Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kristine Kelly. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kristine, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I did not find my purpose, my purpose found me. I had a very empty feeling inside that I was trying to fill with my acting career, shopping, partying, and dating life but nothing fulfilled me. Animals were in my head constantly and when I saw animal abuse on the streets I could not ignore it. I became obsessed with helping animals. It caused me such anxiety that it made me take action. This was a calling from God and he makes sure when he chooses you YOU LISTEN or he will make you miserable! It was such a burning desire to save animals that it took over my life and still does. I am on a mission to stop animal cruelty!!
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Kris Kelly grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut. After graduating Greenwich High School, she moved to NYC to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She then moved to Los Angeles and worked as an actress in film, TV, and Theatre. She became Director of Animal Welfare in 2005 and started her own 501c3 non-profit animal rescue organization in 2006.
Kris has loved animals since she was very young. It was when she started volunteering with the Lange Foundation in Beverly Hills, CA that she realized how many abused and neglected animals there were who needed homes. She vowed to donate her life to helping these furry friends with no voice.
Kris wrote her memoir titled Fame to Fur about her experiences of the lights of Hollywood to the heights of giving back. It is on sale on Amazon.
“I rescue animals but really they rescued me.” – Kris Kelly
The Kris Kelly Foundation was founded by Kris Kelly in 2006 after many years of dreaming of her own Non-Profit to save animals from abuse, slaughter, and neglect. The organization is a 501c3 non-profit vegan animal rescue organization that rescues animals out of local shelters and finds them forever loving homes.
When Kris Kelly was in 4th grade, she read a book about an old lady and an old horse. They were friends and spent a lot of time together. Kris remembers her teacher asking her over and over “Why do you think they are such good friends”….Kris was trying to come up with the words and her teacher kept saying “Keep talking…keep talking”. Kris finally said “Because they are BOTH lonely and need each other”. The teacher gave an A on her oral book report.
That scene has run through Kris’s mind over the years. She didn’t know what would come of this memory that she couldn’t shake. As she grew older she developed a yearning to bring people and animals together so they could heal each other.
We at The Kris Kelly Foundation embrace “Humanity” and we give dignity and a voice to the animals that need someone to do it for them.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
My journey has been a roller coaster ride. The one thing I always had was courage. You need to keep going even when things get rough. My senior quote was “You have to love yourself”. A lot of my friends thought I was being cocky by writing that quote but they missed what I was trying to convey. I didn’t mean I loved myself. I meant you have to love yourself because nobody else will if you don’t. My advice to anyone starting out on your journey is to take the time to get to know who you are and what is in your heart to do in this world. I believe you need to give back. It’s not all about climbing a corporate ladder or how much you have in your bank account. It’s about how you are giving back to this world. Three qualities that helped me on my journey was my communication skills, my personality and a general interest in people. I was always myself and never tried to be someone else. I believe that is the secret to success. One of my acting teachers would have us write on our bathroom mirrors “I am human so therefore I am enough”. Perfect!
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The post impactful thing my parents did for me is give me the freedom to make decisions on my own even as a young girl. It allowed me to be creative and self sufficient in my mind. They taught me that everyone is equal and nobody is superior to anyone else. I think when parents give children space it stirs their own imagination and makes them less needy of others when they get older.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thekriskellyfoundation.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kriskellyfoundation/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kriskelly/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriskelly/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kriskellyrescue?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kriskellyfoundation
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-kris-kelly-foundation-beverly-hills
