For Literary and Media Inquiries, Contact:
Sally Ekus
The Lisa Ekus Group, LLC
Sally@LisaEkus.com
413.247.9325
For immediate release
March 28, 2018 – The Lisa Ekus Group, LLC, can think of no better way to close out Women’s History Month than to announce the signing of 17-year-old Haile Thomas, an influential voice that is empowering the next generation of leaders, for full representation with the agency.
Haile is an international speaker, health activist, vegan food and lifestyle influencer, the youngest Certified Integrative Health Coach in the United States, and the founder/CEO of the nonprofit HAPPY (Healthy Active Positive Purposeful Youth).
Haile joined former first lady Michelle Obama for the President’s State of the Union address in 2013. Mrs. Obama said of the young leader, “Haile is an example for all of you, what your little powerful voices can do to change the world.”
Haile was inspired to pursue such activism in 2010 after her family successfully reversed her father’s Type 2 diabetes through healthy eating and lifestyle choices. Upon learning that children were being increasingly diagnosed with conditions like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, Haile founded HAPPY when she was 12 years old to address the need for free/affordable plant-based nutrition and culinary education in under served at-risk communities, as well as in schools and through annual summer camps. To date, she has personally engaged over 15,000 kids through her efforts.
Haile and her work have been featured on The Today Show, Food Network, CNN, Dr. Oz, Teen Vogue, Fortune, O Magazine, and Experience Life Magazine, to name a few. Haile was one of the first 8 young chefs featured on season one of Rachael vs. Guy Kids-Cook-Off, and also on Cupcake Wars Kids both airing on Food Network. She also worked for two years as the Jr. Chef Advisor for Hyatt Hotel’s “For Kids – By Kids” Menu, with her kids menu recipes served at all Hyatt Resorts in North America and the Caribbean.
Haile has an incredible community of followers through her social media; currently, her Instagram has 48.8k followers. You can see more by visiting hailevthomas.com, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
Welcome, Haile!