Heroes and Horses Q4 2019 Newsletter
A LETTER FROM CEO, MICAH FINK
At the close of every calendar year, I take some time to connect with all our supporters to share some thoughts and look ahead. As I reflect on the successes, failures, and lessons learned of 2019, I am humbled by the efforts of my incredible team, investors from across the nation, and the large community that supports our efforts to reintegrate America's combat veterans. I always make the disclaimer that we are not your “run-of-the-mill nonprofit”; We are innovators, seekers of change, and the executors of life-changing ideas. This happens through the medium of horses, mules, and raw environment challenges. The rest is a series of choices made by every individual.
Mind-numbing numbers of veteran suicides occur every day in the most prosperous nation in the world. We need better answers. But, first, we must ask the right questions. It's up to us to work together across every line that exist to find solutions.
I want to thank every one of you for supporting us and being apart of our community of change. You are investing in the changing of life, not on vacation. For a purpose, not a program. For an outcome not an income. It’s the only investment with a real return. A human return.
2020 will be a year of growth for H&H. Our largest focus for 2020 will be looking to put roots down on our first home-base. From there, we will grow & expand, do more, reach more and achieve more.
I am asking you to think about how you can support us in this new season of growth. We are asking you to invest in us. To invest in outcomes. Outcomes that have names, families, and hopes for a better future. Let's Make 2020 a year of change and growth. Get on a plane and volunteer, or consider sponsoring a veteran. Drive over and meet the team. Adopt a wild horse. Help us find a home, or donate on behalf of a loved one. Partner with us, and let's leave a legacy of change together.
Thank you all for your support, kindness, generosity, and for believing in our mission to challenge and inspire veterans suffering from mental and physical scars.
- Micah Fink, Founder | CEO
EXECUTIVE & FUNDRAISING UPDATE
NEW ADDITION TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Heroes and Horses is thrilled to announce the addition of Joel Leadbetter to our Board of Directors. Joel grew up on a family ranch in the Madison Valley, near Ennis, Montana. After receiving a B.S. in Agricultural Management from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, he returned to Ennis to work on the ranch. Entering the real estate business in 1981, Joel became a Hall and Hall ranch partner in 1988, a principal of the firm in 1992 and Managing Director from 2012-2016. In previous non-profit work, Joel has served on the Board of Trustees of the Museum of the Rockies. He and his wife, Dawn, have three children and three grandchildren. They currently live on a horse ranch in the north end of the Gallatin Valley.
2019 FUNDRAISING GALA UPDATE:
We are pleased to announce that we raised $535,540 at our Annual Gala! We achieved 88% of our $608,000 goal which is the cost to send all 32 of our veterans through our 2020 program. Thank you to all of our sponsors, supporters, and volunteers. This would not have been possible without the tremendous support of all of you!
YEAR-END GIVING
As we prepare to close out 2019, we hope that you will consider including Heroes and Horses in your year-end giving plans. We have several ways that you can support the organization, including the following:
WISH LIST: Visit our wish list to view the items that each of our departments is in need of.
MONETARY DONATION: Visit our donation page to make a monetary donation to H&H. All donations - big and small - make a significant impact.
ADOPT-A-HORSE: Sponsorship of our horses, mules, and mustangs plays a key part in our ability to not only keep our livestock fat n’ happy but to also keep them healthy and sound.
PURCHASE SOME H&H GEAR: Support H&H by purchasing some of our new merchandise.
MARKETING UPDATE FROM OUR MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, CIERA KRINKE
UNINTERRUPTED DATA:
We value the importance of collecting data around the efficacy of our program, but we wanted to do something that was a little different than asking our participants to fill out questionnaires.
What we did, instead, was conduct interviews with each student on day 1 of the program, and then again on day 40 of the program. We took their recorded answers and we created this series of videos to showcase the transformation that happens during their time here with us at Heroes and Horses.
So, why the name "Uninterrupted Data"? Because everything you hear in these videos is the participant's own thoughts, experiences and feelings - their answers aren't interpreted by us, nor are they guided or influenced by our responses...it's completely raw and uninterrupted.
2019 REMASTERED VERSION OF 500 MILES:
We are proud to announce that a new, remastered version of 500 Miles is now available to view on our website, our YouTube page and our Vimeo page.
NEW WEBSITE LAUNCH:
Since you are reading this newsletter on our website, you’ve probably already noticed that things are looking a little different around here! We are always innovating and updating around here at Heroes and Horses, and this year that extended all the way to our website!
NEW MERCHANDISE:
We are so excited to share our new merchandise launch with you all! We have brand new styles available, and you can expect to see even more in 2020. Check out some of our most popular sellers below, modeled by our very own H&H staff members.
PROGRAM UPDATE FROM OUR PROGRAM MANAGER, CHRIS BOVA
2020 APPLICATIONS & PROGRAMMING
The program is always in a state of change and evolution. We learn, apply, and readjust to changing conditions for a better outcome. 2019 was no different.
In January we will open up applications for our 2020 season, and will select 32 by the end of March. We will also be piloting an additional program this year - stay tuned for more details on that.
This year we are focusing even more energy into the "wellness" part of the program, as we have seen first hand the significant impact that exercise, diet and meditative practices have had on individuals who have graduated our program. We are going to be incorporating more morning Kettlebell training, meditation, and yoga in an effort to further develop the 360-approach to change that is at the core of of our program philosophy. We will also be developing a “take home” curriculum/guide to provide our graduates with ongoing support and structure post-program.
We will continue to capture data through a new initiative called “40 & 1”, which will encompass collecting data on day 1 of the program, day 40 of the program, and 1 year post-program.
EQUINE UPDATE FROM OUR EQUINE MANAGER, BRIAN ROBERTS
UPDATE ON THE HERD:
Horses are at the core of what we do and a critical component to the success of our program. We have developed a successful relationship with the BLM, and are excited to announce that we will be adopting 20 wild horses in 2020. 8 of those wild horses will go towards a new horsemanship program, and then we will gentle, start, and train the other 12. We will begin this in January, and we will be launching an opportunity to adopt a select few to be taken home to join your family. This will help home horses and support our equine budget.
We will be working extremely hard to ensure these new horses are trained and ready for the students to develop a relationship with this summer.
Our remaining herd of 45+ animals are enjoying the tail end of their winter vacation out to pasture. Soon we will be wrangling them in to get them prepared for the 2020 season.
HUMAN RESOURCES UPDATE FROM OUR HR MANAGER, MACKENZIE FINK
NEW HIRES:
We are excited to announce the newest member of our team Chris Bova as our Program Manager. With 9 years serving our country as a Special Operations Marine and Paramilitary contractor, experience as an executive at a security firm, and also a 2016 Heroes and Horses program graduate, Chris brings leadership, attention to detail, and tremendous experience in business operations. We are proud to have him working alongside our small team of hardworking and determined individuals.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE:
We are in the hiring process of finding a strong fit for the Administrative Manager position. This position is the "glue" of the organization. With a broad spectrum of responsibilities and a unique company culture that requires organization, forward-thinking, and resilience, this role is exceptionally important to the success of our program. We are taking the hiring process slowly and meticulously to ensure the right fit for the organization and the individual. In the meantime, you can expect to be working with Mackenzie and Ciera for all your administrative needs.
As we move into 2020 we will also be looking to hiring a new Vice President, Director of Development, and Development Assistant, so stay tuned for updates on those positions in the near future!
