Broadway Barks is an annual animal charity event held in New York City to promote the adoption of shelter animals. The event was founded in 1999 by Bernadette Peters with her friend Mary Tyler Moore and others, who wanted to do "something for the animals" after a successful fund–raising campaign for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Broadway and other celebrities present the animals for adoption. The event has been held every July since 1999 in Shubert Alley, the heart of the Broadway theatre district. The first adopt–a–thon was held on July 24, 1999, and benefitted five animal welfare shelters and groups: the ASPCA, Center for Animal Care & Control (CACC), Bide-a-Wee, Humane Society and North Shore Animal League. Celebrities such as Tom Wopat, Joel Grey, Andrea McArdle, and Edie Falco participated. During the July 2007 event, more than 100 pets were adopted, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a proclamation making July 14, 2007 "Broadway Barks Day" in New York City. The event has grown over the years until, on July 12, 2008, it benefitted some 25 animal adoption and welfare groups, with presenters such as Glenn Close, Phyllis Newman, Mario Lopez, and Nathan Lane introducing the adoptable animals. "Broadway Barks 11" will be held on July 11, 2009, with celebrity presenters announced: Elizabeth Ashley, Bill Berloni, Matt Cavanaugh, Michael Cerveris, Gavin Creel, Hope Davis, Christine Ebersole, Rupert Everett, Sutton Foster, John Glover, Lauren Graham, Kate Jennings Grant, Haydn Gwynne, Allison Janney, Gregory Jbara, Andy Karl, Marc Kudisch, Angela Lansbury, Michael Mastro, Judy McLane, Constantine Maroulis, Karen Olivo, David Hyde Pierce, Alice Ripley, Bryce Ryness, Christopher Sieber, J. Robert Spencer, John Tartaglia, Harriet Walter and Chandler Williams. (via Wikipedia)