Animal Hero Kids with Founder, Susan Hargreaves, have a very special month planned full of fun-filled and educational activities to empower youth towards animal rescue and advocacy, #AnimalHeroKidTober with celebrities including Paul McCartney and Joaquin Phoenix supporting the cause. This month also is the launch of the book, Veganza and Courage, the First Vegan Superhero. Veganza is an animal hero, who swoops in to help all animals in need of rescue. She creates more animal heroes by empowering them with empathy. Courage, the mermaid, defends all sea creatures. Together, Veganza and Courage are unbeatable animal defenders. Pre-orders can be made here: https://animalherokids.org/veganza/
”Animal Hero Kids Rock. The good news is we can all help animals in need”-Paul McCartney
FWM: You have spent the last 41 years as a Kindness Educator. How has Animal Hero Kids created a global impact?
Kindness to all education is definitely needed right now. Since 1980 I have seen a real uptick in requests from teachers asking for their middle and high school students to learn about how other animals are treated in circuses and factory farms. The climate crisis, bullying prevention, fostering empathy and critical thinking are all vital to focus on as we navigate today’s’ environment.
Animal Hero Kids are active in so many corners of the world, no matter what their resources are, kids and teens are stepping up, speaking up, and acting for other animals not to be harmed.
I have been recognizing compassionate actions by youth for 41 years, there are now Animal Hero Kids & Teens in Brazil, Kenya, Japan, England, Australia, Columbia, and all around the United States. The videos we create together, and the Animal Hero Kids free, virtual programs, and books are reaching the largest audience ever.
FWM: Celebrities have joined forces with Animal Hero Kids. How important is celebrity to your cause?
We have been fortunate over the years for Animal Hero Kids’ mission of empowering youth to be supported by Sir Paul McCartney, with the Animal Hero Kids Paul McCartney Young Veg Advocate Award, he contributed a quote “Animal Hero Kids Rock! The good news is no matter how old we are we can all help animals in need.”
We have been fortunate over the years for Animal Hero Kids’ mission of empowering youth to be supported by Sir Paul McCartney, with the Animal Hero Kids Paul McCartney Young Veg Advocate Award, he contributed a quote “Anima Hero Kids Rock! The good news is no matter how old we are we can all help animals in need.”
Joaquin Phoenix is an uber-talented vegan activist who has also generously given an encouraging quote to help achieve our goals “I was an Animal Hero Kid at 3-years old when I felt that animals had the right to live free of harm and suffering. It is vital to foster critical thinking in youth which leads to compassionate actions, and ultimately, a more peaceful world for all.” https://vimeo.com/458264022
During AnimalHeroKidtober a mobile video billboard will also feature Joaquins’ message about changing the world from your kitchen and the Animal Hero Kids’ messages about how to counteract climate change, stop animal cruelty and prevent future pandemics. One of the annual Animal Hero Kids Awards took place at James Camerons’ wife’ school, the first plant-based school in the US, MUSE school.
It is valuable for youth who sometimes may feel alone in their quest to help others to join animal hero kids. When they hear the encouragement from these well-known celebs it is life-supporting, star power being lent to lift and inspire is extremely valuable.
Jessica Chastain also kindly gave a quote for us to use, “ I don’t normally get into this, but I’m a vegan. I try not to, well, I don’t want to torture anything. I guess it’s about trying to live a life where I’m not contributing to the cruelty in the world….While I am on this planet, I want everyone I meet to know that I am grateful they are here.”
Recently I had the pleasure to virtually meet Maggie Baird, mum of famous singers, Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connoll. Maggie told me al about her mission of feeding those in need with healthy plant-based food with the organization she founded, Support and Feed.
NBA Champion, John Salley, has helped to recognize the Animal Hero Kids Paul McCartney Young Veg Advocate Award and is a great role model for healthy plant-powered living.
This AnimalHeroKidtober we are collaborating with Climate Healers, Hip Hop is Green, Three 7’s Animal Sanctuary, Tamerlaine Sanctuary, JP Farm Animal Sanctuary, and SoFloVegans.
I am also so thankful to Tofurky for providing their slow-roasted vegan chik’N lightly seasoned for our socially distanced group visiting the sanctuary in NY and food giveaways. Thanks to our partnership with Jackfruit Cafe in LA , Vegan Village in Fort Lauderdale, and the New Vegan in Delray Beach we will be feeding domestic violence center, and a drop-in center in LA, and a group home in Miami.
Even Banksy is pitching in by giving Animal Hero Kids permission to use the surprise installation.
Animal Hero Kids Answer to
COVID https://youtu.be/1Se02ezgdjk
FWM: You have a beautiful book, Animal Hero Kids Voices for the Voiceless which also includes yummy vegan recipes. Tell us about your book.
These stories and more are beautifully highlighted in the “Animal Hero Kids Voices for the Voiceless” book Volume 2 has just come out and now there is an e-version.
I am so grateful to the many big-hearted celebs who have contributed quotes to the book. Joaquin Phoenix, has given a quote about the fact he was an Animal Hero Kid at just 3 years old and Jessica Chastain tells why she chooses to be vegan.
Montessori schools are using the almost 284-page book for their curriculum. It is full of positivity, classroom projects and service learning projects and wonderful true animal rescue stories. It even has some scrumptious vegan recipes, too.
