A NOTE FROM OUR CEO & FOUNDER, MICAH FINK

Greeting friends, supporters, investors, and donors;

2020.

What can I say that each person on the Blue Planet does not already know?

2020 has been an incredible challenge for most, an opportunity for some but a dramatic shift for all. Running a Non-Profit has not been smooth sailing, and neither has the navigation of daily life during these times. On January 1st, 2020, I said it would be the year of growth for Heroes and Horses. A year where we can stop the seasonal relocations, laborious camp building, fall teardowns, complicated lease agreements, and livestock relocation. We would be putting down roots into a home base where we planned expansion and the refining of the innovative 41-day human development process. As the year edged on, it felt like I had made a deal with the wind. True beliefs are always challenged, testing our ideas and pushing us to the point of honest intention.

We cannot control what is happening outside, but we can control what's happening on the inside.

Here we begin planning our next steps from a place of understanding and not fear. So this course, we will stay as an organization. It's been an incredible journey, and one has not traveled alone. Every person who believes in our mission has rallied to support us in so many unique and supportive ways. Financially, in-kind, and with their time. Thank you. Our mission continues as we work towards policy change, program development, capacity building (by acquiring a home base), all the while challenging institutional thinking, striving for change, redefining results, and the word "success."

Someone asked me the other day, 'what is the goal of Heroes and Horses?' I replied, 'To put myself out of business.' We as humans are resilient, having the innate ability to think greater than we feel living beyond outside situations and circumstances while using the obstacles we are facing to become our most significant alley, not an enemy. At Heroes and Horses, we provide this process throughout an intense course and high-pressure medium where people heal themselves. None of this happens in a vacuum. It starts with every one of you. Thank you for being here alongside us, giving and paving a way to make this program come to life.

Humbly and gratefully.

- Micah Fink | Founder/CEO

THE CHANGE THROUGH CHALLENGE SERIES

At the core of our philosophy here at Heroes and Horses is the idea that it is struggle that gives our lives value and purpose. Not only that, but there is also something about SHARED struggle that brings people together, even under the most trying circumstances. Sometimes we need a reminder of how strong we are, and how capable we are of overcoming external challenges. So, we figured why not create an opportunities for our supporters to connect through shared struggle while also conquering a collective goal?

It started with the Heroes and Horses Change Through Challenge Walk/Run Virtual Marathon, and now we have decided to extend this into a full challenge series that will launch in 2021. Every month we will be featuring a new challenge - some physical, some mental, and some for the soul.

THE RESULTS: THE HEROES AND HORSES CHANGE THROUGH CHALLENGE MARATHON

We want to take a quick moment to congratulate all of our Heroes and Horses Change Through Challenge Walk/Run Virtual Marathon participants! We don't know about you, but our team had a little trouble walking the day after we completed our marathon, but we all agree that it was so worth it. Thank you for choosing to do something hard with us, and we hope that you walked away from the event with a new appreciation for what you can accomplish.

We also want to take a moment to congratulate the following top finishers and top fundraisers who will each be receiving a $1,000 YETI package as well as a tote bag from Tecovas!

Top 3 finishers: Arlane Olson, Rachel Lambert, Kyle LaFerriere

Top 3 fundraisers: Mark Barbee, Daniel Hartnett, Chad Ripplinger

Because of each of you (and our incredible sponsors: YETI and Hard To Kill Fitness), we were able to raise $58,900 to support our mission.

THE 3RD ANNUAL HEROES AND HORSES FUNDRAISING GALA

The Heroes and Horses team has made the difficult decision to cancel our 2020 fundraising gala due to COVID restrictions. That said, we have reserved Friday, October 23rd, 2021 at The Commons here in Bozeman, Montana for our next gala, so make sure to mark your calendars!

CORPORATE PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: BOWTECH

Our friends at Bowtech created a limited release of the new “Guardian™” bow to honor those who are the first line of defense for our Nations wellbeing, with a portion of the proceeds from each bow going towards a foundation that supports our first responders, services members and their families. Every customer that purchases and registers their new Guardian bow, will have the honor of selecting Heroes and Horses to receive a portion of the proceeds from that sale.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BOWTECH ARCHERY

NONPROFIT PARTNER SPOTLIGHT: ANGEL WINGS FOR VETERANS

Angel Wings For Veterans has played an enormous role in the success of our 40-day reintegration program for veterans. Every year, AWV provides each of our veteran participants airfare to and from our home base in Montana, which allows us to continue to offer our program free of charge to our participants, while also keeping our costs down. We are so proud to call AWV a partner of our organization, and I can personally attest to the professionalism and grace of their staff members. This is, without a doubt, an organization well-worth supporting and investing in.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ANGEL WINGS FOR VETERANS

A HUGE ‘THANK YOU’ TO OUR 2020 CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION SPONSORS:

Our program would not be possible without the ongoing support of some incredible partners.

WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR PROGRAM:

Sponsor a member of our herd through our Adopt-A-Horse Program: Our horses and mules are our most valued team members - without them, our program wouldn’t exist. It’s a huge responsibility to make sure that they remain healthy and happy year-around, and our Adopt-A-Horse members make that possible.
Purchase a much-needed item from our “Wish List”: As a nonprofit, we rely heavily on in-kind donations – it’s not often that we can just buy what we need. On our “wish list”, you can view the items that we are in need of, and that will allow us to serve our combat veterans as efficiently as possible.
Host an independent fundraiser for Heroes and Horses: Our Independent Fundraisers play an enormous role in supporting our organization.
Donate: All donations - big, small and in-between - make a significant impact on our ability to continue to run the most innovative and effective veteran reintegration program in the United States