Protecting the Promise
The leadership of the Paws Claws and Talons Foundation is made up of the very same people who dreamed up our mission and built it from the ground up. These friendly guides provide the planning and care needed to keep all our wonderful volunteer teams working together like a well-oiled machine. By bringing together the clever ideas of our builders, the patience of our gardeners, and the magic of our kitchen teams, they make sure every part of our home runs with honesty and a neighbor’s touch. Their goal is simple: to take the kindness you give and turn it into a reliable circle of support that keeps every animal and family in our community safe and happy.
Miriah Gerlach | The Dreamer & The Doer
If you were expecting a CEO who spends her day behind a mahogany desk, you’ve got the wrong foundation. While Miriah is the visionary who dreamed up the Paws Claws and Talons Foundation, she functions as our Lead Engineer. She is the master designer of the “blueprints” for our entire mission, personally ensuring our gardens thrive and our food pantry reaches every neighbor in need. For Miriah, leadership happens in the soil and the kitchen rather than an office; it is about calibrating the “heart” of our engine so that every pet and family in Hastings has a solid place to stand.
Lisa Norquist Carey| The Guardian of the Living World
If you want to know how our “Biological Engine” stays fueled and humming, you talk to Lisa. As our Vice President, she acts as the primary caretaker of our “living hardware” and our handmade treasures. She ensures the heartbeat of our foundation is steady, from managing the busy insect colonies that provide natural food to overseeing the creation of the cozy, handcrafted goods our neighbors love. Whether she is perfecting a delicate biological cycle or guiding the crafting of a new artisanal piece, Lisa makes sure every living and handmade part of our circle is perfectly in sync.
David VanCourt | The Keeper of the Keys
If you’re looking for the person who ensures our “Biological Engine” is both legally safe and physically unstoppable, you’ve found him. As our Secretary and Treasurer, David is the architect who builds the sturdy walls of our mission. While the rest of the team is busy in the labs or tending the gardens, David is behind the scenes making sure the foundation is protected and prepared to grow. He’s the one who keeps our “Mission Blueprints” in order, but he’s also the one who makes sure we literally have the power and the lights to keep working every single day.
Paws, Claws and Talons Foundation 