At the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine’s 40th anniversary gala in Los Angeles, Moby and Alicia Silverstone were honored for their work in animal advocacy.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) marked its 40th anniversary in Los Angeles tonight, gathering artists, advocates, and physicians for a celebration of compassion and science. The gala, which took place at Playa Studios in Culver City, honored musician Moby and actor Alicia Silverstone with the Voice of Compassion Award for their long-standing commitments to animal protection and plant-based living. Breast cancer surgeon Dr. Kristi Funk and philanthropist Jim Greenbaum were also recognized for their work advancing ethical medicine and global advocacy.
Founded in 1985 by Dr. Neal Barnard, PCRM has spent four decades reshaping modern medicine’s ethical and nutritional foundations. The Washington, D.C.–based nonprofit counts more than 17,000 medical professionals among its members and campaigns for preventive healthcare, humane science, and education centered on whole-food, plant-based diets. It has pushed to eliminate animal testing from medical training, conducted clinical research on the links between diet and chronic disease, and advised policymakers on replacing animal models with advanced non-animal methods.
At the Culver City gala, the crowd gathered over vegan canapés from Crossroads Kitchen’s chef Tal Ronnen, live music, and a silent auction. The evening balanced glamour with urgency, using film montages to trace PCRM’s impact: from its early campaigns against animal testing to its pivotal role in supporting the FDA Modernization Act.
Dr. Funk, best known for her work with celebrity clients including Angelina Jolie, and her advocacy for breast cancer prevention, was presented with the Benjamin Spock Award for Compassionate Medicine. Greenbaum, whose foundation funds both human- and animal-rights initiatives worldwide, received PCRM’s Global Reach Award.
Silverstone, who has collaborated with PCRM for more than 20 years, recounted her early days supporting Dr. Barnard by wearing a bunch of vegetables on her body for a PCRM campaign. “People don’t like listening to the important information,” she said, “so you need to do something flashy.” She accepted her award with warmth and simplicity. “I love this organization so much, and I love every one of you for supporting this, so just thank you,” she said.
When Moby took the stage, his remarks turned introspective. He explained that his dedication to animal rights is not about personal satisfaction. “There is nothing about animal activism that is self-interested,” the musician and podcaster told the crowd. “We alienate our friends, we alienate our families, we alienate people we might date [by being vegan].” He emphasized the importance of self-care, though, explaining that a healthier, longer life means you can work to save more animals.
“What’s so inspiring,” Moby said, is that a range of people, from chefs to lawyers to activists, “work tirelessly” to make the world a better place for animals. “Sentient beings are simply entitled to their own lives,” he said.
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