Who inspires our social media interns?
Justine:
Rachael Ray-Though most well known for her breakout hit 30 Minute Meals on the Food Network, as well as her hit talk show, and popular food magazine, what makes the hard working powerhouse Rachael Ray a truly INSPIRING woman to me is her quest to protect and find homes for the millions of abused animals left abandoned in shelters each year. After Hurricane Sandy hit, this celebrity chef and philanthropist donated $500,000 of her own money to the ASPCA to aid in animal rescue and relief. Ray also partners with the ASPCA to host an annual contest, The $100,000 Challenge, in which shelters compete to save and find homes for the most number of animals. Additionally, Ray created an eco-friendly line of pet food, Rachael Ray’s Nutrish; a portion of the proceeds go to organizations such as the North Shore Animal League America, America’s VetDogs, and Bad Rap.
As a mom to my own shelter dog, Ray’s tireless championing for animal welfare makes her an inspiring woman to me!
Marika:
Thida: Soreach Sereithida, who goes by Thida, is the executive director of the Women’s Development Association in Cambodia. She established this nonprofit with a group of poor women who wanted to empower the poor, vulnerable and those living with HIV/AIDS in their areas of slum villages in Phnom Penh. She is not only a confident leader, but also a source of inspiration to me. After surviving the Khmer Rouge and an abusive marriage, she has translated struggle into opportunity and finds goodness in even the direst circumstances. Despite all of the challenges she has faced, she has not lost sight of her calling to instill strength in the vulnerable and promote peace. Thida shows me that kindness and compassion make a fighter even stronger.
Sister: Like most little sisters, I idolize my big sis. She is four years older than me and inspires me every day to be a better person. From the way she buys flowers for a stranger “just because” to the way she drops anything to help out a friend in need, Thea is the kindest person I know. She has this natural sense of wonder and has never let growing up stop her from dreaming. She sees the world as filled with possibilities and finds a way to make even the most mundane task turn into an adventure. She has so many natural gifts, even her doodles on napkins are worthy of framing, but is so humble about her creative talents. She is a huge source of light in my life and pushes me every day to do more than I did before.
This blog was written by Social Media Interns Justine and Marika
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