Animal Ashram’s Event Vegan Pop-Up Event + Cocktail Reception

Last week to kick off New York Fashion Week, Actress and Animal Ashram’s Founder Leesa Rowland hosted Animal Ashram’s Pop-Up Penthouse on February 7 at Hotel on Rivington's beautiful penthouse (107 Rivington St, New York, NY 10002). The non-profit Animal Ashram created a one-day only haven for yoga and animals.

Guests enjoyed a fun filled day of animal adoptions in partnership with Animal Haven, a vegan shopping bazaar, yoga & mediation, healthy snacks and a cocktail party, benefiting Animal Ashram in support of the 7.6 million companion animals that enter animal shelters nationwide every year.

Host Committee includes: Catherine Petree, Hank Stampfl, Stephanie Mattera, Cris Longoria, Sara Diorzaio, Michelle Moody-Stratton. The event was produced and designed by Hank Stampfl of Revel Rouge Events.

Animal Ashram’s Pop-Up Event included: yoga & meditation classes. A Pop Up Vegan Shopping Bazaar from 9AM to 4PM including an incredible line up of cruelty free clothing brands, handbags, nail polish, and vegan food vendors. At noon, Leesa Rowland hosted the Pelush Luxury Faux Fur Fashion Show by designer Anna Tagliabue.

The yoga classes ranged from sunrise yoga, warrior flow, yoga core and vinyasa. The classes were taught by world renowned teachers Marie Belle of Raleigh of North Carolina, Michelle Moody-Stratton of Puerto Rico, Danielle Ribaudo of Arkansas, and local teacher Rebecca Rasmussen of Connecticut.

Vendors included: Art by Sara DiOrazio, Luxury Faux Furs by Pelush, Animal Adoption by Animal Haven, Vegan Purses by Stacy Kessler, GUNAS, Presence of Piermont, vegan shoes by Cri De Coeur, Kinetic Body Therapy, SkinTight MedSpa, Clementine Bakery, My Flower Shop, Franchia Vegan Cafe, Jacques Brasserie, Hint Sparkling Water, Gt's Kombucha, Hippeas, Cliffton Dry Sparkling Cider, Eliya Organic King Coconut Water and Wild Restaurant.

In the evening Animal Ashram hosted a cocktail & shopping reception in the chic JIA Lounge at Hotel on Rivington. With two incredible performances, the first from singer Tiffany Brevard, who sang “Take me Home.” The second was from Trans-Siberian Orchestra performers Chloe Lowery accompanied by violinist Asha Mevlana. Guest enjoyed music by DJ Omi, vegan hor devours donated by Franchia Vegan Café and Le Petit Francais wines from supplier by Jaques Azoulay.

Animal Ashram's founder Leesa Rowland and committee member Hank Stampfl addressed the over 200 guests. "Thank you all for being part of Animal Ashram's All-Day Haven for yoga and animals, we are raising funds and awareness for New York City animal shelters that desperately need our help," said Rowland, "approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats. Shockingly each year, approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized." She went on by saying, "This years over 56 billion farmed animals will be killed by humans. This does not include the fish and other sea creatures whose deaths are so great they are only measured by tonnes. By supporting Animal Ashram's event you will be helping us support all the beauty animals in shelters that need us."

Guest included: Leesa Rowland, Larry Wohl (Co-Founder of Animal Ashram), Jeremy Burch, Todd Burnsed & Hank Stampfl, Grace Forster, John Guanlao, Yung Hee Kim, Linda Obushoska, Jaques Ouari, Anna and Steven Victor, Vera Frowen, Alex Von Salad, Jane Scher, Jane Pontarelli, Andrew Bellis & Catherine Petree, Kathryn Rotella, Anna Tagliabue, Stephanie Mattera, Cris Longoria, Sara Diorzaio, Michelle Moody-Stratton, Missy Hargraves, Richard Teichman, Nancy Silberkleit, and Regina Kravitz.

Animal Ashram provides grants and funding to worthy organizations and individuals offering sanctuary to homeless and helpless animals of all species. Animal Ashram respects and promotes the oneness of life and the principles of ahimsa. Our not-for-profit mission is to raise money for a variety of educational and public outreach programs, provide funding resources and raise awareness of equality of life among all living beings. With over 13,000 animals shelters in the United States and with 7.5 million companion animals entering shelters each year, animal organizations need our support.

About Animal Ashram Founder, Leesa Rowland: An actress and author from Rockport and Austin, Texas. She was raised along the Texas Gulf Coast where she learned strong family values and reliance on self-motivation. Her acting career includes both television and full length movie productions. In 2015 she authored a book entitled Discovering the IT Factor Within You. In 2013 she founded a not-for-profit organization known as “Animal Ashram” which is dedicated to education and raising awareness about the plight of abused and mistreated animals of all kinds. Ms. Rowland is a devout vegan, animal activist and spokesperson for animal rights.