We recently connected with Anita St Lewis and have shared our conversation below.

Anita , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

A few years ago, my dear friend Alicia and her husband invited my husband and me to join them as their guests on a trip to Maui for four days. My husband had decided he didn’t want to go so it would only be the three of us. A few weeks before our trip, the devastating Maui wildfires occurred, I thought Ok that’s the end of my trip.
Then Alicia called me with a surprise. She told me we were still going to Hawaii—just to Kauai instead. She said I deserved to be celebrated and spoiled like a Queen, and that I had been an inspiration in her life. I was overwhelmed with gratitude, love and emotion.
From the moment the trip started until the moment it ended, I was treated with incredible kindness, consideration and love. The flight went smooth and her husband had taken care of every detail down to arriving at the hotel in time to enjoy our first sunset together. Our days filled with zip lining adventures, cultural experiences, outrageous food and nature at its finest. It felt like I was in a dream!
Alicia and I originally met through dance and quickly bonded over our husbands, health challenges, love of dogs, and our shared passion for life. She is one of the gentlest, most generous people I have ever known, and her husband is equally caring and thoughtful. They have a way of making everyone around them feel special. This gift of kindness and love reminds me that there are truly good people in the world—people who are compassionate, accepting, generous, and blessed.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I am the Founder and Visionary of Healing Hearts Sanctuary SoCal, a sanctuary in the making. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal sanctuary right here in Southern California. Inspired by my lifelong love of animals and my own experiences overcoming life’s challenges, I am creating a sanctuary that provides innocent animals with a safe environment where they can thrive while nurturing the healing power of the animal-human bond.
We recently launched Phase One of Healing Hearts Sanctuary SoCal as a foster-based rescue, joining the No-Kill Movement and allowing us to save dogs and cats from overcrowded shelters Immediately, while working toward our long-term vision of building a full-scale animal sanctuary.
What sets us apart is that we’re creating more than a rescue—we’re building a sanctuary where animals and people can heal together through compassion, connection, education, wellness programs, and community engagement. We believe in the extraordinary healing power of the animal-human bond and the positive impact it can have on both lives.
What I’m most proud of is turning a dream into action. Every animal we rescue brings us one step closer to our vision of a more compassionate world. I want people to know that Healing Hearts Sanctuary SoCal is built on love, hope, transparency, and the belief that healing works both ways—for the animals and the people whose lives they touch. A place where animals and humans heal.
If my story resonates with you, I invite you to be part of our mission to give vulnerable animals the love, safety, and chances they deserve. Whether you choose to Donate, Foster, Volunteer, Adopt, Sponsor, or simply share our story, your kindness will help transform and save lives. www.healingheartssanctuary-socal.org

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Yes, it was after surviving cancer twice and being married for over 40 years. It was a ruff time in my marriage , I was feeling trapped, unsure and scared so I packed up my dog and ran.
I ended up in Kanab Utah at a wonderful place called Best Friends Sanctuary. (I had heard about it from Sunny Hostin on”The View”. Thank you Sunny) It was an animal sanctuary tucked in to a breathtaking natural canyon call Angels Canyon. I spent 4 days there in a charming cottage surrounded by the most amazing natural beauty I had ever seen.
After taking the tour around the sanctuary, meeting the animals, staff and volunteers I realized the amazing healing powers that the animals and the canyon had. It is magical! I had been transformed and I would never be the same.
I came home, announced to my husband “I opening an animals sanctuary”! Two weeks later I called my agent and notified him that I was quitting my job and following my dream of opening an animal sanctuary. That was October 2024.
In May of 2025 I proudly graduated from Southern Utah University and Best Friend Sanctuary’s Running a Life Saving Sanctuary program. Today, that dream has become Healing Hearts Sanctuary SoCal, which has launched as a foster-based rescue allowing us to save lives now while we work toward building our future sanctuary.
What began as one of the most challenging periods of my life became the catalyst for discovering my true passion and purpose. Sometimes the biggest pivots come from the moments that break us open, challenges us to grow and reveal who we are truly meant to become.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

As a 501(c)(3) non profit it’s all about fundraising. I had some money but not nearly enough to make my dream come to reality. I knew what the big goal was to open a life saving animal sanctuary, it was going to take millions of dollars and years to achieve. I needed to start with where I was now. I was overwhelmed!
My first move was to find a supportive community to cheer me on, their encouragement helped me realize that every big dream starts with a single step. Next I needed to start fundraising. What could I do to raise money? That’s when I got creative. I started looking for ways to raise and save money. I find items that people throw away, repair them and sell them. I save money I find doing laundry. I save money by reducing my utility bills and shopping sales. I sell avocados that grow in my backyard. I save my lottery winnings, interest earned from personal investments and reward points from my credit cards. I walk dogs, house sit, and welcome most opportunities to bring in money for the animals. Every dollar represents another step toward saving lives. The journey has taught me you don’t have to have everything figured out to get started, you simply have to start.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.healingheartssanctuary-socal.org
• Instagram: https://www.healingheartssanctuarysocal
• Facebook: Healing Hearts Sanctuary SoCal
• Other: https://tiktok.com/@healingheartssanctuarysc