2024 TTL End of Year Giving Campaign
Changing Lives, One Ride at a Time
Organized by Taking the Lead, Inc.
Team Members
Nicole
$6,200
4 Supporters
Chelsea
$1,515
3 Supporters
Corinne
$600
2 Supporters
Liz
$0
0 Supporters
Story
Campaign Ended
Campaign Update
4 months ago
Tomorrow is the final day to make your 2024 gift to Taking The Lead! This is your last chance to double your impact and help us bring healing, confidence, and joy to individuals with disabilities through therapeutic horseback riding.
Your donation today means more riders will experience the life-changing benefits of our programs. Every dollar counts, and every gift helps us continue this important work.
“Cowboy Hat” – A Story of Connection and Joy
In this heartwarming video, hear how David, one of our dedicated team members & a founding member of Charlie’s Circle, earned the nickname “Cowboy Hat” from a client. Founding members of Charlie’s Circle and families of our riders also share how invaluable TTL’s services are, offering hope, healing, and a sense of community.
Donate Today and Have Your Gift Matched
Your Gift Can Still Be Matched!
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, the first $10,000 from new members of Charlie’s Circle will be matched dollar for dollar. Pledge $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000 annually for five years, and your contribution will go twice as far to help our riders thrive.
🎥 Watch Nicole, our Board President, share how your support makes all the difference.
Donate Today and Have Your Gift Matched
Make Your Year-End Gift Count
Your donation helps us continue to provide transformative experiences for children and adults with disabilities. Whether it’s a rider finding their voice, a family discovering a supportive community, or a veteran regaining confidence, your support creates these powerful stories.
But time is running out. The deadline is Dec 31!
Thank you for standing with us and helping create brighter futures. Together, we can continue transforming lives, one ride at a time.
Warm regards,
Taking the Lead
Campaign Update
4 months ago
After an accident, Matthew was left with a supportive family and care team. With his humor and joy for life, he makes everyone around him laugh. At Taking The Lead, we’ve loved supporting his hippotherapy goals. His sessions focus on core strength for easier daily transfers, while also improving cognition and memory—he always remembers his horse’s baby, Applesauce! For Matthew, riding is more than therapy; it’s freedom, fun, and a chance to feel taller than everyone. His horse gives him “legs” and the confidence to shine, strengthening his core, balance, and spirit along the way.
Watch the video below to learn from Matthew and his dad how Fuji, our gentle service horse, brings a calming and loving presence that nurtures healing and comfort for our riders. Her remarkable energy shows just how powerful the bond between horse and rider can be.
🎥 Watch “Fuji’s Healing spirit”
Donate Today and Have Your Gift Matched
With 2024 winding down, we’re in the final days of our End-of-Year Giving Campaign. Your generous support has brought us so much closer to reaching our goal. Now, we need one last push to ensure we can continue changing lives through therapeutic horseback riding at Taking The Lead.
Every dollar you give brings hope, confidence, and healing to adults and children with disabilities.
Double Your Impact Before Time Runs Out!
An anonymous donor is matching the first $10,000 for new members of Charlie’s Circle. By pledging $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000 annually for five years, you provide long-term support that helps our riders thrive. And because of the match, your commitment will go twice as far!
Why Your Support is Critical
Your generosity fuels stories of transformation for riders like Matthew who regain strength and independence.
Let’s Make This Final Push Count
We're so close to the finish line - and with your help, we can reach it! By joining Charlie’s Circle or making a one-time donation, you ensure a brighter future for our riders and their families.
Donate Today and Have Your Gift Matched
Thank you for being part of our mission and helping us build a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Warm Regards,
Taking the Lead
Campaign Update
4 months ago
As we approach the end of 2024, we’re in the final days of our End-of-Year Giving Campaign. Your incredible support has brought us closer to our goal — and now, we need your help more than ever to continue changing lives through therapeutic horseback riding at Taking The Lead.
Every dollar you give brings hope, confidence, and healing to adults and children with disabilities. And right now, thanks to a generous match, your gift will be doubled — making twice the impact!
“A Sense of Belonging” – The Power of Community
In this touching video, founding members of Charlie’s Circle and families of our riders share their heartfelt gratitude for being part of our community. Their stories show the profound impact your support has on creating a safe, welcoming space where everyone feels they belong.
