Occupation: Founder and CEO Humane Farm Animal Care
Place of Residence: Herndon, Virginia
Background and Personal History:
After a lifetime of working on animal welfare issues such as laboratory animals, marine mammal issues, wildlife issues while working for a Member of Congress and then lobbying Congress, I was asked to participate on some committees that were working on farm animal welfare. It was there that I learned how farm animals were actually raised in the US and where it occurred to me that with consumer demand, those practices could change for the better. I
Initiated the concept of humane certification for farm animal products in the U.S., The goal of the Humane Farm Animal Care’s Certified Humane Raised and Handled® program is to improve the lives of farm animals by driving consumer demand for kinder and more responsible farm animal practices. Since the program’s inception in 2003, the lives of millions of farm animals have been improved by this program. The quality of the meat, poultry and dairy products you eat and serve depends at least in part on the quality of care farm animals receive.
The Certified Humane Raised and Handled® label assures consumers that:
1.The producers meet the Humane Farm Animal Care Animal Care Standards, which include rearing and handling the animals from birth through slaughter. 2.Animals have ample space, shelter and gentle handling to limit stress. 3.The use of growth hormones and antibiotics is prohibited. 4.Cages, crates and tie stalls are among the forbidden practices, animals must be allowed to be free to move and exhibit normal postural behaviors. 5.Producers must comply with food safety and environmental regulations.
In 2006 The ASPCA honored me with their Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2007 I was one of the 15 winners of the 2007 Purpose Prize. According to Civic Ventures, the San Francisco-based nonprofit organization that awards it, the Purpose Prize recognizes individuals age 60 and over who have “the passion and creativity to discover new opportunities, the experience to come up with practical solutions, and the determination to make lasting change.” In 2008, I was elected an Ashoka Fellow for her my work as a social entrepreneur.
Prior to founding Humane Farm Animal Care, I was director of the American Humane Association’s Washington DC office for 13 years and advanced the organization’s legislative agenda to protect both children and animals. I developed tools to increase grassroots lobbying and attended conferences to train people in how to lobby their legislators. , represented AHA at national conferences and developed tools to increase grassroots lobbying. I learned my expertise on legislative matters as a staff member for former U.S. Representative Bill Green (R-NY).
Other Fun Facts: I like to knit, make quilts, make jewelry, am a voracious reader and a history buff, mostly, I love to hang out with my grandchildren who teach me all the important things of life whenever I am with them.