Our Founder – Laura Simpson

'Counting sheep' has become something of an art form for Laura Simpson who spends her nights fine tuning the blueprints for The Great Animal Rescue Chase, an international race to save the lives of one million animals.

Laura is a devoted animal advocate who spent more than a decade warming up for this event during her career as United States Director of the World Society for the Protection of Animals where she specialized in educating Americans about the needs of animals across the globe. She rang the bell on more than $30 million in donations to build sanctuaries for abused bears in Asia and Eastern Europe, develop free spay/neuter clinics in rural Kenya, support lion conservation work around Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater and dozens of other projects. Laura has also been instrumental in securing disaster relief for the animal victims of earthquakes, forest fires, hurricanes, volcanoes and war. This specialized charity experience makes Laura uniquely qualified to lead the Harmony Fund's ambitious agenda.

Laura is a top ten graduate of Northeastern University's School of Journalism and spent time at the United States Environmental Protection Agency before beginning her work with animals. Today she lives in New England with her husband Howard, their daughter Sabrina and a colorful array of four legged companions.

It doesn't take years of training or arms of steel to rescue animals. We all have an innate ability to stop cruelty and suffering. So roll up your sleeves and put your boots on. You can deliver absolute joy to animals who had forgotten what it felt like to climb a tree or to sleep without fear.

Watch as your actions save that one little life, tucked inside a bevy of green feathers or snug beneath a striped coat and whiskers. At the end of the day, that single act of compassion makes you nothing less than a hero.

- Laura Simpson, Founder