Funny Farm’s Laurie Zaleski Wins ‘Remarkable Woman’ Award

This won't surprise you if you have followed the life and good work of Laurie Zeleski, the owner of Mays Landing's Funny Farm Rescue, but she is a remarkable woman!

Laurie Zaleski Selected as 2024's 'Remarkable Woman' Contest Winner

WPHL TV, Channel 17 has been focusing on some of the area's most remarkable women during Women's History Month in March.

The TV station held a contest asking for nomination stories about remarkable women in the viewing area and then chose four finalists from the entries.

On Tuesday, WPHL announced the contest winner was our own remarkable Laurie Zaleski.

Laurie won a $1000 prize which she said would be used to feed and house the 750 animals she cares for at her local animal rescue.

 Zeleski Has Received National Attention for Her Good Work

People magazine included a four-page spread about Zaleski in a 2022 issue. The magazine told the story of Zaleski's work at Funny Farm and the writing of her nationally popular memoir Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals.

Laurie got used to the national spotlight after touring the country to promote the book and giving interviews with the Washington Post, New York Daily News, New York Post, Leslie Stahl with CBS and ABC News.

The book is Laurie’s story of promises kept, dreams fulfilled, and animals lost and found.

It’s also the story of Annie McNulty, Laurie's mom, who fled a nightmarish marriage with few skills, money, and resources, dragging three kids behind her, and accumulating hundreds of cast-off animals on the way.

And, of course, it's the story of the animals in need that were rescued and found a good home thanks to Laurie's work at South Jersey's Funny Farm Rescue and Sanctuary.

Channel 17 Encourages Locals to Congratulate Laurie

In the announcement of Laurie Zeleski as the 2024 Remarkable Woman winner, WPHL-TV encouraged us to go to the Funny Farm Facebook page to congratulate her.

We agree and offer Laurie our congratulations!