Silva Battista, Animal Welfare Activist, Named August “Vibrant Giver” by VibrantNation.com

VibrantNation.com , the leading website devoted exclusively to successful women over 50, today announced that Silva Battista, co-founder of Best Friends Animal Society , a national animal welfare organization known for it work at the grassroots level with rescue groups and shelters, has been named Vibrant Nation’s “ Vibrant Giver” for August 2009.

Nearly 25 years ago, Silva and her husband joined with a group of friends to create an animal sanctuary in the southern Utah desert to care for the several hundred animals they had collectively rescued, and then later volunteered to take over animal control from the local animal shelter. In 1990, the founders realized the financial burden of their rapidly growing operations and created a member-supported organization.

Today, Best Friends Animal Society, based in Kanab, Utah, is a non-profit with over 400 employees and more than 200,000 members. The society operates Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the nation’s largest facility for abused, abandoned and special needs companion animals, which on any given day the sanctuary is home to approximately 1,700 dogs, cats, horses, birds, rabbits, goats, farm animals and others.

“Silva Battista has done many different kinds of social work in her life and is truly making a difference in the field of animal rescue, caring for animals who come from shelters and rescue groups all across the nation,” said Stephen Reily, founder and CEO, VibrantNation.com. “Guided by a simple philosophy that kindness to animals builds a better world for all of us, her generosity with her time, her energy and her resources is extraordinary.”

“I love the fact that my job allows me to ‘do the right thing’ and follow my conscience,” commented Silva Battista. “Commitment, respect, kindness, and loyalty form the basis of the solutions that will eventually fulfill our vision of ‘No More Homeless Pets,’ with great progress made already.”

To learn more about Silva Battista, please visit www.bestfriends.org .

VibrantNation.com will continue to announce and profile one Vibrant Giver each month. Because no one recognizes the strength in Vibrant Women better than other women like them, members of the site are invited to nominate others for this honor. To nominate a Vibrant Giver, visit http://www.VibrantNation.com/vibrant-giver .