud to support American Humane's efforts."
Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane, added: "American Humane has been working to save animals and support the U.S. military for more than 100 years. Crown Media Family Network's remarkable support of both these critical efforts will allow us to continue these legacies and help save the lives of America's brave vets as well as America's beloved pets. On behalf of those who fought to protect our freedom, the lifesaving military dogs who worked to protect them, and the animals abandoned to uncertain fates in shelters across the country, thank you!"
ABOUT CROWN MEDIA FAMILY NETWORKS
Crown Media Family Networks is the umbrella unit subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc., housing cable's leading family friendly networks, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, as well as their corresponding digital extensions HallmarkChannel.com and HallmarkMoviesandMysteries.com. The company operates and distributes both channels in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) with Hallmark Channel available to 90 million subscribers and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries in 67 million homes in the United States. Hallmark Channel features an ambitious slate of new, original content, including movies; scripted series, such as "When Calls the Heart," and "Good Witch" and "Chesapeake Shores"; annual specials including "Hero Dog Awards" and "Kitten Bowl"; world premieres of Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations, and a daily, two-hour lifestyle show, "Home & Family." Hallmark Channel is also home to the popular annual holiday franchise "Countdown to Christmas," featuring a lineup of 24/7 holiday programming. Rounding out the network's lineup are television's most beloved comedy and drama series, including "The Golden Girls," "The Middle," "Frasier," "Last Man Standing" and "Home Improvement." Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is a separate 24-hour, digital cable network featuring a unique mix of new, original movies and acquired series focused on the lighter side of the suspense and mystery genres. The network also features its own annual holiday programming franchise, "Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas," as well as presentations from the multi-award-winning Hallmark Hall of Fame library.
ABOUT AMERICAN HUMANE
Founded in 1877, American Humane is the country's first national humane organization and is the first to serve whenever and wherever animals are in need. To learn more, please visit www.americanhumane.org
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