With 2.9 million children suffering from abuse and over 10 billion animals abused each year – 97 percent of which are farm animals – the need for organizations that advocate the right of humans and animals to live and get proper care is becoming more important. One nonprofit has been doing just that for 16 years: The Gentle Barn.

A celebrated animal sanctuary and nonprofit organization, The Gentle Barn has made it its mission to rescue and rehabilitate animals that were raised for slaughter, which ended up severely abused or neglected by owners and handlers. Through the rescue, rehabilitation, and therapy of these animals, The Gentle Barn works with various inner city, at-risk and special needs children to teach them that regardless of appearance, all are the same on the inside. “If I had to sum up [The Gentle Barn] in one sentence, it would be that we provide a place for people and animals to be reminded that they matter,” says founder Ellie Laks.

Actress Pamela Anderson at The Gentle Barn, 2011 | Photo: Leon Worden

Over the course of 16 years, The Gentle Barn has changed countless lives. A unique organization, The Gentle Barn shows supporters that through unconditional love and compassion, universal peace can be achieved. Having achieved support from celebrities, corporations, and well-meaning individuals, The Gentle Barn recently opened a sister facility in Tennessee. It continues to receive national recognition and support, including Hollywood celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi, Jenna Dewan Tatum, Channing Tatum. “Thank you for showing this amazing, transformative place; I hope everyone gets to experience what I have experienced,” says de Rossi.

This Saturday, Aug. 22, in Tennessee and Sunday, Aug. 23, in Saugus, Calif., The Gentle Barn opens its gates at both facilities to the public to celebrate its “Sweet 16: Over a decade and a half of saving the lives of animals and humans alike” event. The anniversary event in California will include Once Upon a Photo, So Delicious, Face Painting, and, of course, unlimited cow hugs! The Gentle Barn encourages visitors of all ages to visit its facilities to celebrate peace and togetherness and wishing the organization another 16 years of service.

For more information, please visit: GentleBarn.org, or call (661) 252-2440.