Female Founder Friday: Giving Zoraida Her Flowers
This week’s Female Founder Friday is a very special one.
Usually, this series celebrates women building beautiful businesses around the world. But this week, I want to shine a light on a woman whose work goes far beyond business.
This week, I want to introduce you to my dear friend Zoraida, affectionately known to most people as Zoey, the powerhouse founder of Luna Foundation Aruba.
Zoey is an island girl through and through, and we have been firm friends for over a decade. In all that time, I have watched her pour her heart, soul, energy, strength, and probably every last ounce of patience she owns into creating something truly extraordinary for the animals of Aruba.
Luna Foundation is an animal rescue and educational charity based here on the island, with 501(c)(3) status in the United States as well. But calling it an animal rescue does not really do it justice.
What Zoey has built is a safe haven.
Tucked away in the Aruban cunucu, Luna Foundation began as a barren piece of land covered in cactus. Most people would have looked at it and seen nothing but dust, heat, thorns, and hard work.
Zoey saw possibility.
Over the years, she has transformed that land into a place of safety, healing, education, and second chances. What started with rescuing dogs has now grown into a sanctuary for dogs, goats, cows, pigs, rabbits, cats, tortoises, and many other animals who needed somewhere to be cared for, protected, and loved.
And the dogs she takes in are often not the easy cases.
They are the dogs many others overlook. The disabled dogs. The old pensioners. The mama dogs. The dogs with mange. The dogs who need round-the-clock care. The dogs who have been neglected, abused, forgotten, or treated as though their lives did not matter.
But to Zoey, they matter.
She has created spaces for them to heal. A maternity ward where pregnant mama dogs can give birth somewhere clean, quiet, and safe. A place for older dogs to live out their retirement with dignity. A safe haven for the ones who may never be the “cute, easy adoption story,” but who still deserve love, comfort, and care.
That takes a very particular kind of heart.
I honestly do not know how Zoey sees the trauma she sees day after day and still manages to show up with strength, grace, and a smile on her face. She is cool, calm, collected, and somehow still soft-hearted enough to keep caring, even when the work is heartbreaking.
That is rare.
That is special.
That is Zoey.
What I admire most about Luna Foundation is not only the rescue work, although that alone is incredible. It is Zoey’s deep belief that real change has to start with education.
Her mission is not just to rescue animals today. It is to help create a better Aruba for the animals of tomorrow.
Zoey knows that if we want to change the future of animal welfare on this island, we have to reach the next generation. That means going into schools, educating children, and teaching them from a young age that animals are not disposable.
They need clean water.
They need food.
They need shade.
They need medical care.
They need spaying and neutering.
They need safe yards.
They should not be chained up, neglected, abused, or left to roam the streets.
Most importantly, they deserve kindness.
There is a quote often attributed to Gandhi that says the greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Whether or not those were his exact words, the message is true. How we treat the vulnerable says everything about who we are.
And Zoey has dedicated her life to making Aruba kinder.
Last week, my team and I had the privilege of visiting the Luna Foundation safe haven.
For Zoey’s birthday, we wanted to do something special, not only for her, but also for the incredible women who volunteer there.
These women work tirelessly in the heat, covered in dust, dog hair, and everything else that comes with rescue work. They clean, feed, comfort, carry, organise, protect, and keep showing up for animals who cannot speak for themselves.
They do not get glamorous days very often.
So we decided to bring a little glamour to them.
We treated Zoey and some of the female volunteers to a complimentary Flying Dress Aruba photoshoot at Luna Foundation, right there in the place they have poured so much love into.
And honestly, it was beautiful.
There was something incredibly moving about watching these women, who spend so much of their time caring for others, get a moment to feel celebrated themselves.
Because women like Zoey deserve their flowers.
Not later. Not someday. Now.
Zoey, I want you to know how deeply admired you are.
You have built something extraordinary from the ground up. You have taken a barren piece of land and turned it into a place of hope. You have given animals safety, dignity, and second chances. You have created a space where education, compassion, and action come together.
You are not just rescuing animals.
You are planting seeds for a kinder island.
And for your birthday, I cannot think of a better way to honour you than by helping raise funds for Luna Foundation, so you can continue the work you were clearly put on this earth to do.
So this Female Founder Friday is for you, Zoey.
For your heart.
For your strength.
For your patience.
For your courage.
For every dog you have saved.
For every child you educate.
For every animal who now knows safety because you refused to look away.
Happy birthday, my dearest darling friend.
Consider these your flowers 💐
