Wings of Hope Announces New President and CEO

The Aero Experience shares this new announcement from Wings of Hope:

Wings of Hope Hires Bret Heinrich as New President and CEO

ST. LOUIS, MO (July 21, 2017) — Wings of Hope has a new president and CEO. Effective August 1, Bret Heinrich will assume the top post at the aviation nonprofit, which is headquartered at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Mo.

Heinrich, an experienced nonprofit executive, most recently served as chief development officer at St. Andrews Charitable Foundation. His nonprofit experience also includes roles at the Oasis Institute and the Laurasian Institution.

“Hiring Bret was the culmination of a nationwide search that involved reviewing an impressive pool of 150 candidates over the past 10 months,” said Board Chairman Steve Akre. “Bret exemplifies the leadership we need to steer Wings of Hope as we continue to fulfill our mission of serving those in need both in the U.S. and around the globe.”

“I am honored to join Wings of Hope and build on its storied tradition of humanitarian service. The challenges facing societies on a global scale are unprecedented,” Heinrich said. “Knowing this, our opportunity — and our responsibility— to bring hope through education, access to health, and humanitarian aid to all corners of the world has also never been greater.”

Heinrich is immediate past-president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, St. Louis Regional Chapter, and a member of the association’s international board of directors. He serves on the Kirkwood School District R-7 Board of Education, and is immediate past-president of the Kirkwood School District Foundation Board of Directors. Nationally, Heinrich serves on the Albuquerque Oasis Board of Directors and has held leadership roles on other nonprofit boards. Heinrich is an adjunct professor in the Washington University and Webster University nonprofit management programs and has presented on this topic in the United States and internationally.

Heinrich holds a bachelor’s degree from Eureka College in Eureka, Ill., and a master’s degree from Western Illinois University. He earned his Certified Fundraising Executive credential in 2005. Heinrich also is an ordained minister in the General Council of Christian Churches.

About Wings of Hope

Wings of Hope is an aviation nonprofit delivering humanitarian programs around the globe to lift people in need toward health and self-sufficiency. In the U.S., the nonprofit provides medical air transport services – free of charge – to individuals who need access to specialized medical care. The organization also works in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Central and South America, partnering with communities to improve their health, education, food security and economic opportunity. Wings of Hope has been twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and dedicates 90 cents of every dollar directly to programming. For more information, visit wingsofhope.ngo or call 636-537-1302.