Lynette Gay: Mormon Humanitarian

Lynette Nielsen Gay is a humanitarian and philanthropist. She is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Lynnette was born in Provo, Utah, to Harold B. and Gloria Rae Stark Nielsen. She met her husband, Robert C. Gay, when they were both students in the San Fernando Valley of California. They married in 1974, six months after he completed his mission to Spain. He bought her a sewing machine and she supplemented their income by making alterations and repairs. She also earned a medical assistant degree and worked until she had the first of their seven children.

She served with her husband as he presided over the Ghana Accra Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ from 2004 to 2007. They grew to love the people of Africa, especially in the countries where they served: Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. While in Africa, they set up the foundation, Engage Now Africa, which she runs as president and director. The foundation works to improve education, water, and health. They provide microcredit, support orphans, and help eradicate slavery. Gay and her husband are involved in humanitarian work that reaches around 50 countries as they try to improve people’s lives.