The Foundation honors the legacy of Ana Maria Weidner
Ana dedicated her life to supporting animal causes, with particular fondness for dogs, birds, and burros, and a passion for encouraging humane and healthy dietary choices. Prior to her passing in 2024, Ana drafted the following vision and mission statements.
Ana’s Vision & Mission
Ana’s Vision
A peaceable world, free from animal cruelty, where all animals and their environment are valued and respected.
Ana’s Mission
To elevate the status of all animals beyond property, through nurturing an awareness of their intrinsic value; to improve their wellbeing; to mitigate their suffering; to protect their interests and habitat.
Foundation Staff
The Foundation is guided by a board of directors and a small staff, each of whom is dedicated to making Ana’s vision for animals a reality.
Executive Director
Che E. Green
Che Green has spent decades seeking the most effective ways to help animals. He is the founder and former executive director of Faunalytics, a social science research organization serving the global animal protection movement. Che has worked and volunteered for a wide range of animal advocacy groups at the local, national, and international levels. He previously served as a research and strategy consultant for animal-friendly businesses and charitable foundations. When not working, Che spends his time with his wife and companion animals, mountain biking, gardening, and following his favorite soccer teams.
Grants & Operations Manager
Carrie Ducote
Carrie Ducote brings over 16 years of non-profit animal protection experience, including senior leadership roles at Best Friends Animal Society, where she directed the national Shelter Collaborative Program and oversaw the distribution of more than $10 million in grants to partner shelters across the country. She has also served as Vice President of Mission Delivery at the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia and Director of Growth and Strategy at Big Dog Ranch Rescue. She holds a Master of Science in Anthrozoology from Canisius University and has been published in the NYU Press volume When Animals Die.
Board of Directors
Joyce Tischler
Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law School
Lonna Torchia
Weidner Apartment Homes
Patty Finch Dewey
Former philanthropic advisor to Ana Maria Weidner
Peter Kim
Weidner Apartment Homes
Robert Carr
Weidner Apartment Homes