The story of Amelia Air's first donor!
For Sandy Heistad, a love of animals and unwavering support of her family are woven into the fabric of who she is, so it was without a second thought she made the initial and first donation to get Amelia Air off the ground (pun-intended). I had the pleasure of speaking with her and hearing her heartfelt journey-from that donation to witnessing the organization’s incredible growth six years later.
Her journey began in the 1980s when she and her husband rescued a dog from the cardiovascular research lab he was working at. Rosie became the family dog for seven wonderful years. It was abundantly clear this experience coupled with her love of dogs really highlighted the importance of rescue efforts and practically embedded a love of dogs into the family’s genetic make up.
When Dean, Amelia Air’s Co-Founder and Sandy’s son, first came to her with the idea for Amelia Air, she thought “what a cute little job.” But it quickly became evident that this was much more than a small passion project, it was a movement. She shared with me the pride she is filled with as she watches Dean, and Amelia Air’s co-founder Petra Janney and the team of volunteers work tirelessly to transport and care for animals in need. Being able to see the impact of her donation has truly inspired her.
Additionally, she shared, “When I first made the donation, I knew I was contributing to something special. There are too many sad cases of animals in need, and knowing that Amelia Air could provide these animals with a second chance made it an easy decision. My hope was that the organization would grow and place as many dogs as possible in loving homes–and my gosh has it grown. Seeing the sheer numbers of animals rescued, and across the country, not just here in D.C., is astounding”
As Sandy reflected on the growth of Amelia Air since that first donation six years ago, she talked about how much she loves seeing the excitement of the dogs in photos and videos and hearing stories from volunteers about what it takes to transport animals. Even something as simple as wearing her Amelia Air T-shirt sparks conversations, and gives her the thrill of getting to share the story and mission with those who .
A common theme throughout our conversation was enthusiasm and the unlimited supply of it we have here at Amelia Air. When making that first donation she thought this would be a local effort and has loved watching it become a nationwide operation. Noting that a key contributor of this vision coming to life is the commitment, joy, and enthusiasm of those involved in the work and the shared commitment for a cause that makes the world even just a little bit better.
Sandy’s enthusiasm was just as infectious and when I asked her what she might say to anyone considering a donation to Amelia Air she said, “I can promise you this—you will see a beautiful side of life. Supporting this organization is fulfilling, exciting, and deeply rewarding. Every contribution helps ensure that more animals are saved and given the love they deserve. The volunteers are some of the kindest, most responsible people you’ll ever meet, and their dedication is truly inspiring.”
In closing out our conversation we started to envision the future of Amelia Air and Sandy’s hope is simple, “that it continues to thrive and bring love and hope to as many animals as possible. The mission is incredibly sweet, and it must go on. Watching the progress made possible by donations and volunteer efforts is wonderful, and I know that Amelia Air will keep soaring.”
We’re so grateful to Sandy for helping bring Amelia Air to life and being a true champion of our mission to end pet euthanasia in the United States! Thank you for all that you do and happy birthday, Sandy! To celebrate Sandy and her birthday, join us in donating to Amelia Air in her honor and in support of all that she has done to help us in our mission!
