The nonprofit Mercy for Animals, which fights to end factory farming, will honor Kate Mara, Travon Free and Tabitha Brown at its 25th anniversary gala.
The trio will be honored at the red carpet event — held on Saturday, April 20, at Rolling Greens in Los Angeles — for their contributions to the cause of ending industrial animal agriculture and constructing a just and sustainable food system.
“Mercy for Animals honors those boldly fighting injustices and cruelties in our food and farming systems,” stated Leah Garcés, CEO and president of Mercy for Animals. “Tabitha Brown, Kate Mara and Travon Free stand as champions in the creation of the compassionate and just world we envision. We call on all who share our vision of a kinder, more sustainable world to uplift these changemakers in recognition of their inspiring efforts at our 25th anniversary gala.”
Actor, producer and activist Mara (“House of Cards,” “A Teacher,” “Class of ’09”) and Oscar- and Emmy-winning filmmaker and comedian Free (“Two Distant Strangers,” “38 at the Garden,” “BS High”) will receive the Community Changemaker Award for their work as executive producers of “The Smell of Money,” a documentary which investigates the pork industry and the eastern North Carolina residents in a fight for their rights to clean air, pure water and a life free from the stench of pig feces. The documentary is described as “a story about the power of love for one’s family and community to triumph over even the largest forces of injustice. The film calls on viewers to see the people behind what’s on our plates — and to join the fight for a better future for all.”
Brown, an Emmy and NAACP Image Award winner, bestselling author, actor and vegan foodie, will accept the Love & Light Award in recognition of the ways she uses her social platforms and creative and business endeavors to promote plant-based living. Brown has been a major collaborator with Mercy for Animals since 2018, so the award also honors those collective efforts alongside the organization’s network of animal advocates, environmental leaders and food-tech pioneers.
