SAG Awards Commitment To LA's Sustainable Future

Prior to the announcement of the 2016 Screen Actors Guild Awards, a televised event taking place Saturday, January 30^th that recognizes the exceptional work of film and television actors throughout the past year, the organization took their commitment to excellence outdoors.

The Screen Actors Guild Awards has made a long standing commitment to environmental preservation. Their dedication to conservation, recycling and “green production” has resulted in being named a seven-time Environmental Media Association Green Seal recipient.  This year, the Screen Actors Guild Award members committee announced a new partnership with the American Forests aimed at reducing the carbon footprint in Los Angeles and revitalizing the Los Angeles River.  The goal of their partnership is to raise funds that will allow trees to be planted at the headwaters of the Los Angeles River, enhancing the LA Riverworks restoration project.

On Thursday, January 21, 2016, the initiative was officially launched at a tree planting ceremony held at the LA River Greenway Trail in Sherman Oaks. SAG Awards executive producer Kathy Connell, SAG Awards Committee Chair JoBeth Williams and SAG Award Committee member Woody Schultz were joined by American Forests President and CEO Scott Steen, Los Angeles City Councilmember David Ryu and City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works Commission President and Chief Film Liaison Kevin James as well as members of SAG and select press representatives as ground was broken and the first of 1,250 trees was planted.

In a statement, the SAG Awards committee announced that the initiative was launched “To help ensure a sustainable future for the people of the Los Angeles region” as well as continuing their commitment to “reducing the carbon footprint and protect the environment.”

The SAG Award Committee welcomes everyone to participate in the initiative by making a ten dollar donation. Each ten dollar donation will result in the planting of ten additional trees.  Donations may be made by texting FOREST to 80077.

Of the top industry honors presented to actors, only the SAG Awards are selected entirely by performers’ peers in SAG-AFTRA, which this year's membership number at 116,741. The SAG Awards was the first televised awards show to acknowledge the work of union members and the first to present awards to motion picture casts and television ensembles. The 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 at 8 p.m. (ET) / 5 p.m. (PT).  In addition, TNT will present a primetime encore of the ceremony immediately following the live presentation. The telecast is available internationally, including to U.S. military installations through the American Forces Network. For more information about the SAG Awards, SAG-AFTRA, TNT and TBS, visit sagawards.org/about.