It all started when Jacqueline Howard adopted her first dog, a former racing greyhound named Tim’s Request. Eighteen years later, she has fostered more than 100 greyhounds and become a trustee for Greyhound Friends of New Jersey, a nonprofit organization that aims to find forever homes for the retired racers. 

Because of her volunteer work, Howard, a copywriting manager for Prudential Individual Life Insurance, was named Prudential’s 2017 Employee Volunteer of the Year, which also coincides with Points of Light’s National Volunteer Week. She is featured on this week’s Prudential’s billboard in New York Times Square. 

Along with Howard, 150 other Prudential employees and retirees received the Points of Light President’s Volunteer Service Award for their work. Overall, Prudential employees, including Howard, accumulated almost 80,000 hours for their work with more than 350 organizations last year. 

“When it comes to supporting our communities, the passion and dedication of Prudential employees is what sets us apart,” Lucien Alziari, Prudential’s chief human resources officer, said.

As for Howard, she will continue to serve as a foster parent for retired Greyhounds in need of loving permanent owners. 

“I won’t let anything stop me from fostering more of these beautiful animals,” she said.