Lompoc, California (September 2008) – Singer, songwriter, performer and actress AJ Michalka has done it all but now she can add Youth Ambassador to her resume. AJ has been an avid horsewoman for as far back as she can remember so when she first heard about the plight of America’s wild horses she knew that she wanted to get involved and help these wonderful animals.

            Recently AJ spent a weekend at Return To Freedom Sanctuary with the Sanctuary’s founder, Neda DeMayo and got “up close and personal” with more than a dozen of the 200 wild horses who now call RTF home. AJ was moved by the various herds, their unique traits and histories, which make up the Wild horse of today. AJ will be active in supporting the Sanctuary by raising awareness via personal appearances, fund raising events and school outreach programs.

            Crossing over easily between music and acting, AJ has a co-starring role in the upcoming movie “The Lovely Bones,” based on the best-selling book of the same name. As a musician, she is one half of the Aly & AJ duo (Aly is her sister) and they were nominated for their first American Music Award in 2006. As songwriters, the duo contributed to such film soundtracks as “The Game Plan” and “Herbie Fully Loaded.” Aly and AJ are currently working on their new CD for Hollywood Records that will be released in early 2009.

            Return To Freedom is dedicated to preserving the freedom, diversity and habitat of America’s wild horses through sanctuary, education and conservation, while enriching the human spirit through direct experience with the natural world. Return to Freedom provides a safe haven to over 200 wild horses and burros.

            Recognizing that wild horses live in tightly bonded herd groups, Return to Freedom is focused on rescuing entire family bands. Designed to be a model program, the sanctuary implements alternative and minimally intrusive management philosophies.

            Return to Freedom’s educational programs facilitate a direct experience with nature and animals through non-intrusive, sensitive observation. Through direct contact with the natural world, RTF inspires a deep reverence for the communities and family groups that exist in nature. All programs were created with the intent that, for positive long lasting change, a new human being must emerge. It is our hope that through re-education, we can inspire the public to understand the diversity America’s last remaining wild horse herds and instill a value for their presence on our nation’s public and park lands.

I got this in an email.

~V