In the absence of fresher news, we instead have a lovely little update on last December’s 2nd Annual Fur Ball at the Skirball Kitten Rescue Fundraiser, which Tricia Helfer attended alongside husband Jonathan Marshall. The event was hosted by The Office-actress Jenna Fischer, and was also attended by Tricia’s Battlestar Galactica co-stars Tahmoh Penikett and Katee Sackhoff.

We’ve updated the gallery with 7 medium-res photos of Tricia and Jonathan at the event, courtesy of the Kitten Rescue Flickr photo stream. These are the first photos we’ve had from inside the event venue (and of Jonathan at the event), and particularly nice since there has been only a handful of photos available to us from this event to begin with. The pictures furthermore reveal that Tricia and Jonathan purchased the $1,250 “Angel Table” for the event.

Finally, please consider making a donation to Kitten Rescue, the Los Angeles-based no-kill animal shelter and one of Tricia’s dearest animal charities:

Kitten Rescue spends nearly $300,000 a year on its cats and rescue programs. Most of this money comes from the generosity of private donors like you. Whether you are visiting us from just around the corner or from across several continents, you can touch the lives of the many deserving, wonderful animals in our care. There are many ways you can help, and every dollar means so much. The kitties thank you for your support!

Please visit KittenRescue.org to donate!

Updated Photo Albums:

• Appearances in 2009 > 2nd Fur Ball at the Skirball Kitten Rescue Fundraiser on Dec 5

As you will have noticed, things continue to be quiet with Tricia Helfer for the time being. We hope things will pick up soon, though. Meanwhile, have a look at this interesting and insightful article from Pet News and Views, about Tricia’s animal activism and work in support of the Los Angeles-based animal shelter, Kitten Rescue:

Tricia Helfer has always loved cats. When she is away from home, her husband, Jonathan Marshall, sends her updates and photos of each one of their cats. “He knows how important they are to me,” she says. “And in my line of work, it’s nice to know that while I’m away, they are in excellent hands.” Jonathan, who works as an attorney, “is a big animal supporter,” she says. “When we met, he quickly fell in love with my two cats.”

Their family has since grown; there are a few tabbies, a couple of Maine Coons, and a few fosters from Kitten Rescue Sanctuary, a no-kill shelter in Los Angeles. The Sanctuary has a full-time staff as well as numerous volunteers who provide care, love, and socialization for the cats housed there. Since its inception in 1997, Kitten Rescue has grown to become one of the largest animal welfare groups in Los Angeles. Kitten Rescue places approximately 1,000 cats and kittens into new homes every year.

Tricia, who played Number 6 in Battlestar Galactica, found out about Kitten Rescue three years ago while shopping at a local pet store. “One of the employees asked all of the customers to make donations to Kitten Rescue,” she says. “When I handed her a check, she hugged me, and when I was ready to adopt another cat, I adopted from Kitten Rescue. I was so impressed with the Kitten Rescue that I became a volunteer there.”

[...] “Tricia has really been a blessing for Kitten Rescue,” says Ben Lehrer of Kitten Rescue. “Not only has she been incredibly generous in both her personal contributions and in helping with our fundraising efforts, but she has been more than willing to delve into the trenches of street rescue and take on litters of abandoned kittens herself. Her selflessness and enthusiasm are remarkable and we are very fortunate to have her as a member of our team.”

Be sure to read the full article at PetNewsandViews.com.

First photos from the fundraiser! As reported earlier, Tricia Helfer was indeed present at the Saturday, December 5 2nd Annual “Fur Ball at the Skirball” Kitten Rescue Fundraiser in Los Angeles, CA, where fellow Battlestar Galactica stars Katee Sackhoff and Tahmoh Penikett also appeared to show their support. The gallery has been updated with our first seven medium-res photos of Tricia at the event. We’re hoping to be able to add more photos from this event in the coming days, so do check back with us for updates!

New Photo Albums:

• Appearances in 2009 > 2nd “Fur Ball at the Skirball” Kitten Rescue Fundraiser on Dec 5

Don’t forget Tricia Helfer is expected to attend the 2nd Annual “Fur Ball at the Skirball” Kitten Rescue fundraising gala today, December 5 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, CA. The event will again be hosted by The Office-star Jenna Fischer. We’re hoping there will be media coverage from the event, so do check back with us for updates!

Also, if you feel you have even a bit of money to spare, please consider donating a few dollars to Kitten Rescue, the Los Angeles-based animal shelter that is one of Tricia’s dearest charities. Being myself an animal rights advocate, I try to support the organization with my private donations whenever I can, and hope that in this way, via Tricia Helfer Fan, I am able to encourage someone else to do the same. Even if it’s just a few dollars, I’m sure every little helps! Please visit KittenRescue.org for more information on how to donate. Thank you!

“My dream is to have my own animal shelter. Rescue animals just seen to inherently understand that you’ve helped them.”
- Tricia Helfer in People (US)

Last week, we reported of Tricia Helfer being briefly featured in the current issue of People (US) magazine, a preview of which you’ll find to your right, courtesy of Tricia’s official site. In the article, Tricia discusses her love for animals as well as mentions one of her all-time favorite animal charities, the Los Angeles-based animal shelter, Kitten Rescue.

Now, Kitten Rescue’s YouTube account has a 30s video clip from the set of the new People photoshoot, which has been embedded below for viewing. According to the vid details, Tricia is featured in the November 23 2009 issue of the magazine. If anyone would like to send in a scan from the magazine, please do so! Thank you.

