Sharon Donnelly, Vice President of Operations
Sharon grew up in rural Canada, where she learned to love what the country life had to offer and the opportunity it extended to stay close with nature. The Donnelly family instilled in their youngest daughter, the importance of community involvement, caring of animals big and small, and to embrace every opportunity.
Sharon graduated college with a degree in Business Management and shortly after moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. She continued her education, earning her Masters in Contracts/Acquisitions, and her Teaching Certificate for Elementary School Education. Her passion for continuing her education then prompted her to reach out to those needing assistance in her community. She teamed up with the nonprofit Literacy Council of St. Petersburg, which offered free tutoring to adult learners. She was an active volunteer for 5 years, and continues to support literacy in her community.
Her desire to bring her two passions together, the love of animals and assisting in the community brought her to team-up with Project PUP: Pets Uplifting People. She then became a certified Palliative Care volunteer for Suncoast Hospice, and a Pet Therapy Volunteer for Bayfront Trauma Center. Sharon’s personal dog Tater, was also certified and became her trusted partner, providing support and compassion, up until Tater’s retirement.
During this time, Sharon also teamed up with cancer survivors and campaigned for cancer awareness, and the fight against breast cancer, completing 6 years of fundraising efforts for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. She marked her last walk with her dear friend, and neighbor who eventually lost her battle to cancer.
Sharon continued to seek out how to play an active role in her community and support her love of animals and the environment. She started to team up with SOAR in 2015, and soon became Secretary to the Board. She continues to be an active board member, and a proud partner in supporting rescue awareness, environmental concerns, and promoting education in these critical areas.
Sharon is currently a third grade math and science teacher in St. Petersburg. Here, she also instills to her students, the importance of community involvement, and caring for animals big and small. Her passion for education and how we can positively impact our environment and its inhabitants, is evident in everything she touches.
Sharon resides in St. Petersburg with her partner Chris and their rescue dogs Jenny and Tater. They also have chickens, gerbils, hamsters and a fish named Doug.