Matthew Michael Ball (born 1968)[1] is an American animal activist. He is co-founder and President of One Step for Animals.[2]
Matt Ball | |
---|---|
Born | 1968 (age 55–56) Toledo, Ohio, US |
Nationality | American |
Education | University of Illinois (MS); Carnegie Mellon University (MS) |
Known for | Co-founder and President of One Step for Animals |
Notable work | The Animal Activist's Handbook (2009) |
Website | www |
Previously, he was Director of Engagement and Outreach at Farm Sanctuary,[3] and before that, Senior Advisor for VegFund.[4] In 1993, Ball co-founded Vegan Outreach.[5] Ball served as the group's Executive Director for 21 years. Ball is credited with helping shift the animal rights' movement to a more utilitarian focus,[6] particularly with a focus on chickens.[7] He is the co-author of The Animal Activist's Handbook (2009),[8] author of The Accidental Activist (2014),[9] and author of Losing My Religions (2022).[10] He was inducted into the Animal Rights Hall of Fame in 2005.[11]
Ball was born in Toledo, Ohio.[1] His parents are Cornelius Francis Ball and Judith Anderson Ball, both of Toledo.[12] Before founding Vegan Outreach, Matt Ball obtained an M.S. in Forest Ecology at the University of Illinois, and an M.S. in Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University, during which time he was a Department of Energy Global Change Fellow.[13] He also held a research fellowship in the Department of Biology at the University of Pittsburgh.[5]
Ball married Dr. Anne Green, a fellow advocate and co-founder of Vegan Outreach, on February 20, 1993 in Urbana, Illinois.[14][15] Their child Elwen Katya Green was born on July 16, 1994, in Pennsylvania and was raised as a vegan.[16][17] They live in Tucson, Arizona.[citation needed]
Ball says: "[W]e must focus on getting people to consider their first step toward compassion, rather than arguing for our current philosophy or diet. Most non-vegetarians tune out when told to go vegan but may consider starting to make changes like adopting Meatless Mondays or eating fewer chickens."[18]
Martin Ball › Virgil George Ball › Cornelius Francis Ball › Matthew Michael Ball
We are very excited to announce that Matt Ball is joining the VegFund team!
Anne and Matt were married in February, 1993, and when Anne became pregnant in the fall of that year, they agreed their child would be raised as a vegan.
[Since Ellen's] birth, along with her parents Matt Ball and Anne Green, she has lived as a vegan.