Compassion at 200 Miles Per Hour
Robin talks with actress and model Katie Cleary about her exciting new film Give Me Shelter, which details some of the biggest issues in the animal community today. Then she’s joined by NASCAR driver and American Humane Association National Ambassador Blake Koch who has a passion for caring for animals when off the track.
BIO:
Katie Cleary
Named one of People Magazine’s “Most Beautiful People” and a finalist in the premiere season of “America’s Next Top Model,” model, host, actress and animal rights activist, Katie Cleary, is the founder of PEACE 4 ANIMALS, a non-profit Animal Welfare Organization that protects all animals against harmful human interference around the globe through public awareness and education as well as rescuing, rehabilitating and finding homes for domestic animals.
To achieve the goals of PEACE4ANIMALS, Cleary’s current projects include:
GIVE ME SHELTER: Cleary is the executive producer of the Best Documentary Short at the Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood GIVE ME SHELTER a documentary chronicling various aspects of human-domestic animal/welfare conflict and to raise awareness for important animal abuse around the world. GIVE ME SHELTER features appearances by Alison Eastwood, Michael Vartan (“Alias”), Esai Morales (LA BAMBA), Charlotte Ross (“NYPD Blue”), Elaine Hendrix (THE PARENT TRAP), Ric O’Barry (THE COVE), Kristen Renton (“Sons of Anarchy”), and Robert Davi (THE GOONIES) and features topics such as underground trade of wild animals, puppy mills, poaching, and animal abuse and neglect. The trailer can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z41UiRpd2YE and the full length film will be released at the end of this summer!
Radio Show: Katie has launched her radio show WORLDANIMALNEWS.COM via TRADIOV on Thursdays at 11am PST with guest hosts, Alison Eastwood (animal activist, host of NatGeo’s “Animal Intervention”) and Kristen Renton (“Sons of Anarchy”). WORLDANIMALNEWS covers animals (internationally and domestically), animal welfare, endangered species and much more to create public awareness about animals and their preservation.
Jewelry Line: Cleary is designing a jewelry line with esteemed jewelry designer, Shelly Litvak, to create a globally conscious line of crystal, wood and copper jewelry to benefit the endangered tigers.
Orangutans: PEACE4ANIMALS has challenged Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Ralphs to stop the sale of palm oil. 80% of orangutan habitats have been destroyed since rainforests are being cleared to make way for palm oil plantations.
Animal Rescue: Rescuing animals since she could talk, Cleary has been an animal lover and activist her entire life. In addition to running PEACE4ANIMALS, Cleary actively volunteers at the CA Wildlife Center and the Agoura Animal Shelter. Cleary has rescued 4 dogs and 2 cats!
Best known for modeling on NBC’s “Deal or No Deal,” Cleary has appeared on “Chuck,” “Tosh.O,” “Rules of Engagement” and “CSI: NY:” as well as the films THE BREAK UP, THE LAKE HOUSE and IRON MAN 2! Cleary has also been the face of national campaigns such as Chandon Champagne, Sketchers, AT&T LG phone and Emerald Nuts.
Blake Koch has created a major fan base in both the NASCAR community and the faith based market over the past three years. In 2009, with only 20 amateur races under his belt, he was recruited by Steve Portenga to join as the primary driver for the Richard Childress Driver development team in the NASCAR Camping World West Division. Blake achieved an impressive top ten finish in his rookie year by finishing the season eighth in points.
Richard Childress Driver development team resigned Koch for the 2010 NASCAR West division, in which Koch was 6th in points with three top five and seven top ten finishes. In 2011, after only three short years, Koch went full-time into the NASCAR Nationwide Series. In his first 10 career Nationwide Series races, Koch earned five Top-25 finishes. He joined an elite group that included Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr, who also had five Top-25's in their first 10 NNS races. Throughout the season, Koch battled for the 2011 Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year honors, but fell short by one point; he also finished 18thin the Driver Point Standings that year.
Koch has toured the country throughout the faith based markets and has been a key note speaker at numerous outreach events including Promise Keepers Men’s Ministry. He has made appearances on Daystar television network, Robert Schuller's Hour of Power and manyother national talk shows. Koch's ambitions are to promote God back into the American family and encourage everyone to rise up and register to vote.
In 2012 Koch competed for Rick Ware Racing andSR2 Motorsports in the Nationwide Series and signed on full-time with SR2 Motorsports for the 2013 season. After competing in a limited schedule, Koch finished 25th in the Driver Point Standings and earned his career best finish of 11th at the Nationwide Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Among those achievements in 2013, Koch also competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
2014 has started a new chapter for Koch; as he has signed on to drive the No. 10 Toyota Camry, full-time, for TriStar Motorsports during the Nationwide Series season. Koch will join NASCAR veteran’s Eric McClure and Mike Bliss in the TriStar Motorsports stable.