A STRONG FOUNDATION Kristen Hamel Tackles Motherhood & Her Family’s Foundation With Grace BY SYDNEY JONES
It’s not always about what you have, but what you can give. In 2017, Kristen Hamel and her husband Jim set out to make a difference by providing financial support to organizations that help their local communities, as well as the education and well-being of disadvantaged people through their own Hamel Family Foundation. As a mother and new grandmother, Hamel has always made it a priority to teach her children to help others and be active in their communities. Although Hamel and her family are based in Richfield, Wisconsin, she has always spent a lot of time in Wellington for the Winter Equestrian Festival. Growing up on a farm, she developed a love for animals, especially horses, at a young age. Fostering that love in her daughter Sydney became a way for their connection to grow and for their ties to the horse world to deepen. “It has always been a dream of mine to own a barn here in Wellington,” Hamel recalled. “We purchased the barn in July of 2020 with the intention of me being here more often. However, the pandemic actually allowed my husband to work remotely, so we bought a home here as well, to allow the family to visit more often.Through the horse world, I’ve met a lot of really great people, so my network is here. My animals are here. It just fits us.” Although the Hamel family is constantly moving in many different directions, the foundation provides an outlet for them to come together throughout the year and discuss their ideas. 22
may 2022 | wellington the magazine
Kristen Hamel and Sydney Hamel at the family farm in Wellington’s Grand Prix Village. PHOTO BY SYDNEY JONES/PHELPS MEDIA GROUP