Heroes Award Reception

Eat, Drink, and Save Animals! Join us on November 3rd to celebrate 8 years in animal protection at our annual Heroes Award Reception! Enjoy an open bar with beer, wine, and signature cocktail, hors d'oeuvres, dinner, live music, raffles, and mingling followed by a brief program honoring our animal champions with dessert and coffee bar. This year's honorees are: Howard and Carole Baskin, Monumental Achievement Award The Baskins have saved countless big cats at their Big Cat Sanctuary in Tampa, Florida over the years, but HAP is honoring them for their work to save big cats all over the country. Howard and Carole lobbied Congress for years to ban the private trade and ownership of exotic cats, as well as banning contact with all big cats and their cubs, while phasing out private ownership. Their hard work paid off when the Big Cat Public Safety Act was signed into law on December 20, 2022. State Representative Jason Ortitay, Legislator of the Year A longtime friend to HAP and animals, State Representative Ortitay led the way for the 2023 passage of HR87, a state resolution to conduct a study of wildlife corridors. This study will pave the way for animals to safely migrate from one habitat to another, decrease wildlife vehicle collisions, and keep wildlife populations healthy. State Representative Abigail Salisbury, Habitat Regeneration Award While a Councilwoman in Swissvale Borough, State Representative Salisbury championed the first-ever HAP Hive project, which will install a pollinator garden in a previously vacant lot in Swissvale. The 12,000 square feet of space will serve as an oasis for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This garden is a huge step in our goal to educate citizens, create hospitable homes for bees, and encourage others to foster a nurturing environment for pollinators in their areas. VIP and General Admission tickets available. See all of the perks on our ticketing site.