INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL RESCUE GROUP NO DOGS LEFT BEHIND ANNOUNCES THE CREATION OF ITS JUNIOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
NEW YORK
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April 13, 2021 12:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time
No Dogs Left Behind (NDLB), a global animal rescue organization, is proud to announce its inaugural “Young Heroes” Board. This Junior Board of Directors was created to help middle and high school students develop leadership skills, provide them with opportunities for community service and fundraising, and engage a youthful perspective to help grow the organization.
Jeffrey Beri, Founder and President of NDLB, is a big proponent of youth involvement in the organization. “The youth are our future in this movement” Beri explains. Educating the young has always been a core part of NDLB’s mission, with Beri going into schools in China to teach the school aged children about animal welfare.
When Co-Chairs Ava Finnegan (15) and Erin Finnegan (14) first approached Beri about getting more involved, he was all in. The sisters began volunteering with NDLB as transport volunteers, greeting dogs on arrival in the U.S. and uniting them with adopters.
The more they participated, the more involved they wanted to become. “The girls approached me about establishing a Junior Board and it took off from there” said Beri.
The sisters have been especially active with fundraising and awareness initiatives, helping to grow NDLB’s social media platforms such as YouTube and Tik Tok, and recruiting volunteers for the organization. As Co-Chairs of the Junior Board, they also actively participate in meetings with NDLB’s leadership team and hold weekly meetings with Beri.
“The Junior Board has already made quantifiable improvements for No Dogs Left Behind” explains Beri. “For example, with Tik Tok alone, we have seen a 33% increase in our one-time donations and a 30% increase in adoption applications. It’s huge!”
“Serving on the Junior Board is a great opportunity to learn about philanthropy, gain leadership experience and actually see how our ideas and actions can make an impact and help these dogs who have been rescued from slaughter,” according to Ava. Her sister Erin agrees, noting “I really feel like a valued part of the NDLB leadership team. When we make suggestions on new things to do or new ways to raise awareness, the team listens and takes our advice.”
It can be difficult for teenagers to find organizations receptive to young people, especially those under age 16. Ava points out, “not only are youth encouraged to volunteer with NDLB, but the Junior Board members are actually treated as respected members of the team.” Erin agrees: “Even though I am the youngest member of the Board, I always feel heard when I make a suggestion or ask a question. It’s truly amazing to feel like I am helping to make a difference on a global platform.”
The entire leadership team of NDLB are anxious to grow the Junior Board of Directors. “We know that engaging our youth and listening to their ideas will help develop compassionate, thoughtful leaders whose vision is not limited to our specific mission, but to the welfare of all animals and society as a whole,” said Beri. “Our junior board will gain valuable leadership experience and be our youth ambassadors for No Dogs Left Behind and its mission.”
The Co-Chairs of the Junior Board of Directors are currently seeking interested middle school and high school students who want to get more involved to help effectuate change for animals globally. Everyone ages 11 through 18 is encouraged to apply at No Dogs Left Behind.
Anyone interested in donating, adopting, fostering or volunteering, please visit No Dogs Left Behind.
About No Dogs Left Behind:No Dogs Left Behind operates boots on the ground in China, fighting on the frontlines to rescue dogs from the illegal dogmeat trade. They work hands-on with local activists through emergency response, pulling dogs directly from slaughterhouses, dogmeat trucks, wet markets and traffickers. Their mission extends beyond borders, advocating for the creation and enforcement of animal welfare laws, and raising awareness for a cruelty-free, sustainable world in which no animal is violated, exploited, tortured or slaughtered for commercial goods or profit. With nearly 500 survivors in their care, No Dogs Left Behind operates sanctuaries in Dayi and Gongyi, China.
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Contact Details
No Dogs Left Behind
Sherry Chen
+1 855-665-0888
