A CENTER FOR 21ST CENTURY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT:
Where the wisdom of the past, present, and future of leadership comes together for the dignity and benefit of all.
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Your Donations are Tax Deductible.
July 2024
First Nature Notes: Forging Ahead
Dear Friends of First Nature Foundation,
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We are squarely in the rain and thunderstorm season with all the scary lightning it brings (see photo below!) and will soon be near the peak of hurricane season. All of our grassy areas and pastures look SO much better than they did this spring, and the horses have been enjoying the growth, happy to no longer have to resort to hay. The rain boots that some of you so generously donated towards during our Galoshes Fundraiser late last year are getting regular use by our program participants (more about that, below). Our outdoor stall ceilings have received some reinforcement after previous wind events caused the soffit ceiling to sag or drop, and our barn’s upstairs doors are getting their jambs and trims replaced, and their exteriors repainted, all in the name of hurricane preparedness. The power-washing, sanding, and sealing of our barn will soon be completed, too. All these improvements are thanks to the awesome and incredible Austin Carnahan, who has never been bested by any task we’ve given him! After the last 6 years of constant facility improvements, we are taking a little break this summer and early fall…but stay tuned, because we are planning a capital campaign to install lighting in and outside our covered arena so that we can safely and easily conduct evening programming.
Volunteer Spotlight: Did you know that there are many ways to volunteer? Most popular is helping with horse care and programs, but connecting us with potential sponsors, donors, and clients is also greatly appreciated. We even have some events and fundraising coming up we would love help with. If you’re Interested in helping, find out more about volunteering and applying here! And see below for more ways to support us.
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This month we are pleased to introduce to you Cara Leahy, who has been volunteering since January. She has been contributing her time and efforts not only volunteering at the ranch, but has clocked many additional hours at home mending Buster’s flysheets and masks. Cara is a wife, mom, devoted grandmother, and all-around amazing and super-competent woman with a great attitude, and who really seems to enjoy her Sunday mornings with the horses (and maybe us, too?!). ☺ We are Cara fans!
We are still in the process of vetting organizations to partner with to conduct a whole year of twice-monthly Horse Sense for Teens programming for teens, to enhance their self- and social-awareness and regulation, and their emotional resilience. Using this grant, we aim to send at least 100 teens through the program. We plan to have begun the program by the time we publish our August newsletter in order to fully announce this wonderful opportunity.
In other grant news, we’ve been diligently working on grant applications for our current programs, and unfortunately, many of them have been turned down. It will still be a few months before we hear from Osceola County regarding a grant that could cover costs for our existing and expanded Horse Wisdom for Heroes program. We’ve continued to run the program every other week, even without any funding, and our 3rd cohort of the year is already half way through their sessions at this point. We are forging ahead, though, despite the discouragement we might feel.
Are you a veteran or do you know someone who might want to give back to veterans, especially those who’ve had a hard time settling back into civilian life? We offer a number of ways to make an impact: donations, sponsorships, volunteering, connecting us to veteran organizations and grant-makers who donate to veteran causes.
A huge thank you to AdventHealth, who has become our newest Trot Sponsor, covering a portion of the costs for our PASOS program. This virtual grief support program is an endeavor to reach a specific subset of those affected by suicide and we are grateful that AdventHealth finds the value in our longest running program! If you know of a parent or spouse affected by suicide who is looking for a support group, they can check it out here.
We’ve been getting rave reviews from participants of Horses Healing Hearts in our programming for Help Now of Osceola County. It is so delightful to know the impact we are having, for their staff, their women, and the women’s children. We’ve completed the 3rd month of our year-long programming agreement. You may recall we introduced Help Now in previous newsletters: they are a nonprofit shelter organization for survivors of domestic violence. A huge thank you to Cheryl Grieb, Osceola County Commissioner, who has made this program possible.
First Nature Ranch is a fantastic space for your next event or retreat. We rent out our facility and grounds on an hourly, half-day, or full day basis, provided there’s some alignment with our mission. If you are looking for a venue for an event, you may want to check out our gorgeous facility. If so, please contact me at kerul@firstnaturefoundation.org . The pictures below are from our successful wine tasting fundraiser from October 2023!
We want to offer our sincere thank you for getting this far down our newsletter! We think you’re pretty amazing, and we are very grateful that you appreciate our work. You may recall that I’ve named 2024 “The Year of Revenue” as we really need to pull in donations, sponsorships, and grants that will help us continue these programs you’ve been reading about. We would be ever so thankful if you’d forward this email to people you think could be potential sponsors, or connect us with interested businesses who want to book a date for our Horseplay for Leaders playshops for their leadership teams. Or nudge your friends to donate, maybe through a Facebook birthday fundraiser. If there’s nobody who comes to mind, there are other ways you can help…please continue reading!
How Can You Help First Nature?
Each person is bestowed with gifts or resources that are valid and valuable. Every little bit helps, and your support can make a big difference in our mission and out community. Below are some ways First Nature is looking for assistance:
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Advocate: Let your connections know about us. Share our posts on social media. Forward our newsletters to a community leader who could use staff development for their team.
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Fundraise: We’re looking for someone to help us with grants and sponsorships. Have you helped a nonprofit with fundraising? If so, reply to this email and let’s talk!
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Donate: There are a variety of donations we accept; one time, recurring, in-kind gifts, etc. You can find out more and donate here!
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Volunteer: Your time and skills help us maintain our horses and facility. Get the application here. Or are you interested in serving as a board member for our nonprofit? We are still looking!
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Sponsor: Make an impact in the lives of a veteran, a teen, a survivor of domestic violence, or a parent or spouse of suicide. Become a program sponsor or just sponsor the whole organization! Learn more here.
From our hearts to yours,
Kerul and Crew
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First Nature Ranch / First Nature Foundation
“Where the past, present, and future of leadership come together for the dignity and benefit of all.”
