Photo Flash: Lily Tomlin Joins Friends for WAIT WAIT...DON'T KILL ME! Comedy Benefit
Emmy and Tony-winning, Academy Award-nominated actress and animal advocate Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie) joined actress June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie), Craig Ferguson (The Craig Ferguson Show) and Casey Wilson (Happy Endings) to bring the laughs to "Wait Wait...Don't Kill Me!," a night of unforgettable comedy and entertainment benefiting Voice For The Animals Foundation (VFTA) on Saturday, May 6 at 8:00 p.m. at the famEd Royce Hall on the UCLA Campus. Scroll down for photos!
Presented by Honeysweet Creative, this ninth annual fundraiser was hosted by actor Paul Scheer (The League). All proceeds go to support VFTA as they continue their fight for creating respect and empathy for animals through education, rescue, legislation and advocacy, including their work to free Billy the Elephant from the L.A. Zoo (#FreeBillyNow).
The evening began with a star-studded VIP (Vegan Important People) Reception and red carpet followed by the "Wait Wait...Don't Kill Me" comedy program. Councilmember Paul Koretz introduced the program with Melya Kaplan, Executive Director,Voice For The Animals. Cher, honorary Co-Chair, sent a touching video message from Las Vegas seeking support to help Billy the elephant find placement in an elephant sanctuary. Artist Matt Shapira created a painting of Billy the Elephant that was auctioned off during the program. The West Los Angeles Animal Shelter spotlighted six precious dogs that were available for adoption. The event was produced and directed by Erick Weiss, Honeysweet Creative.
Voice For The Animals (VFTA) is a 501c3, non-profit charitable foundation which is devoted to creating respect and empathy for animals through education, rescue, legislation, and advocacy. The organization was founded by Melya Kaplan in 1999 when she realized that although there were many great rescuers, there was a dire need for a new type of animal protection organization with programs to empower people to help more animals. VFTA has many programs that focus on animal protection, including an Animal Assistance Hotline, Rescue and Adoption, Working Cats, LA Zoo Watch, Helping Friends, Abuse Prevention, Humane Education, Political Animal, Feral Colonies, VFTA in Greece, Animal Films, and an Elephants in Captivity Awareness Campaign. The Captivity is Not Conservation campaign is devoted to educating people about the plight of Billy the Elephant and his life in captivity. Connect with the Voices for the Animals Foundation at vftafoundation.org and #FreeBillyNow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To learn more about Billy the Elephant and to sign the petition to get Billy to a sanctuary, visit www.helpbilly-vfta.org.
Photo Credit: Mathew Imaging
Councilmember Paul Koretz with VFTA Executive Director Melya Kaplan
Councilmember Paul Koretz
VFTA Executive Director Melya Kaplan
VFTA Executive Director Melya Kaplan
Emmy and Tony-winning actress and animal advocate Lily Tomlin
Emmy and Tony-winning actress and animal advocate Lily Tomlin with with an adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Emmy and Tony-winning actress and animal advocate Lily Tomlin with with an adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Emmy and Tony-winning actress and animal advocate Lily Tomlin with with an adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Emmy and Tony-winning actress and animal advocate Lily Tomlin with with an adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Emmy and Tony-winning actress and animal advocate Lily Tomlin with with an adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Emmy and Tony-winning actress and animal advocate Lily Tomlin with with an adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
oice for the Animals board members with councilmember Paul Koretz, comedian Craig Ferguson, and Emmy and Tony-winning actress and animal advocate Lily Tomlin with adoptable dogs from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Comedian Craig Ferguson and Emmy and Tony-winning actress and animal advocate Lily Tomlin with adoptable dogs from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Councilmember Paul Koretz with comedian Craig Ferguson and Emmy and Tony-winning actress and animal advocate Lily Tomlin with adoptable dogs from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Comedian Craig Ferguson and Emmy and Tony-winning actress and animal advocate Lily Tomlin with adoptable dogs from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Comedian Craig Ferguson with adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Comedian Craig Ferguson with adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Comedian Craig Ferguson with host Paul Scheer.
Host Paul Scheer
Comedian Craig Ferguson, councilmember Paul Koretz, host Paul Scheer and comedian June Diane Raphael with an adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Comedian Craig Ferguson, councilmember Paul Koretz and comedian June Diane Raphael with adoptable dogs from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Comedian June Diane Raphael with an adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Comedian June Diane Raphael with an adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Comedian Casey Wilson with an adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Comedians June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer with adoptable dogs from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Comedians Craig Ferguson, Casey Wilson, Paul Scheer, Lily Tomlin and June Diane Raphael with adoptable dogs from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Comedians Craig Ferguson, Casey Wilson, Paul Scheer, Lily Tomlin and June Diane Raphael with adoptable dogs from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Comedians Craig Ferguson, Casey Wilson, Paul Scheer, Lily Tomlin and June Diane Raphael with VFTA Executive Director Melya Kaplan and Honeysweet Creative's Erick Weiss and adoptable dogs from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Comedians Craig Ferguson, Casey Wilson, Paul Scheer, Lily Tomlin and June Diane Raphael with VFTA Executive Director Melya Kaplan and Honeysweet Creative's Erick Weiss and adoptable dogs from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Artist Matt Shapira with an adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Artist Matt Shapira with VFTA Executive Director Melya Kaplan and an adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
June Diane Raphael
June Diane Raphael
Artist Matt Shapira with host Paul Scheer and an adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Artist Matt Shapira, his guest and an adoptable dog from West Los Angeles Animal Shelter.
Councilmember Paul Koretz addresses the crowd
Emmy and Tony-winning actress and animal advocate Lily Tomlin
Lawyer and animal advocate Mark Kleinman
Councilmember Paul Koretz, Lily Tomlin, VFTA Executive Director Melya Kaplan, lawyer Mark Kleinman and host Paul Scheer
Emmy and Tony-winning actress and animal advocate Lily Tomlin with host Paul Scheer
Host Paul Scheer and June Diane Raphael
Host Paul Scheer and Craig Ferguson
Host Paul Scheer and Casey Wilson
Panelists Craig Ferguson and June Diane Raphael
Host Paul Scheer
Host Paul Scheer and panelists Casey Wilson, Craig Ferguson, June Diane Raphael and Lily Tomlin
Panelists Casey Wilson and Craig Ferguson
Panelists Casey Wilson, Craig Ferguson, June Diane Raphael and Lily Tomlin
Panelists Casey Wilson, Craig Ferguson, June Diane Raphael and Lily Tomlin
Host Paul Scheer auctions off piece by artist Matt Shapira
Panelists Casey Wilson and Craig Ferguson
Comedian June Diane Raphael
Panelists Casey Wilson and Craig Ferguson
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