More news via the official site! Tricia Helfer’s official site reports Tricia is featured in the current issues of People (US) as well as the Canadian hockey periodical, The Fourth Period.

While we don’t know which particular issue of People Tricia is featured in (November 2009?), it is presumably the issue we originally reported of already in August this year. In the issue, Tricia talks about her animal charity work and Kitten Rescue. We’ll of course do our best to obtain the magazine for scans, however in the mean time, check one out at Tricia’s official site.

In the Fall 2009 issue of The Fourth Period, Tricia has a six-page feature, including a brand new photo from a shoot we haven’t seen before (previewed to the right in this post). Again, Tricia’s official site has the scans, so be sure to have a look!

Both issues are on newsstands now. If anyone would like to send in their scans from either magazine, please do so, as this time around we might have a bit trouble obtaining them ourselves. Thank you.

Tricia Helfer’s official site reports Tricia will be attending the 2nd Annual “Fur Ball at the Skirball” Kitten Rescue fundraising gala on December 5 2009, as hosted by The Office actress Jenna Fischer. Kitten Rescue, a Los Angeles-based non-profit shelter for homeless and abandoned cats, is one of Tricia’s dearest animal charities. As some of you may recall, Tricia also attended the premier event in September 2008.

Tickets to the event are now available via KittenRescue.org at $125 apiece. Please remember all proceeds go to Kitten Rescue and the Kitten Rescue Sanctuary. This year’s event will again be hosted by Jenna Fischer. From KittenRescue.org:

Please join Kitten Rescue in celebrating 12 successful years of animal rescue in Los Angeles. The Fur Ball at the Skirball will feature celebrity guests, cocktails and Hors D’Oevres, dinner, live entertainment, a silent auction, raffle and much more! All proceeds of the fundraiser will benefit Kitten Rescue’s programs and the Kitten Rescue Sanctuary. We hope to see you there!

Tickets are $125. You may also purchase an Angel Table for $1250, with seating for 10 and a promotional sign on the table. Angel Table purchasers will also receive a special mention in our Event Program.

As always, Tricia Helfer Fan will be sure to cover Tricia’s appearance at the event. And if you happen to be LA-based, why not purchase a ticket yourself? It’s for a good cause!

Heads up, everyone! According to Tricia’s official site, Tricia Helfer will be featured in an upcoming September ‘09 issue of People (US), in which she’ll discuss her work for Kitten Rescue and the Richmond Animal Protection Society. As of yet, we don’t know which particular September issue she will be featured in (as many of you will know, People is a weekly publication), so until further notice keep your eyes peeled for Tricia in new issues of the magazine.

If you have any additional information to offer on this or would be willing to grab and scan Tricia’s feature for us, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us! Thank you.

On January 16 2009, Tricia Helfer and Battlestar Galactica co-stars Michael Hogan and Michael Trucco were in Pasadena, California to promote the ongoing Battlestar Galactica Charity Live Auction, in which all series props and costumes are auctioned off for various causes and charities. From the official press release:

As the SCI FI Channel’s original series Battlestar Galactica draws to a close, NBC Universal Television, DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group has teamed with Propworx to offer thousands of one-of-a-kind props, set pieces and costumes to the public in a series of live and online auctions, beginning on January 16, 2009 at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California. Some of the more spectacular items that will be available to bid on include full size ships, “Admiral William Adama’s” desk, a Cylon Raider and six to 12 costumes from each major character including Viper flight suits and “Caprica Six’s” red dress. A portion of the auction’s proceeds will benefit United Way.

Then, as previously announced, additional items will be made available for auction each week on eBay in conjunction with the airing of Battlestar Galactica and will feature items that appeared in that particular episode. The first of these auctions will take place on Friday, January 23, starting at 9:00 a.m. (ET), and will conclude the following Friday, January 30, starting at 9:00 p.m

Check out video clips of Tricia at the event on Access Hollywood and Entertainment Weekly respectively, or enjoy our first two medium-res photos of Tricia at the event at our gallery. You can also watch and/or bid on the auction at AuctionNetwork.com, streaming live coverage from the ongoing event and visit BattlestarProps.com for details on auction items.

New Photo Albums:

• Appearances in 2009 > ‘Battlestar Galactica’ Charity Live Auction on Jan 16

Some will recall Tricia’s NVISION ‘08 conference appearance in late August, where a unique (and stunning, might I add) Battlestar Galactica-themed CPU — pictured right — was revealed to the masses. Galactica Sitrep reports this CPU (autographed by Tricia herself) is now up for a charity auction on eBay, with the profits going to Tricia’s favorite non-profit organization, the Los Angeles-based Kitten Rescue:

About Kitten Rescue
One of the largest and well-respected rescue groups in Los Angeles, CA, we are devoted to finding loving new homes for unwanted and abandoned cats and kittens.

According to the eBay auction page of the item, the features of the CPU include Windows Vista Home Basic pre-installed, 4 GB of RAM, 750 GB of disk space and a DVD-RW optical drive. Furthermore, all proceeds of the auction will be matched by the NVIDIA Foundation!

The current bid is at US $1,675 with 21 bids, and you have time until September 29 2008 to bid on the CPU. Go to eBay.com for more details on the item and to bid on it yourself. Only US bids are allowed, I’m afraid. Sorry, fellow international fans — it’s a no-go for the rest of us.