Animal Planet Announces Nationwide Search for HERO OF THE YEAR

Animal Planet Announces Nationwide Search for HERO OF THE YEAR

-- Nominations Will Be Accepted From March-August of 2006 on AnimalPlanet.Com --

SILVER SPRING, Md., March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Animal Planet announces the launch of its nationwide search for HERO OF THE YEAR, which is presented in partnership with the makers of Fresh Step(R) litter. The campaign recognizes and celebrates animal lovers across the country who invest their time, talent and spirit to help animals in their community. The campaign will run for eight months and nominations will be accepted from now through August 27, 2006. Anyone who works to improve animal welfare, from veterinarians to a neighbor who helps strays, is eligible for nomination. Once the nomination process closes on August 27, a panel of judges will select 10 finalists. People's choice voting on the finalists begins September 25 and runs through October 8. The winner will be announced the week of October 30, in conjunction with HEROES WEEK and the airing of premiere episodes of Animal Planet HEROES programming. The winner will receive a trip to Hawaii for two, and Animal Planet will donate $10,000 to his or her favorite animal related charity.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060328/CLTU519)

"Many people have a connection to animals, but some people rise to the challenge and take that connection to another level by dedicating their time and energy to the protection and preservation of animals," said Maureen Smith executive vice president and general manager, Animal Planet. "Honoring individuals who are making a difference for animal welfare in their communities is just one way to show Animal Planet's commitment, and we are pleased the makers of Fresh Step(R) litter have partnered with us on this initiative."

As part of Animal Planet's HERO OF THE YEAR campaign, AnimalPlanet.com features Guido Daniele's amazing transformations of human hands into animals. Guido uses traditional portrait techniques - photography and oil paints - to help him create life-like looking animals on people's hands such as dogs, elephants and birds. Nominees for HERO OF THE YEAR are lending a hand to improve animal welfare, and Guido's art symbolizes their efforts. In addition, AnimalPlanet.com contains information on how anyone can be a hero to animals in their own community.

To nominate a hero, viewers must submit a 250-word or less essay to AnimalPlanet.com that describes the cause the nominee supports; the activities and actions that demonstrate the nominee's commitment to the cause; the accomplishment and impact of the actions, and how the nominee's actions may have inspired others to get involved with the cause. Official rules and an entry are also located on the web site.

Animal Planet, available in 88 million homes nationwide, is the only television network dedicated to the emotional connection between humans and animals. The network brings people of all ages together by tapping into a fundamental fascination with animals through an array of fresh programming that includes humor, competition, drama and spectacle from the animal kingdom. Discovery Networks, U.S., a unit of Discovery Communications, Inc., operates and manages Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery HD Theater, Discovery Kids Channel, Discovery Times Channel, The Science Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Military Channel, Discovery en Espanol, FitTV, Discovery Kids en Espanol and Discovery Travel & Living (Viajar y Vivir). The unit also distributes BBC AMERICA.

Fresh Step is a part of The Clorox Pet Products Company, which is a subsidiary of The Clorox Company, headquartered in Oakland, Calif. The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with fiscal year 2005 revenues of $4.4 billion. Clorox markets some of consumers' most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products, Armor All(R) and STP(R) auto care products, Fresh Step(R) and Scoop Away(R) cat litters, Kingsford(R) charcoal briquets, Hidden Valley(R) and K C Masterpiece(R) dressings and sauces, Brita(R) water- filtration systems, and Glad(R) bags, wraps and containers. With 7,600 employees worldwide, the company manufactures products in 25 countries and markets them in more than 100 countries. Clorox is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its employees work and live. Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has awarded cash grants totaling more than $62.3 million to nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges; and in fiscal year 2005 alone made product donations valued at $4.9 million. For more information about Clorox, visit http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/. For more information about Fresh Step, visit FreshStep.com.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060328/CLTU519
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Animal Planet

CONTACT: Melissa Olear of Animal Planet, +1-240-662-2946, or
Melissa_Olear@discovery.com

Web site: http://www.discovery.com/
http://www.animalplanet.com/
http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/

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