GROWING STRONGER | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
OUR MISSION
To celebrate the unique gifts and challenges of each individual, encouraging growth through the benefits of therapeutic horsemanship and human relationships. For 25 years, Hands and Hearts for Horses has provided therapeutic riding programs to enrich lives and promote independence for children and adults with disabilities.
Beginning with 3 horses and 2 volunteer instructors in 2000, the program has grown to 23 horses, 10 staff members, and 250 volunteers serving over 150 riders weekly.
HOW IT STARTED
The history of Hands and Hearts for Horses can best be told through the stories of its co-founders, Terrell Singletary and Karen Leabo Singletary.
OUR WORK TODAY
Since 2000, the mission of Hands and Hearts for Horses has always been to celebrate the unique gifts and challenges of each individual,
encouraging growth through therapeutic horsemanship and human relationships.
501(c)3 registered nonprofit organization
The only accredited therapeutic riding program within 65 miles
Serving 13 counties in South Georgia and North Florida
Participants are ages 4 to 80
Operate 11 months out of the year, Tuesday through Saturday
In addition to private lessons, Hands and Hearts for Horses also serves the local school system through The School Group Partnership Program
by providing lessons to self-contained special education classes during the school day. Classes are bussed to the program and participate in lessons together.
We serve 19 schools from Thomas and the surrounding counties.
Even though we have private payment for lessons and scholarships available, the lesson fee only covers about 20% of the overall cost of the quality programs that we are offering.
We have approximately 30% of our riders on some type of scholarship due to their financial situation.
In order to meet operational expenses, we rely on private contributions, annual fundraising events, family foundations, sponsors,
private pay for lessons by those who can afford to contribute some or all of the standard fee, and Easter Seals reimbursements.
No one is turned away from therapeutic riding lessons based on ability to pay.
Demand for an additional 100% increase
has been marked a priority in the organization’s current 3-year Strategic Plan.
OUR VISION
To implement our plan of doubling the number of clients served, we will expand our client base by:
Growing our hippotherapy program through the addition of physical and speech/language therapy services
Adding physical therapy and speech/language therapy services
Increasing equine-assisted learning services
Increasing our outreach to local mental health programs
Serving more local special needs school groups (we currently have 10 school groups on our waiting list!)
Expanding the number of local agencies with whom we work, including veterans
BUT BIG GROWTH COMES WITH BIG NEEDS!
Upon extensive review, Hands and Hearts for Horses has developed a three-phased facility enlargement and improvement plan
to increase lesson spaces and provide additional therapeutic services, thereby expanding and improving our offerings.
The organization is ready to embark on a formal Capital Campaign in order to meet current needs, as well as continue to expand into the future.
Under the leadership of a Board of Directors and Executive Director Susie Shin, over $510,000 has already been raised.
An additional $1.3M is still needed to complete the full scope of capital
improvement projects, fund campaign expenses, and grow the endowment.
Questions?
Susie Shin, Executive Director
(229) 551-0086 | susie@handsandheartsforhorses.org