
Ian Somerhalder received the Wyler Award at The Humane Society of the United States’ 26th Genesis Awards on Saturday, March 24. One of the animal protection organization’s highest honors, The Wyler Award is bestowed on a celebrity or public figure for raising awareness of animal issues via the media. A committed and prodigious campaigner for animal and environmental causes, Ian is being recognized for spreading the word through both traditional and social media about critical animal welfare issues, such as shark finning, the Canadian seal hunt, fur in fashion, and endangered species. He is also the founder of the Ian Somerhalder Foundation, which aims to empower, educate and collaborate with people and projects to positively impact the planet and its creatures.