A letter from our Executive Director
It was the deep connection and love I felt for my own dog, Iggy, that inspired the idea for HeARTs Speak. I actually fell in love with my boy well before meeting him, through beautiful, emotive, photographs.
The experience of adopting Iggy opened my eyes to how important that choice to adopt really is. It motivated me to use my camera to help make life-saving connections for other animals just as amazing as he is, waiting for homes in shelters and rescues.
With this in mind, our flagship program, Artists Helping Animals, now over 600 strong, was born. We’re a love army spanning 48 states and 22 countries and transforming the image of shelter pets together across the globe. I honestly could not be more proud! (Thank you!)
Though we have members providing creative services to over 1⁄4 of the 13,000 shelters in the US alone, there are many shelters and rescues without the time or resources to give their animals this same creative leg-up. The Perfect Exposure Project was born to do just that and in 4 years we’ve held 25 PEP workshops with over 500 participants, shining light on over 200,000 shelter animals! This year, we also launched HeARTs Speak EDU, a program that makes much of this educational content available online, easily accessible for anyone who wants or needs it.
My boy Igg turns 13 this January. The love I have for him is so deep it hurts at times, honestly. We have made each other’s lives so much better than they ever could have been. Every shelter animal deserves this. Please join me in ensuring all the Iggys in the world have their best chance at their very own happily ever after.
There are many opportunities to give during the holidays and it can seem overwhelming, but remember the passion that unites us, and what we’re working towards. By supporting HeARTs Speak, you’re truly becoming an ally for animal shelters and all the animals they care for.
Sincerely,
Lisa Prince Fishler, Founder and Executive Director
