Sophia Bush at Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project Party

Sophia BushSophia Bush at Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project Party

Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project is a campaign under the International Marine Mammal Project at the non-profit Earth Island Institute. The Dolphin Project aims to stop dolphin slaughter and exploitation around the world.

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The stars came out to the private home of animal rights activist James Costa somewhere in the Hollywood Hills on a wonderfully fair weather evening overlooking the bright lights of Hollywood below, to support Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project.

Stars in attendance were: Sophia Bush, Jillian Michaels, Michele Rodriguez, Maggie Grace, Ed Begley Jr., Q’orianka Kilcher, Leilani Münter, Joanna Cassidy, Eric Balfour, Lina Esco, Lasse Larsen, Abigail Spencer, Ashley Scott & Steve Hart.  

Mia Maestro kept the place hopping with her band and Michele Rodriquez DJ’d the event.

Sophia was stunning and spent a lot of time with the media to talk about the Dolphin Project, One Tree Hill ending and her new show Partners – JW

Sophia BushSophia Bush

@SophiaBush

Actress Sophia Bush has captured film and television audiences alike with her range of roles and diverse characters. Now in its 7th season, Bush portrays ’Brooke Davis’ on The CW’s hit drama “One Tree Hill.” Her character has evolved from a trouble-making vixen to a fiercely loyal friend, and is a huge fan favorite.

Currently, she stars in Serenade Films’ “The Narrows,” a movie based on Tim McLoughlin’s novel Heart of the Old Country. Bush plays “Kathy Popovich,” an NYU student who attracts the attention of Mike Manadoro (Keven Zegers), a fellow student with some shady connections. “The Narrows” was directed by Francois Velle. Bush can simultaneously be seen in “Table for Three,” an independent comedy that takes a look at the tangled relationships between couples and roommates. The film co-stars Brandon Routh and Jesse Bradford.

Sophia has also starred opposite Sean Bean in the remake of the classic horror film, “The Hitcher,” produced by Michael Bay for Focus Features. In July 2006, Bush starred in 20th Century Fox’s hit comedy “John Tucker Must Die” co-starring Jesse Metcalfe and Brittany Snow. She also starred in Buena Vista Pictures’ thriller “Stay Alive” opposite Frankie Muniz and Adam Goldberg. She landed her first movie role in the comedy “Van Wilder,” with Ryan Reynolds. She was also featured in a three-episode arc on the provocative FX drama, “Nip/Tuck.”

Bush garnered the most individual Teen Choice Awards in 2007 taking home awards in the categories of “Choice Movie Actress: Comedy,” “Choice Movie Actress: Horror/Thriller” and “Choice Movie: Breakout Female.” In addition, she was a recipient of the “Rising Star” Award at the 2007 Vail Film Festival as well as the “New Hollywood Style Icon” Award at the 2008 Hollywood Style Awards.

Born and raised in Pasadena, California, Sophia developed a passion for performing while in high school. When she is not in front of the camera, Sophia is a passionate philanthropist whose causes focus on the celebration of arts as well as the environment. Bush is an advocate of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, a foundation committed to the preservation of biodiversity within the Maasai tribal lands of East Africa. Funds support conservation, education and health services within the Maasai community as well as a host of programs designed to conserve Africa’s legendary wildlife. She also contributes her time and talents to the Art of Elysium, a non profit that enriches the lives of children battling serious medical conditions by bringing together artists to share their time and talent.

Sophia is currently starring on the new show Chicago P.D. which follows District 21 of the Chicago Police Department, which is made up of two distinctly different groups: the uniformed cops and the Intelligence Unit.. She plays Erin Lindsey and has also played that part on Chicago Fire and CSI Special Victims Unit. Bush enjoys reading, photography, and spending time with her friends.

ric obarry dolphin projectDolphin Project

Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project is a campaign under the International Marine Mammal Project at the non-profit Earth Island Institute. The Dolphin Project aims to stop dolphin slaughter and exploitation around the world.  This work has been chronicled in films such as A Fall From Freedom, the Oscar-winning documentary The Cove, and in the Animal Planet mini-series Blood Dolphin$.

Campaigns for dolphin protection are currently underway in a variety of locations around the globe, including the Solomon Islands, Indonesia, Egypt, and Singapore.

Earth Island Institute

The Dolphin Project is a proud part of the Earth Island Institute, a non-profit, tax deductible organization founded in 1982. The Earth Island Institute has a long and active history in dolphin-related causes. In 1986, through the International Marine Mammal Project, EII organized a campaign to urge U.S. tuna companies to end the practice of intentionally chasing and netting dolphins with purse seine nets, and to adopt “Dolphin Safe” fishing practices to prevent the drowning of dolphins in tuna nets. This campaign included a consumer pressure, litigation, and revisions of the US Marine Mammal Protection Act.  In 1990 a major breakthrough was achieved and the first companies pledged to become dolphin-safe.  Today 100% of American tuna have become verifiably dolphin safe. Through the International Monitoring Program, the Earth Island Institute regularly inspects tuna companies to insure consumers that the tuna they buy is truly “dolphin safe.”
Earth Island Institute is an umbrella organization with has more than 60 projects working for the conservation, preservation, and restoration of the Earth. For more information, please visit: www.earthisland.org

To Find Out More Go To: www.DolphinProject.org

ric obarryRic O’Barry

Richard O’Barry has worked on both sides of the captive dolphin issue, making him an invaluable asset in the efforts to end exploitation. He worked for 10 years within the dolphin captivity industry, and has spent the past 40 working against it.In the 1960s, O’Barry was employed by the Miami Seaquarium, where he captured and trained dolphins, including the five dolphins who played the role of Flipper in the popular American TV-series of the same name.  He also trained Hugo, the first orca kept in captivity east of the Mississippi.  When Kathy, the dolphin who played Flipper most of the time, died in his arms, O’Barry realized that capturing dolphins and training them to perform silly tricks is simply wrong.

From that moment on, O’Barry knew what he must do with his life. On the first Earth Day, 1970, he launched a searing campaign against the multi-billion dollar dolphin captivity industry and has been going at it ever since.
Over the past 40 years, Ric O’Barry has rescued and rehabilitated dolphins in many countries around the world, including Haiti, Colombia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Brazil, the Bahamas Islands and the United States. He is a leading voice in the fight to end brutal dolphin hunts in Japan, the Solomon Islands, the Faroe Islands, and wherever else they occur.

O’Barry has been recognized by many national and international entities for his dedicated efforts, such as being voted Huffington Post’s 2010 Most Influential Green Game Changer, and being listed on O Magazine’s 2010 Power List – Men We Admire for his “Power of Passion.” O’Barry received an Environmental Achievement Award, presented by the United States Committee for the United Nations Environmental Program.  He has done countless interviews with such prestigious news programs as Larry King Live, Anderson Cooper 360, the Mike Huckabee Show, and the Oprah Winfrey Show.

His book Behind the Dolphin Smile was published in 1989; a second book, To Free A Dolphin was published in September 2000. Both of them are about his work and dedication.  He is the star of the Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove and the Animal Planet television series Blood Dolphin$.
In January 2006, O’Barry became Marine Mammal Specialist for Earth Island Institute, where he is also the Director of Earth Island Institute’s Dolphin Project.

You can find Ric at his Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/RichardOBarry

Pictures from the event:

Lincoln O'Barry, Sophia Bush, our host James Costa, and Ed Begley Jr.

2 responses to “Sophia Bush at Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project Party

  1. Carol Najarian

    I enjoyed the article. C Najarian

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