Meet The Board

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 A series of events starting on the 28th of June 2024 brought me to the realization that life was not going to wait for me to make a difference!  On June 28th 2024 I was at work and got into a car accident. I miss-judged a traffic light and mistakenly ran a red signal causing me to strike another vehicle who had the right of way. Fortunately, both the driver of the vehicle I struck and myself, walked away with no injuries. On July 5th 2024 I received news of my mother’s passing. On July  12th, my employer let me go. They could not wait for the report back  from their insurance, letting them know if I was cleared to continue driving for them. This was an extreme series of unfortunate events that came in rapid succession within two weeks! I was brought to a very important decision and I had  to ask myself, “Am I going to take advantage of this life and the time I have or continue finding excuses to not take action now?!” So, I took the leap of faith and began on this new and exciting (and scary) journey! I have always wanted to create something wonderful and magical!  Something that would better the world and the people in it! So Catopia Cat Sanctuary truly began! Not knowing a single thing about starting a  nonprofit I just decided to START! I am 51yrs  old and there have been many traumas in my childhood that have caused me to run and hide! After realizing that life was not going to wait for me to stop running and hiding, I decided to run forward and be seen. Animals, particularly cats, have always been in my life and have always shown  nothing but unconditional love and acceptance! They have been there for  me when I have felt utterly alone, time and time again! It is the time now for me and us all to be there for them!

Catopia Cat Sanctuary is so much more than a place for rescued cats—it’s a refuge of healing, hope, and unconditional love. My role as the Director of Fundraising is incredibly meaningful to me, as it allows me to help provide the resources these cats need while also sharing my personal journey of transformation and resilience.

My two cats, Stella and KeeKee, have been a guiding light in my life, especially as I worked toward sobriety. Their unconditional love and constant companionship helped me through some of my darkest days. Stella’s gentle presence and KeeKee’s playful spirit reminded me of the simple beauty in life’s little moments and showed me the strength I had within.

Now, I am honored to be part of Catopia, where I can help other cats find the safety, love, and care they deserve. Our sanctuary is dedicated to providing these incredible animals with shelter, medical care, and the warmth of a loving environment until they find their forever homes. At Catopia, I see daily how the bond between humans and animals has the power to heal and transform lives—just as Stella and KeeKee have done for me.

 My love for cats is what drew me to this beautiful cat sanctuary. Since then I have found great joy and satisfaction in being a part of this community of cat lovers. It is a wonderful feeling to be even a small part of these cats lives, and now to be friends with a whole new group of people that I would have otherwise never met makes this a truly magical adventure. All the while taking with me the love I have for my own two beautiful furry babies. I have spent most of my life creating art of all genres and always jump at the opportunity to share it with people whenever I can.  It brings me great joy to make someone smile with a simple picture or sculpture. I hope I can continue to contribute anything I can to this amazing sanctuary for a long time to come and I look forward to taking this enchanted journey with all of you.

Volunteers are the backbone of our organization. We offer a variety of opportunities for individuals and groups to get involved and make a difference in the lives of those we serve.