The goal is to gift a copy to every school library, we are all volunteers and every cent goes to achieving Animal Hero Kids educating, activating goals. We are always on the lookout for more volunteers, there is a Join Us form on the homepage of the site. If anyone knows of any possible sponsors, backers, dream granters, who may wish to help us with this goal of giving a copy to every school library. Let me know. The book won a “Skipping Stones Honor Award” from a multicultural youth magazine, the tales are a heartwarming balm.
FWM: What are some of the initiatives of your organization?
Free, virtual, and interactive lessons.
#animalherokidtober In Brazil 11-year-old climate activist, Brunna, asks local restaurants to feature Animal Hero Kids month vegan specials. In Arizona. 7-year-old Kimaya distributes homeless care packages, in Los Angeles and South Florida, a plant-based food giveaway for populations in need. In Fort Lauderdale, Ella, 7 years old reads the story in the “Animal Hero Kids Voices for the Voiceless” book of a pony rescued from starvation to the actual rescued pony. Josie, in Virginia, 13 years of age, sends a positive message of hope with the first ever rescued therapy pig, named Franny, In rural Alaska, Lilly, 12 years old makes catnip toys for cat shelters.
In New York, a group of socially distanced youth will visit Tamerlaine Animal Sanctuary and video some song phrases for the Veganza Animal Hero Sing Challenge, in Japan, an Animal Hero Kid will interview a vegan chef and record of Animal Hero Kids FB page. I will also be surprising someone, I can’t say who, or it would not be a surprise!- with a “Kind2All Evolve” award for taking a formerly meat-centered iconic riverside restaurant in Fort Lauderdale into a vegan cornucopia.
Animalherokidtober will also see the first-ever, virtual, multi-org collaboration school enrichment program where I am one of the instructors and the students are using the Animal Hero Kids ebook version. They are so happy to introduce their companion animals from home.
There is even more going on that if I continue answering I will end up creating another book, right here, suffice to say, I am thrilled at the response and the potential. We encourage people to sign up to participate on the animalherokids.org website. Many individuals are sponsoring the Animal Hero Kids book as a gift to their local school library, the goal is each school will have a copy of the book to serve as a resource.
One of our newest Animal Hero Kids lives in a very small town in Alaska and discovered there are other children who feel the same way about stopping animal cruelty after discovering the book in her library, I received a phone call from the mum and daughter who were so enthusiastic about the guide to be an animal hero.
Ian and Khendall, 8 and 10 years old, will be donning hazmat suits and goggles to make a statement about the links between pandemics and eating animals, they will be educating from a safe social distance about SARS, MERS, COVIDS, bird flu, swine flu all stemming from eating animals. You can watch a video Animal Hero Kids made all about this issue.
FWM: You have created the First Vegan Woman Superhero. Tell us about Veganza.
In 2014, I created a character, Saoirse, a grown-up experienced, powerful, determined woman. I am sure most of your readers do not know what that name means in Irish, Freedom.
Veganza animal hero swoops in to help all animals in need of rescue. Veganza creates more animal heroes by empowering them with empathy. Courage, the mermaid, defends all sea creatures. Together, Veganza and Courage are unbeatable animal defenders.
I am thrilled we will also be creating a claymation short, our last film was adopted by 430 schools. This will be the first fantasy, action-adventure. The claymation filmmaker, Wyatt Bergwin, graduated from film school in NY in the midst of the epidemic and was driving back with his old rescued cat in his car when I happened to be speaking to his mum about volunteering for Animal Hero Kids.
It turns out that more than 20 years ago one of my presentations was at Wyatt’s pre-school, he remembered the lessons of being kind, and his mum and sister are advocates for other animals. So, he is creating Veganzas’ forest home and all of the characters for the claymation now. I can’t wait to see Veganza come alive in this claymation medium.
We need professionals to make it the best it can be.
Veganza, Courage, the brown vegan mermaid, Jules the crow, Lovey the 18-year-old poodley rescued dog, who is the narrator in the story, are the characters we are searching for voiceovers for. It is 6 min long, so, not that much work, yet, the return if a celeb collaborates with us will be considerable. So, Leonardo, ellen, Viola, Meryl…and all the mindful celebs, lend your voices and help animal hero kids empower youth to compassionate action.
If you want to educate, and empower youth to kindness to all this is your opportunity!
Tell us about the Veganza song challenge.
Veganza Animal Hero needs a theme song whether it be opera, rap, R & B, Soul, Techno, hip hop, any genre. All ages can send in their videos to education@animalherokids.org If your song is chosen not only will you go down in history as being the creator of Veganza’s theme song, you will also receive $500. Bonus-
Be featured in all our social media and news releases. You can also create a song and hashtag #veganzasongchallenge and tag us @animalherokids
FWM: What is your vision for the future? How can we join forces with you?
My life’s purpose is to prevent animal abuse I will use the keys available to me to close the door on apathy, cruelty or lack of empathy.
Animal Hero Kids around the world have a message to share as Lovey, the rescued 18-year-old poodle mix in Veganza Animal Hero says “ Will you consider the earth and we animals, too? Because if you do not, who will? Will you? ”
Help the “Animal Hero Kids Voices for the Voiceless” book be gifted to every school library at AnimalHeroKids.org
