The High Hopes
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Fall 2009
Inside this issue: Board Chairman & Executive Director Message The Spirit of Giving Two Great Grants
Spotlight On Success Then & Now
Ways to Give W ish List Zest for Life
From the Horse 's Mouth Horses On Trial: Phase Two
High Hopes Happenings High Hopes-A-Thon Hoedown
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, The High Hopes Rider is available in alternative fo rmats upon request . Please contact Wendy Knight at Ext. 19.
H I GH
HOPES
The rapeut ic Riding, Inc. Phone : 860.434 .1974 Fax: 860.434.3723 www .highhopestr .org
eadership, guidance, care, nurturing; all of the elements required to bring a dream to reality, all qualities which have been present in the development and evolution of High Hopes from the birth of LCVERA35 years ago to the maturity of High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc. today.
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Sis Gould, our Founder, had a dream and was able to share it with many others, both at High Hopes and with the formation of the national association, NARHA. Judy Lightfoot served on the LCVERAand High Hopes Boards for many years as well as serving as President of NARHA. Carolyn Jagielski, our Physical Therapist, travelled to Germany to study the concept of Hippotherapy and, subsequently, was instrumental in the formation of the American Hippotherapy Association. These are only a few of the amazing individuals who have helped to develop Sis' idea into the incredible organization that it is today. It is the foundation that has been created by our leadership which enables us to grow and thrive. The past and present members of the LCVERAand High Hopes Boards have built and maintained a foundation of sound governance principles and a commitment to quality that has withstood the test of time. Our early President, Pete Pierson, brought important medical expertise to our Board. His tenure was followed by many years under the passionate guidance of Judy Lightfoot. For our first 15 plus years, our Board was very much an integral part of the day to day operations of LCVERA.From trucking horses and teaching lessons to running the fundraisers, our Board
members did it all. The dream continued to grow each year as we expanded in ridership, horses and staff. Sherley Furgueson, Barbara Kashanski and Betsy Horn each provided guidance and vision during their terms as President. As we began to look for a permanent home, once again, our Board members provided enthusiasm and expertise Past Presidents Jeff Ridgway, Kel Tyler and Rives Potts, to name a few. Our growth wou ld not be possible without the financial support, prudence and foresight of our Board members. Their leadership, as demonstrated by visionary past Presidents Roger Smith and Jack Evans, initiated the development of a sustainable future for High Hopes by creating something then nearly unheard of in the field of therapeutic riding, an endowment! Today and every day at High Hopes are possible only through the many gifts of leadership that we have benefited from over the past 35 years. Every single Board member in our history has given of themselves in t ime, energy, expertise and so much more. I myself have been fortunate to learn the role of Executive Director with the patient guidance and w isdom of current Board Chair, Tony Thurston. We stand today as a testament to the heart and soul that our Board members have infused into High Hopes. It is this leadership that we salute as we remember and reflect on the journey of High Hopes Therapeutic Riding , Inc. throughout th is 35th Anniversary year.