Acclaim from Teachers

"The Mercy For Animals' presenter encouraged my students to think critically and to ask great questions about the nature of activism and why we should all care about animal rights. Long after his visit, students wanted to know how they could change their habits to be more compassionate consumers. The literature from Mercy For Animals, which is packed with engaging images and tons of information, really works for young people. Thanks Mercy For Animals!"

— Amy MacKenzie, high school teacher
    The Graham School

"MFA has conducted several presentations in our political science course over the last few years and each time students have left the classroom with a lot of great information. The opportunity to ask critical questions and get authentic answers gives my students the chance to analyze themselves, the information and form their own opinions about MFA's mission."

— Mark Shannon, teacher
    Thomas Worthington High School

"[The MFA presenter] Heather Patrick gave an excellent presentation. She provided a PowerPoint lecture that combined relevant pictures with an explanation of factory farming and its ramifications. She was well prepared and the presentation was marked by clarity, enthusiasm, and knowledge. It also contained practical advice to help remedy the situation. I was very impressed by her ability to take these highly emotional issues and calmly and persuasively make the case for animal rights."

"Students were physically and emotional moved by the graphic videos in the presentation. When the lights were turned up for the question and answer session many students could be seen wiping their eyes. I am sure this was one of the most memorable moments in the long history of the Arts and Ideas program."

"I have no hesitation in passing on my highest recommendation for Heather Patrick to anyone interested in the topics of factory farming and animal rights."

— Joe Gaziano, Professor
    Lewis University, Chicago, IL

"[The MFA representative's] presentation on animal cruelty and veganism is very inspirational; a number of students have made changes in their eating habits and lifestyle because of his presentations. In their journals and in class surveys, students reiterate the same themes: [He] is knowledgeable, well prepared, courteous, humorous and articulate. I have to agree with all of these assessments. [His] presentations are meticulously planned and he engages the audience with not only thoughtful content but also thoughtful responses to their questions. [His] demeanor is personal and yet very professional; I have found him very easy to work with and willing to adapt to the needs of the class. His presentation will spark discussion and provoke deep personal and philosophical questions; in that sense I would highly recommend him for an upper level high school or a college environment. [He] presents issues relative to the animal rights movement in a way that challenges the audience but not in a manner that is offensive or tasteless."

— David Strausbaugh, Social Studies Teacher
    Worthington Kilbourne High School

"The students were very receptive to MFA's talk. Of all of the speakers from various organizations that came to our school on that day, students were most engaged by the Mercy For Animals' presenter. I would highly recommend Mercy For Animals to teachers and classrooms looking for an engaging presentation about animal protection, social justice advocacy, or vegetarianism."

— Chris Bradley, high school teacher
    The Christopher Program

Acclaim from Community Groups

"Mercy for Animals' humane education presentations have been a wonderful tool for students to learn more about the factory farming industry and animal rights activism in a respectful and welcoming environment! Each event we have held with MFA has been a huge success, usually with 80-100 people in attendance. Afterwards, I always hear from students and community members whose lives were changed once they found out how easy it is to live a compassionate life."

— Alexis Scherba, President
    Loyola University Chicago's Vegetarian & Vegan Society

Acclaim from Students

"I wish we were able to talk more to him because all of his stories and information were thought provoking. There was not one moment during his presentation where I lost focus. He really had me thinking and I was very intrigued."

"[The MFA presenter] has been the best speaker so far…. His ability to laugh and make jokes, while still getting the point across made his presentation entertaining."

"I find that this is hard for me to admit but I enjoyed your presentation. I don’t know if it was your approach, the way you answered the questions asked, or the general attitude you had during the presentations. Before 'animal rights week' I always looked down towards animal rights groups…. Currently I am trying to go vegan, but right now I’m able to be vegetarian."

"I really enjoyed [the MFA speaker's] presentation because he presented his information in a way that did not attack people who may not have agreed with or shared the same views as [him]. Talking to our class this way, I think [he] gained more support than if he had attempted to force us to change our lifestyle…. Usually, I think of animal rights groups as being very in-your-face and obtrusive, but [the speaker] and Mercy For Animals do not force anyone to listen to their views, but give their information to those who are willing to listen."

"Although I may not have always completely agreed with what [the MFA presenter] was talking about I was completely focused on listening to him because of the way that he presented it. I really like the way that he mixed things up between talking with us and showing us the slide shows and different influential videos."

"I found [the MFA presenter's] two days to be my favorite presentations of the year. I say this not only because I find truth in what he says but also because he presented his case with humor and a positive attitude that everyone could relate to…. He emphasized that every LITTLE bit counts, and that as long as you do what you can to help, then your effort is still appreciated."

"[The MFA presentation] really impacted me and I think that it will stick with me for a very long time."

"Before this presentation, I thought that animal rights, and to a great extent, animal welfare, were jokes. I figured we should end human suffering before we ended animal suffering. But after the slide show on a chicken egg farm, and 'Meet Your Meat,' I realize the error of my ways. I don't claim to have any natural affinity with animals, I've never had a pet, but when seeing those animals suffer and die, a base part of me was disgusted. My gut tells me that an animal suffering is wrong, and now I associate meat with the actual animals it came from."

"[The MFA presenter] was a very impactful speaker. He did a very good job of connecting with the audience through his personal story of how he became a vegetarian and eventually a vegan…. I definitely think that something has to be done for these animals and I admire their efforts to raise awareness and put pressure on food companies to change their laws. I sure think of animals and animal rights groups in a different way now."

"Although he was not pushing his opinions in an obnoxious way whatsoever, I found myself agreeing and being emotionally moved by every aspect of his presentation."

"...I also really was grateful that we got such a well-rounded presentation. Telling us background information and personal stories was a good way to start.... I felt, personally, that asking questions was not intimidating because of this."