Michael Welch has won the 2005 STAR Innovation Award. Previous winners include Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Kenney (the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants) and Ed Begley, Jr. The other nominees this year are Alicia Silverstone, Devon Werkheiser, Amy Bruckner and Kristin Herrera. Award winners were notified on April 15 and be presented with their award during STAR's Children's Earth Day event on Sunday, April 24, 2005.

Rescued exotic wildlife, environmental heroes and a jungle princess will welcome thousands of visitors to the biggest Earth Day for kids in Southern California. The internationally award-winning Children's Earth Day is a unique, tropically themed outdoor extravaganza designed to inspire children to understand their role in protecting Planet Earth. The event will be held on April 24, 10am-4pm at the STAR ECO Station, an environmental science and wildlife rescue center located at 10101 W. Jefferson Blvd, Culver City, CA.

DreamWorks Animation will participate in the festival with free prizes and giveaways based on their new computer-animated comedy "Madagascar" and Tom Kenny will be autographing SpongeBob goodies. Admission to the event is free and includes family-oriented entertainment including musicians, games, crafts and gourmet cuisine. The wildlife rescue center is also open for tours, where kids will enjoy a hands-on learning experience with at-risk and endangered exotic animals.

STAR's Children's Earth Day emphasizes the importance of environmental awareness in the children's community and brings together various green organizations, museums, schools and individuals to show the kids of Los Angeles that they are a vital part of a larger, worldwide effort to protect the Earth and to secure safe and healthy lives.

For more information, visit www.ecostation.org