About Us - The All Volunteer Team
Zia retired at an early age to become a fulltime
advocate for animals. Although warned that it
couldn't be done, Zia has helped over 50 local
rescue orgs, sanctuaries and AR groups form an
umbrella coalition. She is the founder of Veg4Life
Potlucks Gainesville, FL. Under Zia's guidance, she
and dedicated volunteers at Veg4Life have been
distributing free food at events since 2007. Zia
dedicates her VegFund work to Chicky (left), a
beloved turkey who passed away at Farm Sanctuary
in 2008
advocate for animals. Although warned that it
couldn't be done, Zia has helped over 50 local
rescue orgs, sanctuaries and AR groups form an
umbrella coalition. She is the founder of Veg4Life
Potlucks Gainesville, FL. Under Zia's guidance, she
and dedicated volunteers at Veg4Life have been
distributing free food at events since 2007. Zia
dedicates her VegFund work to Chicky (left), a
beloved turkey who passed away at Farm Sanctuary
in 2008
Jim /JC is co-founder and director of Plant Peace
Daily and co-founded and was president of
VegMichigan for many years. He is a retired fire
captain/paramedic/training officer, has a BS in
Emergency Medicine, is a certified fitness instructor
and certified in the Living Foods Lifestyle. Jim
leads life-altering programs on health and the
environment (see Plant Peace Daily). His critically
acclaimed talks empower people to make informed
and lasting changes in their lives. Bean ( our rescued
dog), share's her travel trailer with Jim and Rae.
Daily and co-founded and was president of
VegMichigan for many years. He is a retired fire
captain/paramedic/training officer, has a BS in
Emergency Medicine, is a certified fitness instructor
and certified in the Living Foods Lifestyle. Jim
leads life-altering programs on health and the
environment (see Plant Peace Daily). His critically
acclaimed talks empower people to make informed
and lasting changes in their lives. Bean ( our rescued
dog), share's her travel trailer with Jim and Rae.
Rae is co-founder and director of Plant Peace Daily
and co-created the Institute for Humane Education
in Maine. Her innovative critical thinking programs
have redefined personal power and the ability of one
person to make a difference in the world. She has
been leading programs internationally for 25 years
on compassionate living and all forms of
non-violence, including: ethical consumerism,
advertising / media influences, communication,
conflict resolution, animal rights / awareness, and
environmental awareness / responsibility.
and co-created the Institute for Humane Education
in Maine. Her innovative critical thinking programs
have redefined personal power and the ability of one
person to make a difference in the world. She has
been leading programs internationally for 25 years
on compassionate living and all forms of
non-violence, including: ethical consumerism,
advertising / media influences, communication,
conflict resolution, animal rights / awareness, and
environmental awareness / responsibility.
We would like to thank the following
volunteers for being an important part
of the success of VegFund: Leslie
Armstrong, Barbara Bear, Matt
Bear, Alan Berger, Susan
Hargreaves, Pat Ritz, Anne Rogers,
Shanti Urreta and CJ Urreta.
volunteers for being an important part
of the success of VegFund: Leslie
Armstrong, Barbara Bear, Matt
Bear, Alan Berger, Susan
Hargreaves, Pat Ritz, Anne Rogers,
Shanti Urreta and CJ Urreta.
Adena has been a social justice activist and clinical
social worker for over 25 years. In her volunteer
work in the animal rights movement, she has been on
the front lines of animal rescue and fostering of
abused and neglected animals. Adena is a vegan
chef and activist, spreading the message of
compassionate living through delicious healthy food.
Adena lives in her home on wheels with her canine
son, Taylor. She was a former volunteer and board
member for VegMichigan.
social worker for over 25 years. In her volunteer
work in the animal rights movement, she has been on
the front lines of animal rescue and fostering of
abused and neglected animals. Adena is a vegan
chef and activist, spreading the message of
compassionate living through delicious healthy food.
Adena lives in her home on wheels with her canine
son, Taylor. She was a former volunteer and board
member for VegMichigan.
| Zia Terhune, Co-founder, Executive Director and Treasurer |
| Rae Sikora, Co-founder and President |
| Jim Corcoran, Co-founder, Vice President and Webmaster |
| Adena Kling, Director |
Barbara has a degree in business administration and
has been vegan for almost 25 years. She has
managed a deli, given vegan cooking classes and
co-founded the first animal rights organization in
Brevard County. Barbara was also president of the
Board of Directors of a local community health
food store. She resides in Melbourne, FL and is
currently Dining Out Coordinator for Healthy
Planet of Brevard, organizing vegan dinners with
local restaurants throughout the county.
has been vegan for almost 25 years. She has
managed a deli, given vegan cooking classes and
co-founded the first animal rights organization in
Brevard County. Barbara was also president of the
Board of Directors of a local community health
food store. She resides in Melbourne, FL and is
currently Dining Out Coordinator for Healthy
Planet of Brevard, organizing vegan dinners with
local restaurants throughout the county.
Barbara Bingnear, Director
Darina, a Chicago finance professional, is a leading
activist for Mercy For Animals, organizing dozens of
leafleting and tabling events, feed-ins, and
demonstrations every year. She also volunteers in
Vegan Outreach’s college leafleting program, and in
2009 alone, she individually reached roughly 10,000
students on 19 school campuses in 8 states. Mercy
For Animals honored Darina with the 2009
Grassroots Activist of the Year award. She is
fluent in multiple languages and she has 8 years of
leadership and operations experience. She holds an
MBA from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
activist for Mercy For Animals, organizing dozens of
leafleting and tabling events, feed-ins, and
demonstrations every year. She also volunteers in
Vegan Outreach’s college leafleting program, and in
2009 alone, she individually reached roughly 10,000
students on 19 school campuses in 8 states. Mercy
For Animals honored Darina with the 2009
Grassroots Activist of the Year award. She is
fluent in multiple languages and she has 8 years of
leadership and operations experience. She holds an
MBA from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Darina Smith, Director
| Matthew Goodwin, Secretary |
Matthew, a recent vegan, is working to create more
vegan food options in the Boston area and is a co-
founder of Peace o’ Pie, an all vegan gourmet
pizzeria. He toured North America as a member of
the documentary film crew for I’m Vegan. He
partnered with Mercy for Animals to launch a
successful campaign on Boston’s public transit
system. Matthew is the founder and CEO of Ver-
Tex CSI, a Boston-based construction company.
A proud father of a 24-year old vegan daughter,
Matthew is a regular volunteer at a school in a
poverty striken area of Rio de Janeiro.
vegan food options in the Boston area and is a co-
founder of Peace o’ Pie, an all vegan gourmet
pizzeria. He toured North America as a member of
the documentary film crew for I’m Vegan. He
partnered with Mercy for Animals to launch a
successful campaign on Boston’s public transit
system. Matthew is the founder and CEO of Ver-
Tex CSI, a Boston-based construction company.
A proud father of a 24-year old vegan daughter,
Matthew is a regular volunteer at a school in a
poverty striken area of Rio de Janeiro.
Board of Directors: