Avis Richards

Avis Gold Richards is the Founder and CEO of Birds Nest Foundation/Productions, a creative group that produces digital media content including television series, documentaries and short films for charitable organizations. Started in 2005, Birds Nest provides the media to educate and raise awareness to enable non-profits to tell their stories.

Avis has been nominated for three New York Emmy Awards and has won numerous Stevie, W3, Telly, Davey, Pixie and Aurora Awards for producing non-profit films and videos. The charities that benefit from Avis’ work include a host of worthy causes dedicated to improving healthcare and education, serving inner-city youth, protecting against domestic violence, promoting human rights, and defending the environment. Avis also launched “The Ground Up Campaign” a national campaign providing indoor edible academic gardens and curriculum has been granted to over 300 classrooms across the country.

Avis is on the Board of Directors for HELP USA, Sophie’s Voice, Fans for the Cure, the R Baby Foundation, and Street Soccer USA. She also serves on the Board of Trustees at the University of Maryland and the University of Pennsylvania Parent Leadership Advisory Board.

Avis is a “Game Ball” recipient for the Boomer Esiason Foundation and served as an Excalibur award member for the American Cancer Society. Avis was also a founding member of Gilda’s Club. In 2010, Avis was awarded with the Artivist Award for Advocacy and Leadership, 2011 Ambassador Award by Voices Against Brain Cancer, 2012 R Baby Hero Award, R Baby 10th Anniversary Star Award, 2012 United Way Womens’ Leadership Council Philanthropist Award and Help USA Tribute Award. The University of Maryland honored Avis with the Non-Profit Industry Impact Award in 2010 and the Distinguished Alumni Award for the College of Education in 2012.