We Asked, You Nominated: The Women Who Inspire Us (Chosen by You)
This Women’s History Month, we asked our community to share stories of the women who have inspired them. The response was incredible: heartfelt, thoughtful, and deeply personal. Over the month of March, we’ll be featuring five remarkable women, one new story each week, highlighting their courage, compassion, and impact.
These stories remind us that inspiration comes in many forms; from mentors, friends, leaders, and everyday heroes, and that the women who shape our lives often do so quietly, without seeking recognition.
Read on to discover the first story, and check back each Sunday for the next inspiring feature.
Meet Joy Collins
Nominated by her friend, Caroline.
Pictured above (from L-R): Caroline, Joy.
"As soon as I opened this email, one name came to mind immediately — Joy Collins. I didn’t hesitate. I knew I had to nominate her.
Joy is the co-founder and President of Fauna Haven Animal Sanctuary in central Virginia, and she is one of the most selfless women I know. She is a devoted mother of two, a full-time real estate professional, and yet somehow still pours nearly all of her spare time into rescuing, rehabilitating, and providing lifelong sanctuary to animals who have endured unimaginable neglect.
What makes Joy extraordinary is that she does this work quietly. She never seeks recognition. She doesn’t tell her story loudly. She simply sees suffering and responds with action. Animals arrive at Fauna Haven from some of the worst conditions — starvation, confinement, and medical neglect — and under Joy’s care, they are given safety, dignity, and a forever home.
Many of them would not have survived without her saying “yes.” Her compassion extends beyond the animals she rescues. She is deeply committed to environmental stewardship and protecting the surrounding wildlife and land.
She also believes that compassion must be cultivated in the next generation. Through educational field trips with local elementary schools, she invites children into the sanctuary to learn about humane care, responsibility, and kindness.
She is not just saving lives today — she is shaping a more compassionate future. I volunteer at the sanctuary she leads, and through that work, she has become both a mentor and a dear friend.
I have witnessed firsthand the long days, the difficult decisions, the emotional weight, and the commitment it takes to do this work. Joy carries it all with strength and humility. She would never nominate herself. She would never ask for recognition. That is exactly why she deserves it. Joy Collins is the woman who inspires me, not because she seeks the spotlight, but because she chooses compassion, over and over again, when no one is watching."
— Caroline
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