Celeste Thorson

Thorson was born in Orange County, California, to her mother a fine artist, and father a United States Marine; the two divorced during Thorson's childhood. Thorson traveled much of the southwestern United States during grade school and high school, attending a number of private and public schools. Her residence changed often as her family would acquire commercial and residential real estate stretching from Los Angeles and Southern California to New Mexico and Texas. After graduating early from high school, Thorson moved to San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico to continue the three-generation family tradition of attending the historic Instituto Allende. Thorson studied classical art, silver working, jewelry making, sculpture and bronze casting at the privately owned institute, which was founded in 1950.At the age of 17, Thorson returned to the United States and moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue political activism. As one of the youngest members in her office, Thorson quickly rose to the position of the Top Fundraiser in the Nation for the Public Interest Research Group. As a political activist she has worked to support many non-profit organizations such as Children International, Save the Children, Human Rights Campaign, Public Interest Research Group, and Sierra Club. She has committed her career to raising awareness and support for charitable causes around the world.