When Diane Keaton showed up for a tour of the Helen
Woodward Animal Center, a revolutionary facility in Rancho
Santa Fe, California, general manager Mike Arms knew about as much about the actor, director and producer as you and I. But after chatting together as they walked around the Center’s spacious grounds, Mike discovered the talented celebrity really loved animals, and he knew he’d found the important spokesperson he’d been looking for.

“It wasn’t just words; you could feel how much she loved the animals,” explains Mike. “When I asked her if she would be
willing to be the spokesperson for our Home 4 the Holidays
program, without hesitation, she said ‘Of course’.”

From that moment on, the actor found herself speaking out
on behalf of all the animals sitting in shelters who needed
new homes, drawing attention to their plight and encouraging
people to adopt during the busy holiday season rather than buy from pet stores and puppy mills. Not surprisingly, Mike Arms was thrilled with Diane’s commitment. “She was tremendous with helping to get the message out. Even though I knew how busy she was, she never said no. That’s just the type of person she is.”

Modest about her role with the HWAC, Diane feels thankful for what animals have brought to her life. “Animals bring you a sense of wonder,” she says. Helping them is second nature to her.

To recognize the star’s efforts on their behalf, the HWAC awarded Diane with the Helen Woodward Humane Award this past July. With a raft of acting awards and nominations under her belt, including an Academy Award for Annie Hall and a Golden Globe for Something’s Gotta Give, you might think this latest accolade paled in comparison. But the actor says she was honored by the event. “I’ve received so many awards in my lifetime,” said Diane, “but this is the one that I want my children to remember me for.”

In addition to her adopted son and daughter, Diane shares her life with Red, a Corgi mix who was found on a street in Austin, Texas, and Sweetie, a Newfoundland that she adopted through Newfie Rescue.

Her feelings for animals go way back, she says, to her childhood, when various members of the family would bring strays home. This desire to rescue animals stayed with her throughout the years.

“I wanted to have my own shelter with my sister,” says Diane. “But I realized I could never raise the needed money.” When a friend recommended HWAC, the actor felt compelled to check it out.

The rest, as they say, is history...