Spring 2014, Vol 2 - Exceptional Equestrians

Spring Growth
by Lisa Kafka, Executive Director
Spring brings new program growth
here at Exceptional Equestrians. We
welcome Stephanie Senogles and her
Taking the Lead program. Stephanie
offers “off horse” therapies that promote
workplace
communication,
team
building and leadership for adults, as
well as self-esteem and confidence
building for children and teens. Learn
more about Taking the Lead by visiting
our website.
Organizational growth is exciting.
Please know with each addition of
new programming, or change to
existing programs, our commitment
to you remains the same - to provide
the highest level of equine-assisted
therapies to our clients and families at
Exceptional Equestrians.
We are excited to unveil our new website at www.exceptionalequestrians.
org. We’ve succeeded in creating a userfriendly site that provides you with the
information you need, when you need
it. Please visit often!
Volume 2
An Exceptional Equestrians Newsletter
Spring 2014
eeNews
Casino Royale
Night: April 25
Our second annual Casino Royale Night
fundraiser is Friday, April 25, 2014, in
the Michels Commons Ballroom at St.
Norbert College in De Pere.
Casino Royale Night is a fun, adultsonly evening of cocktails and tasty
hors d’oeuvres that includes fun money
gambling, live and silent auctions, and
a Golden Ticket drawing. All proceeds
benefit Exceptional Equestrians so
gather friends and family and join us for
a great evening for a great cause!
Tickets are $100 per person or $1,000
for a corporate table including preferred
seating and complimentary beverages.
Advance ticket purchase is required.
Event details are available at www.
exceptionalequestrians.org and on our
Facebook page. You can support the
event by attending, becoming an event
sponsor, or making a cash or in-kind
donation to be used in the auctions.
Save the Dates
May 9
Daddy D Productions Night for EE
June 10 Summer sessions begin
August 23 2014 Horse Show
A Sense of Freedom
Many think of Exceptional Equestrians as a program for children but with our recent expansion of services, adult riders like
Micaela are also getting an opportunity to “experience the exceptional.”
With previous riding experience, Micaela Diedrick is a perfect fit for our adaptive riding
program where we move beyond therapy to focus on equitation and horsemanship skills.
Like many of our riders, Micaela particularly enjoys the Exceptional Equestrians annual
horse show. Last year, she and another rider rode a pattern that included walking, trotting
and backing up her horse. The thing she likes best about the horse show is “showing
people what I learned - showing my mom and sister and my friends from EE.”
When asked what she likes about riding at Exceptional Equestrians, Micaela is quick to
respond. “It gives me a sense of freedom from my scooter. I love it and would recommend
it to anyone.”
1130 Orlando Drive • De Pere, WI • 920.347.3174 • exceptionalequestrians.org • [email protected]
page 2
Raising Support
Welcome
to
Nancy Williquette,
our new director of marketing and
development. Nancy’s role is to build
community awareness of and support
for Exceptional Equestrians’ programs
and services and to secure the financial
resources to support them.
Nancy comes to us with experience
in non-profit healthcare marketing
and development, most recently at
Community Memorial Hospital in
Oconto Falls. She earned her bachelor’s
degree in communications from Carroll
University.
Seeing Results
Exceptional Equestrians is a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization
governed by a Board of Directors.
Santa & Julia
Christmas in the Barn
In early December, we held “Christmas in the
Barn,” our annual holiday get-together for
clients and families. The festivities included
refreshments, crafts, sibling rides and a visit
from the jolly ol’ elf himself.
Volunteer Appreciation
On November 21, Exceptional Equestrians
treated its dedicated volunteers to a “thank
you” dinner. Thanks to Joe and Catherine
Bergmann and the Green Bay Eye Clinic
for sponsoring the volunteer appreciation
dinner and gifts, and to our other families
who contributed treats and gifts.
Joe and Catherine Bergmann
know firsthand the benefits of
equine-assisted therapies because
their son Andrew has ridden with
EE for more than three years.
Says Catherine, “EE gives him
something special that is his
own. It gives him pride to tell his
friends he rides horses, and they
are impressed that he can ride.”
The Bergmann family donates to
Exceptional Equestrians because,
“the staff is really great and
therapeutic riding has allowed
Andrew to make so much
progress. We like that it is a small,
local organization and we can see
the results of our support. They’ve
done a wonderful job with the
new facility, and now more kids
can ride.”
Ellie Janssen - President
Laura Weber - Vice President
Nicole Gerend - Treasurer
Lisa Stark-Jones - Secretary
Janell Corcoran
Nancy Jacobe
Casee Meach
Elizabeth Moberg-Wolff, MD
Cindy Sleeman
Anne Michalski
Jeffrey Schwab, MD - Children’s Hospital of WI *
Linda Kliebhan, PT *
* Honorary Members
Our mission is to provide a familyand community-focused program
for individuals with special needs
with an emphasis on therapeutic
equine-assisted activities.
Make a Difference
Exceptional
Equestrians
has
volunteer opportunities available
Monday through Saturday for
anyone 14 years or older. Visit our
website for more information.
Volunteers display their thank-you gifts
Helping Our Children
Bob Jarvey has been a sidewalker at EE for
more than 15 years. A man of few words,
Bob answers simply when asked why he
volunteers: “I am needed.”
Bob feels the role of a good volunteer is to
help our riders do things they would not
otherwise be able to do and above all else,
to keep them safe.
Bob chuckles when he tells the story of how he once made the rare decision to
remove an 8-year-old boy from his horse when it got a bit excited. Worried the
child would be afraid, Bob told him he was a “bronco buster.” The boy responded
that he “stayed on the longest,” and got back on the horse with no fear.