Sarah Michelle Gellar 488

Emmy® winner and Golden Globe nominee Sarah Michelle Gellar is like many moms in the U.S. -- even with a busy work schedule, the health and well-being of her children comes first. Knowing about the potential risk of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, to infants this year, Sarah Michelle Gellar joins March of Dimes and Sanofi Pasteur on the Sounds of Pertussis® Campaign to help educate parents, grandparents, caregivers and others in close contact with infants about the importance of getting vaccinated with an adult pertussis vaccine to help protect themselves and to help stop the spread of the disease to infants. For more information on pertussis and the Sounds of Pertussis® Campaign, visit SoundsOfPertussis.com.

Gellar is best known for her iconic role as Buffy Summers in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” She wrapped her seventh and final season of the critically-acclaimed drama in May of 2003. Prior to "Buffy," Gellar won her Emmy in 1994 for her role on the ABC daytime drama "All My Children;" this was during the same time she completed classes at PCS in New York one year ahead of schedule. From 2011 to 2012, Gellar appeared in The CW’s “Ringer,”

Off-screen, Gellar, a New York native, resides in Los Angeles with her husband and their two young children, Charlotte and Rocky. Rocky is the newest addition to their family, born in September 2012. Gellar also continues to be passionate about helping to improve the lives of others and volunteers for causes she feels strongly about.

Philanthropy Work

In June 2013, Gellar became the National
educate parents and adults on the importance of adult pertussis
themselves and to help stop the spread of the disease to infants.

In 2008, Gellar traveled to Tanzania and Zanzibar, Africa to further her works as a CARE ambassador.

In June 2007, Gellar was a featured speaker at CARE's National Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC and also advocated on Capitol Hill for the Education for All Act.

In May 2007, Gellar started her mission as an ambassador for the nonprofit organization CARE. Impassioned about raising awareness for the plight of young girls in developing countries, Gellar traveled to Guatemala to support CARE's work in Girls' Education and has played an active role helping CARE provide them with the opportunity to go to school.

A local philanthropist, Gellar has helped those affected by the California fires in 2003 by visiting shelters and handing out clothing and supplies to families who had lost everything.

Gellar is an ongoing advocate for breast cancer awareness and volunteer for the Make a Wish Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Project Angel Food for the fight against hunger, the Starbright Foundation, Planned Parenthood and the Los Angeles Free Clinic.