Fearless Leadership

Nancy Spalenka is a busy woman. As the Heifer Volunteer Coordinator for Southwest Michigan, she coordinates speaking engagements, makes presentations, and leads the effort for the annual Living Gift Market.
Nancy has been a Heifer Volunteer since April 27, 1983 when the United Methodist Church invited two people from her district to come to a workshop about Heifer Project International. Over the last 24 years, she's done 114 presentations for Heifer, and attended 11 workshops.
Her most dramatic training experience with Heifer was a study tour to Honduras in April of 2005. Members of the group met with AHPROCAFE, a coffee growers association that Heifer is helping to supplement the grower's income by adding honey bees to their activities. The photo above was taken of Nancy as she met with a group of women who called themselves "Struggling Together." The women grow coffee and they shared with Nancy the hardships of their life while they roasted coffee beans. Nancy also met with another group of Lenca women who had received chickens, pigs and cows. These women served lunch from a primitive outdoor oven.
Even before her trip to Honduras, Nancy was convinced that Heifer was doing important work that changes lives. Her tireless efforts to raise fund and awareness inspire all of us.