Shining World Compassion Award Recipient: Catherine Kelaher (vegan) and the New South Wales Hen Rescue

Celeste is one of the many chicken-people rescued from death row who found safety and love, thanks to Ms. Catherine Kelaher and the New South Wales Hen Rescue. “When you watch them take those first steps, it's truly magical. One girl, Gretel, and she's with us now still, and she had a broken wing from her time in the cage.”

A small non-profit organization with only a few devoted vegan volunteers, Hen Rescue courageously rescues chicken-people and some factory farmed animal-people from the cruelty of the industry and successfully re-homes them. Over the years they have triumphantly saved thousands of our friendly feathered friends. Founder and CEO of the noble Hen Rescue, Ms. Kelaher became vegetarian when she was 8 years old. Ms. Kelaher and her colleagues are dedicated to increasing public awareness of the plight of animal-people through activism, media outreach, and education.

They petitioned to ban the poison, 1080 Fox Bait, to spare the lives of wild fox-people. They revealed the slaughtering of free-range hen-girls in the name of “humane eggs.” They also teach children that feathered persons are sentient beings and should not be cooped up in cages or used for food.

Our most loving Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan): “Thankfully present Catherine Kelaher (vegan) and the New South Wales Hen Rescue with the Shining World Compassion Award, plus a humble contribution of US$10,000 in cheerful support of your loving efforts, with gratitude and well wishes.”

“This Award is presented in recognition of your unconditional love, noble ideals, perseverance, and the courage to rise above atrocities while saving lives and advocating for animal-people.” “A huge thank You to Supreme Master Ching Hai, for this beautiful award! I’ve been aware of Your compassion at work for years, ever since I was first vegan and eating at Loving Hut. And to have someone like You acknowledge my work, I think it just fires me up even more, to make change, to work towards a vegan world.”