Fall News Letter

October 25, 2009

Summer 2009

Heartland had a fantastic 9 weeks of Summer Camps! We offered half day and full day camps this year and the children and volunteers had a grand time!  Heartland would like to express a heartlfelt thank you to McKee for donating money to make Summer Camps possible and to Mark Godsey, Owner of Goldbond in Hixson, for their unexpected donation too!  Without people like them, we would not have had such a wonderful summer program!

A special debt of gratitude goes out too to all of our volunteers and interns that helped make summer camps possible!

Fall 2009

Programming

We are also pleased to announce another successful Special Olympics training season and Show!  Our students worked for many weeks, learning to ride, follow instructions and bond with the horses!  After much hard work, we had a fun filled Saturday with games, face painting, train rides, good food, good people and a wonderful bunch of kids showing off their riding skills and Halloween Costumes!  We look forward to our next special Olympics season starting after the first of the year and open not only to Catoosa County riders, but Walker and Hamilton Counties as well

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Heartland has begun several pilot programs this fall, we offer a 10 week long Homeschool Equine Science series that teaches children not only about horses, but how to ride them as well!  We are also starting up an Equine Assisted Psycho-Therapy Program with our new Pyscho-therapist!

"Tink"

Our smallest therapy horse, Tinker Bell, has had an exciting fall as well.  She has been on demand at several birthday parties, functions and at the Creative Discovery Museum!  If you would like to request to have Tink at your function, she would be happy to help.  Please Contact Sarah Hyatt via email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

New Partners!

Heartland has begun many new and exciting partnerships in Catoosa, Walker and Hamilton Counties, the 2009/2010 year promises new and innovative programming and bigger and better things for our children!

BINGO!!!!!

Come to our weekly charity fundraiser at the Bingo Hall!  Meet some of our fantastic staff and volunteers, play Bingo and take a shot at the nightly Jack-Pot and door prizes!  While you're there, enjoy the Heartland Cafe to the delight of your tastebuds!  The menu may vary, but the food is out of this world!

Bingo is held every Thursday evening at the American Legion Post 214 on Park City Rd & Battlefield Pkwy in Ft. Oglethorpe, and as always, ALL proceeds benefit the children of Heartland Ranch Programs!  Doors open at 5pm & games start at 7pm.  Click here for more information!

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Doing good for the neighborhood

Magoo's Family Restaurant of East Ridge has been doing some good for the neighborhood. In an effort to help continue the programming for children with special challenges, they held their 1st Annual Fund-raising Event Honoring Heartland Ranch on August 29th.

Jennifer Lawhorn, owner of Magoo's, stated "We want to do this every year, getting bigger & better with it.  I had a cousin with special needs & I think what Heartland is doing is great."

As a shining example of community support, they held another fund raiser Saturday, October 24th,    "The Heartland Horsepower Show".  This event included fun for the whole family with a hotrod/motorcycle show & a chili cook-off with trophies & cash prizes.  There was a costume contest for the kids, face painting, and plenty of great door prizes & raffles.

Thanks to the efforts of Magoo's & a great many contributions made by local East Ridge businesses for raffle items, they managed to raise over $1500 between both events!

As Heartland's way of showing our gratitude & appreciation, Sarah Hyatt (Heartland's Equestrian Director) presented the "Heartland Heartfelt Award" to Jennifer Lawhorn & staff for having such big hearts & all of their hard work to help continue the programming for children with special challenges.

RE/MAX Properties North Makes Generous Donation

A special thank you goes out to Aaron and Sheila Shipley of RE/MAX Properties North in Hixson!   The children of Heartland will benefit greatly from your contribution to programming.  Donations such as the one from Aaron and Sheila Shipley go towards a variety of needs such as:  scholorships, supplies, materials, adaptive equipment etc.  With the Shipley's donation, Heartland Programming will continue to support children who are developmentally delayed, abused, at risk and enrolled in our Special Olympics Equestrian Program.

Thank you Aaron and Sheila, your donation was much appreciated!

Help Heartland and Be a Volunteer

Volunteers are needed for many things at Heartland, if you are interested in any of the below opportunities, please contact us! This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Therapeutic Riding         Homeschool Program

Fundraising                    Equine Assisted Pyscho-Therapy

Special Olympics           Summer Camps                     Mailings

Thank you to all staff, students, volunteers, horses and everyone else that makes Heartland such a wonderful program!

---Sarah Hyatt, Director of Equine Assisted Therapies

Heartland wishes everyone a Happy and Safe Halloween !