Sarah Carmichael Parson - KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Sarah is originally from Canada and came to Utah in 2004 to complete a Master’s degree in Comparative and International Development of Education at BYU.  She met her husband, got married and has been in Utah ever since.   She has five children, the youngest being 5 year old twin girls.  

She has always had a heart to serve others and has found various ways to serve those in need throughout her life, from family and friends to those around the world.  

While completing her master’s degree she had the opportunity to help run a relief effort in Thailand after the December 2004 South East Asian Tsunami and then helped form a non profit organization that sent college aged volunteers to developing countries to do humanitarian work.  

Her service has continued and over the last 3 1/2 years her humanitarian efforts have focused primarily on working with refugees, locally and abroad, and working to fight against human trafficking. 

Believing that every child deserves to have a toy to play with and bring them comfort Sarah founded Dolls of Hope 3 1/2 years ago.  As of the middle of 2019, Dolls of Hope has sent over 25,000 handmade dolls and bears to children living in crisis in 36 countries around the world.   

As the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, she feels it is her duty and life's mission to help alleviate suffering and help innocent victims of war, slavery, abuse, etc.  as well as raise awareness about the harmful effects of hate, intolerance and racism.
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