GRAND Magazine - September/October 2016 - 38

grand paws

CONNECT WITH GRAND

The grandest generation:
shaping the past, present, and future
BY ROBIN GANZERT, PH.D.
uch has been written about the Greatest Generation
and how they shaped the world, and as we prepare
this September to celebrate National Grandparents'
Day, I'd like to share with you the stories of a few personal
heroes from what I call the Grandest Generation. They are inspirational women who, regardless of age, happen to be grandparents and have not only taught their children and grandchildren
to create a more humane world, but also worked to share the
timeless values of caring, compassion and hope with all of us.
These women have changed my life and are making a difference around the world that will have a lasting impact.
First of all, I want to recognize my first teacher - my
mother, Linda Roy. Mom taught us early about the
value of kindness and compassion, and set me on the

Ganzert family
(Linda Roy, second from left)
38 GRAND

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2016

path to work in the international humane field. She taught us that
love of animals makes humanity better. Mom brought animals into
my life at an early age, and continued that tradition with my children. From horses to puppies to kittens, my kids learned the value
of the human-animal bond in large part due to my mom. Today,
if anyone needs to hug a horse (happiness is a horse after all!), my
kids just head over to Nana's for a dose of unconditional love! If
it weren't for her, I might not have devoted my life to helping our
animal friends in our homes, on our farms and ranches, in service
to our country, in zoos and aquariums, and wherever their lives
interact with ours. Thank you, Mom.
Another woman who inspires me
is the international philanthropist
Lois Pope. Lois is a tour de force, single-handedly tackling years of government obstacles and bureaucracy
to create the only national monument
to living disabled veterans! She is a
passionate animal advocate, too - one
of the most instrumental movers in
the animal protection world - and she
works hard to combine the best of both
passions through our Lois Pope LIFE
Center for Military Affairs, which helps
active-duty military, military families,
veterans, and military animals such as
the heroic dogs who protect our warriors on and off the battlefield. On a
more personal level, I know her grandLois Pope with Harley
children love visiting her home, which is
the 2015 Hero Dog

full of furry, loving
creatures. Lois
sets an example
on how to build
a better world for
the voiceless, and
she isn't afraid to
roll up her sleeves to
get it done! She is a
powerhouse!
When you
think of prominent
Candy Spelling
animal lovers, you
have to think of Candy Spelling, a lifelong animal advocate, First
Lady of Television, author, and Broadway producer. This National
Humanitarian Award winner has volunteered with animal rescue
and shelter groups, is a tireless board member and judge for the
American Humane Hero Dog Awards®, and even enlisted the help
of her own dog, Madison Spelling, who chaired a fund-raising
event, "Bark for the Cure," to benefit research into canine cancer.
She's a strong Renaissance woman with tender heart for animals.

Robin Ganzert is President and CEO of
American Humane, the country's first national
humane organization. More information:
www.AmericanHumane.org

https://www.facebook.com/GRANDmagazine/ https://www.twitter.com/grandMmagazine https://www.pinterest.com/GRANDmagazine2/ https://plus.google.com/114746402480325356757 http://www.grandmagazine.com/2016/08/grand-paws/ http://www.americanhumane.org/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - September/October 2016