Special Guest Feature: Amy Theisen Walz | Purpose Fueled Impact Day
Amy Theisen Walz didn’t set out to start a nonprofit. She set out to understand why her 11-year-old son never told anyone he was being bullied, until a night in the ER made it impossible not to know.
A few months later her family met a litter of Labrador puppies. One of them chose them. They named her Lilly Rae of Hope.
Today that dog is the reason You’re Not Alone; sends therapy dogs into Minnesota schools, giving students a place to go where they are seen and supported.
Amy is one of two nonprofit founders featured at Purpose Fueled Impact Day, a new morning format where our community points its strategy, relationships, and resources outward.
For one morning, the room won’t ask what her budget looks like. It will ask what she actually needs, then go find it for her.
Here’s Amy, in her own words.
What do you actually do, the way you’d explain it to a friend over coffee?
We are a mental health nonprofit that utilizes therapy dogs in schools supporting students and staff with mental wellbeing. We want every student to feel like they have a place to go where they are seen and supported while receiving unconditional love of their school’s therapy dog.
Why is your organization so important to you?
In 2007 our 11-year-old son attempted suicide. What we didn’t know until that night in the ER, is that he’d been dealing with physical bullying for months. He never told anyone.
A few months later we met a litter of 10 Labrador puppies, just 6 hours old. The light in his eyes started to shine brighter as everyday we were allowed to visit them. One black lab pup, chose us for her forever family, and our family was rescued by her unconditional love. (We know that God sent her as an angel to help us!) We named her Lilly Rae of Hope, because if you have a ray of hope, you have a future!
What’s the moment or decision that changed the direction of your life or career?
I always knew that God wanted me to help others during the darkness we endured to make a difference. The morning after, my dear friend Lynne, lost her daughter to a suicide attempt. The “light bulb” went on and he said “It’s time Amy”.
What do you believe about solving hard problems that most people miss?
The only way to thrive in your life is to face problems head on. No matter how difficult. If you don’t learn how to correctly handle a situation and you walk away, you’re apt to do it in the next job or relationship.
What are you most proud of, in life, not just in work?
Our family and their ability to see that in sharing my personal story of mental illness along with our family’s story, we are helping thousands of kids feel seen, heard and loved.
How do your closest friends or family describe you?
oh boy…caring & loving (forever helping others), determined, driven, energetic
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I will ALWAYS support the underdog to show them their worth!!
What are you most excited about for Purpose Fueled Impact Day?
Sharing knowledge of mental illness, its impact on a family and why we need to help others suffering in silence. Awareness and knowledge of YNA’s mission to a group of individuals that have never heard of us!
What are you hoping Runway Rookies or You’re Not Alone walks away with from this morning?
Sharing knowledge of mental illness, its impact on a family and why we need to help others suffering in silence. Awareness and knowledge of YNA’s mission, helping to find potential therapy dog teams around the state and ways to keep our funding on track for the future.
What’s a question you wish more people would ask you?
hmmm….”How can I get involved and support you?”
Impact Day
Thursday, October 22, 2026. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Dual Citizen Brewing Company, 725 Raymond Ave, Saint Paul. Dunn Brothers Coffee has the coffee covered.
Only 100 seats. That is the entire room.
Purpose Fueled will match every dollar raised in the room, up to $1,000 for each nonprofit.
Learn more about Runway Rookies | Learn more about You’re Not Alone