Last night was an inspiring one to be a vegan. At the gala celebrating Farm Sanctuary’s 20th anniversary, a compassionate and humane world seemed within reach.

Daryl Hannah was our gracious host (cochair Heather Mills McCartney couldn’t attend), and the cavalcade of presenters included David Boreanaz, Greg Germann, Mariel Hemingway, Paul Sorvino, Jesse and Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Loretta Swit, and Moby, who performed songs by everyone from Kris Kristofferson to Led Zeppelin, fulfilling his self-described eighth-grade fantasy of being one of the cool kids in a cover band.

Among the honorees (with recycled glass awards!) were Candle Café, who worked with the Cipriani Wall Street chefs to prepare a delicious three-course vegan meal; Alicia Silverstone, who received the Gift of Life Award for speaking out on behalf of animals whenever she can; U.S. representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), who, in addition to consistently scoring 100% on the Congressional Humane Scorecard, is the only vegan member of Congress; and Chicago alderman Joe Moore, who introduced the ordinance to ban the sale of foie gras in Chicago in 2005, then lobbied and testified on its behalf until it was finally passed, on April 26, 2006.

A live auction of several paintings by artist Peter Max, led by Dave Foley and Debra Wilson, raised about $112,000 for the ongoing anti–foie gras campaign, whose next targets are Philadelphia and New York.

Happy 20th, Farm Sanctuary! Keep up the great work!

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