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Featured Activist!
 Robin
Henderson's passion for protecting farm animals took flight just after
she left the nest of her family home as a young girl. Like many activists,
Robin's adoption of a vegan diet didn't occur overnight. The seed of change
had been planted in her mind when she learned that the calves she lovingly
cared for in boarding school were ultimately slaughtered and served as
veal. When she came across an animal welfare publication a few years later
and learned more about industrialized agriculture, she officially started
to phase out animals from her meals. At 14, she was already a full-fledged
vegetarian and survived on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches -- an uninspiring
diet that may have sparked her future college activism.
Later in
life, during her first year at Maryland's Towson State, Robin found a
flock of like-minded students when she joined TigerP.A.W. (People for
Animal Welfare) of which she'd eventually become vice president. The group
worked with the school's cafeteria service to expand the topics covered
by its nutritionist to include advice for vegetarian and vegan students.
TigerP.A.W. also campaigned against other injustices to animals, including
animal experimentation taking place on campus and the abuses involved
in selling animals from local pet stores.
 After
making a huge difference for animals at Towson State, Robin flew the coop
and headed north to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where she is currently in her
last semester at Marist College. Dismayed to find no active student group
working for the animals, she knew what she had to do and started a new
organization called FoxP.A.W. Since its inception, FoxP.A.W has made tremendous
strides not only for farm animals, but also for students at Marist College
who learned to be more compassionate members of society. After only two
years of activity, FoxP.A.W. succeeded in having veal removed from the
cafeteria's menu, and it was named Social Service Club of the Year for
2005-2006.
Among many
other noteworthy accomplishments, the group Robin started has also organized
numerous field trips and hands-on volunteer days at animal sanctuaries,
shelters and conferences. It was during a visit to Farm Sanctuary's New
York Shelter, in fact, that Robin was inspired to coordinate a Walk
for Farm Animals that raised over $1,200! FoxP.A.W. continually hosts
guest speakers, like vegan nutrition expert, George Eisman from our Veg
For Life Campaign speaking tour, as well as organizes frequent on-campus
information tables. Robin and company have even gained national media
attention with their campaigns to improve the fare served in the cafeteria.
Because of their success, Robin was invited to speak at the Taking
Action for Animals conference last September, and cafeteria diners
can now enjoy tempeh, seitan, tofu, faux cream cheese, and soymilk daily!
You would
think Robin would be maxed out between the aforementioned activities and
focusing on her studies. Somehow, though, this wonder of a woman manages
to work part-time at Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, where she loves
"converting visitors to vegans," partner with the bookstore
on campus to label products as cruelty-free and "teach" Vegan
101 courses at the dorms on campus! With only two action-packed decades
of life under her belt, this unstoppable animal advocate is going stronger
than ever. Thank you, Robin, not only for inspiring compassion in those
around you, but for proving to all others that one individual does have
the power to make a real difference in the world.
Together, we ARE making a difference. If you would like to find out more
about volunteering your time to educate others about factory farming and
vegetarianism, please contact us at activist@farmsanctuary.org,
or call 607-583-2225 ext. 229. Click
here to find out what YOU can do to help!
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