Home > Out of the Cage! > January 2005 > Volunteer Spotlight: Rick Edwards: Helping to Create a New Picture for NYC's Homeless Animals

Volunteer Spotlight

Rick Edwards: Helping to Create a New Picture for NYC's Homeless Animals

Vancouver-born and bred in a small town in southwestern Washington State, Rick Edwards began his career as a photographer working on his high school yearbook and taking assignments for the local weekly newspaper. Little did he know that, many years and several careers later, he would be photographing Little New Yorkers and the people — from the ordinary to the celebrated — who are helping to find them new homes.

Following graduation, Rick spent the next 17 years as a professional musician — playing bass guitar in rock and roll bands in and around Portland, Oregon. Among Rick's gigs were The Wasted Rangers band, A&M recording artists Johnny and the Distractions, and tours with the legendary blues guitarist, Albert Collins.

After 17 years in the music business, Rick decided that life in a tour bus wasn't for him. Having already established himself in the field of antiques, he decided to pursue museum work. For the next decade-and-a-half he worked as a Park Ranger in the National Park Service (yes, that made him "Ranger Rick!") at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, just across the Columbia River from Portland.

Charged with the living history program at the site, Rick also was the special events coordinator and public information officer. But it was his responsibilities managing an 1845 period English garden with his girlfriend, Patti Norberg, that rekindled his interest in photography.

After their third vacation to New York City, Rick and Patti decided it was time to make the Big Apple their home. So they ended their careers with the National Park Service, sold most of their possessions, and moved to NYC. It was then that Rick decided that he wanted to make photography his life's work.

In 2000, Rick joined the staff at the American Museum of Natural History, where he is a digital photographer in the Division of Paleontology. He currently is photographing the fossil collection for the museum's web site. To date, he has posted more than 5,000 images, all of which are available for public viewing at paleo.amnh.org.

Rick's love for animals dates back to his childhood, and he's been a vegetarian since 1975. When he moved to New York, he wanted to volunteer time to the community. "What better way than to help our animal friends," he says.

As luck would have it, Rick met Susan Brandt, founder of Rational Animal, and offered his services as a photographer to the volunteer organization. Susan introduced him to Mayor's Alliance President Jane Hoffman, who enticed Rick to lend his talents to photographing Alliance events. Thus, for the past two years, Rick has been behind the camera for many Alliance happenings.

Rick says that working with the Mayor's Alliance and Rational Animal has literally changed his life. "I have been able to work with some of the most amazing people and animals I have ever met," he says. Rick's assignments have put him in contact with Mary Tyler Moore, Bernadette Peters, Eric Stoltz, Ben Gazarra, Laura Linney, Eartha Kitt, Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam, The Buzzcocks, Shirley Jones, and other celebrated individuals.

When asked if he shares his home with a companion animal, Rick replied that currently he does not. He explains, "Our kitty, Dottie, passed away last year. She adopted us around eight years ago at the Humane Society shelter in Portland. When we are ready to adopt, we'll know where to look — we'll just check out the Mayor's Alliance web site or we'll find our nearest Pet-Ark!"

For information about volunteering with the Mayor's Alliance or to complete a volunteer application online, click here. To find out about volunteer opportunities with any of the Alliance Participating Organizations (APOs), click here and select from the list of APOs.