Kelly Meyer [environmentalist and philanthropist]

By: Editor | August 19, 2009 | Ten by Ten

Kelly Meyer is a passionate environmentalist and cofounder of the Women’s Cancer Research Fund. Over the past 10 years, she has worked with several national and local organizations and schools to encourage thoughtful action and behavior with regard to our planet. She, together with her partner, built the first LEED Platinum home in California, which is used to educate people on green building practices. Meyer is also an avid stand-up paddler, surfer, yoga devotee and triathlete. She is the mother of two, Carson and Eli, and wife of Ron Meyer, president and chief operating officer of Universal/NBC.

Describe your most vivid childhood memory?
Being raised in Colorado, I remember distinctly the puffy white clouds against the most intense blue sky. But the most vivid memory I have is sitting on the step outside my house with my dog when I was about 6 or 7. The late afternoon sun was hitting a white, painted wall behind me, and I was eating a juicy, yellow pear. I remember the quality of the light and the perfection of the pear and I thought to myself, I wonder if I will always remember this moment? I guess I did.

What song do you play when you’re feeling nostalgic?
Landslide by Fleetwood Mac, Dust in the Wind by Kansas, Pachelbel’s Canon in D.

Make a prediction right now.
We will find an alternative energy source that we don’t even know about yet, and it will satisfy our clean-energy needs. There also has to be a disruptive technology somewhere out there that will help solve our economic crisis.

What are your thoughts on monogamy?
I think it is a great place to start an interesting relationship. It works for me, however, I try not to judge others — everyone has their own set of circumstances.

Favorite Quote?
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” Steve Prefontaine, a famous runner, said this about racing. I think it applies to all aspects of life. We all have been given a gift of one kind or another; it is important to realize and utilize those gifts for the benefit of mankind.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?
So many … paddling, surfing, hiking, biking, chocolate ice cream, green tea from Starbucks every single morning …

Who was your hero when you were 10, and how has that person affected who you are now?
Rachel Carson [founder of the contemporary environmental movement]. I named my daughter Carson after her, and I continue to care deeply about the environment. I just recently read her book The Sea Around Us that was written more than 50 years ago and it stands the test of time. She gave us so much insight and information that we should have used to protect this precious resource. We can’t say she didn’t warn us!

Finish the following sentence: I wish more people knew about …
… the crimes against nature, the amount of plastic in the ocean, the amount of mercury in our fish, the way coal is mined in the Appalachian Mountains, the way they kill dolphins in Japan, the amount of toxins and bacteria in storm-water runoff.  I could go on and on. I think it is imperative to understand what is happening to our environment in order to help fix the problem.

What do you consider to be your greatest extravagance?
My quiver. I love my boards. 

If you could have a one-night fling with any person, living or dead, who would it be?
Hmmmmmm…..

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