Backyard Humanitarian is an all volunteer group, founded by Angela Margaret Malizia in 2010. With the support of family, friends, colleagues, mentors & the co-founding BH management team, BH had their first meetups with just a few people. Initial projects included a coat drive and soup kitchen volunteering. It started as a desire to help and a small group of people who joined in, became Backyard Humanitarians to begin a movement of kindness that continues. In 2011, Angela created BH Meals & Music, a program that brings local performers to share their healing musical talents with guests. In 2012, Angela developed an after-school program to guide children for their own volunteer projects. The BH Team has grown to more than 1,000 volunteers who have completed more than 250 volunteering projects in many cities in CT and NC.
Angela holds a Master's Degree in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport and a Bachelor's Degree in Business from Berkeley College. She is a certified Yoga Teacher, specializing in Hatha, Restorative, Children's Yoga and trauma informed Mindful Yoga Therapy for Veterans. Angela began her Red Cross journey as a volunteer for the Disaster Action Team Lead, responding to fires, emergencies and national disasters in CT, NY, MS, TX and FL and currently a Senior SAF Regional Program Specialist with the National HQ American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces Team deploying with the U.S Military.
"Backyard Humanitarian is an ever-growing team focused on volunteering & unconditional kindness. Any one of us can experience unimaginable challenges & trauma, it's not always visible.To be compassionate without judgement can help build and strengthen connections that be life changing for those who need support as well as for those who provide the support. If we want our world to be a better place, where better to begin than right here in our own backyard?-Angela Margaret Malizia