🎥 Watch “A Sense of Belonging”
Donate Today and Have Your Gift Matched
Double Your Impact Before Time Runs Out!
An anonymous donor is matching the first $10,000 for new members of Charlie’s Circle. By pledging $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000 annually for five years, your commitment ensures long-term support for our riders — and because of the match, your gift will go twice as far!
Why Your Support Matters
Your support creates life-changing moments:
🗣️ A child’s first words spoken from the saddle.
💪 An adult reclaiming strength and independence.
🤝 Families discovering hope and connection through our programs.
Your gift sustains our therapy horses, grows our reach, and ensures more people can experience the healing power of these incredible animals.
Donate Today and Have Your Gift Matched
Thank you for being part of this incredible journey!
Warm Regards,
Taking the Lead
Campaign Update
4 months ago
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As we reach the midpoint of our End-of-Year Giving Campaign, we're thrilled by the support we've received so far. But we're not done yet - and we need your help to reach our goal! At Taking the Lead, our mission is to empower veterans and individuals with disabilities through therapeutic horseback riding. With every donation, you help someone achieve confidence, independence, and hope. |
Charlie's Circle: A Legacy of Healing
We introduce you to Charlie's Circle, a group of donors committed to the long-term success of our programs. Named after Charlie, a beloved therapy horse who touched countless lives, this circle represents compassion and dedication.
In this moving video, David Blair and Debra & Lester Buttion, all founding members of the “Charlie’s Circle”, share how Charlie’s caring nature helped our client Chrissy and so many others.
🎥Watch “Charlie’s Circle and the Legacy of Caring”
Chrissy’s journey at Taking The Lead shows the transformative power of hippotherapy. Her goals—better posture, balance, and strength for daily tasks like walking and dressing—are life-changing.
She’s also improving communication, Helping her advocate for herself. Riding has built her coordination, strength, and confidence, empowering her to tackle challenges and celebrate victories. As her parents share in the video, Chrissy’s remarkable progress gives her tools to thrive. Your support makes stories like Chrissy’s possible. Together, we can help more riders achieve their dreams!
🌟 Donate Today And Have Your Gift Matched
Your Gift Will Be Matched Dollar for Dollar
We're excited to share that a generous anonymous donor is matching the first $10,000 contributed by new members of Charlie’s Circle. This means your pledge of $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000 annually for the next five years will go twice as far.
Hear more about the impact of your support in this message from our Board President, Nicole:
🌟 Donate Today And Have Your Gift Matched
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We’re Halfway There – Let’s Finish Strong! |
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When you join Charlie’s Circle, you’re not just making a donation. You’re making a lasting impact on lives like Marty’s, who spoke his first words while riding, and Tom’s, who regained physical strength and confidence through our programs. Together we can: ✅ Expand our therapeutic riding programs ✅ Care for amazing therapy horses like Tobi (Piper’s foal) ✅ Provide more riders with the tools to succeed Thank you for being part of our mission. Together, we can transform lives, one ride at a time. Warm Regards, Taking the Lead |
Campaign Update
5 months ago
| The Countdown to Change Begins |
| Today's the day! Our End-of-Year Giving Campaign kicks off, and we're thrilled to invite you to join us in transforming lives through the healing power of horses. At Taking the Lead, every ride is a step toward hope and independence. Meet Amelia, one of our incredible riders, whose bond with her horse Shae has been life-changing. In her own words: "Shae helps me feel calm, do better in school, and keep getting stronger." Amelia's story is just one of many made possible through the support of compassionate donors like you. With your help, we can ensure these life-changing moments continue to happen every day. Watch Amelia's Story Amelia's time at Taking the Lead, Inc. has been visibly transformative for herself, her parents, teachers, and peers. Her focus is building a relationship with her horse while learning to understand her zones of regulation, address her sensory needs, and use emotional regulation tools to improve her social interactions at school and home. Through her sessions, Amelia has learned to connect with her horse and offer praise, skills that have translated into more effective communication with her peers. When she first arrived, Amelia struggled to calm down and often found herself in conflicts at school. Now, with the help of her horse and understanding how to move from anxious or angry "yellow", and "red" zones back to "green" zones of focus and readiness, she's made incredible progress. Amelia, who once required full assistance, can now ride independently, navigate obstacles, and even trot on horseback. Hippotherapy has given her the confidence to tackle challenges, regulate her emotions, and celebrate her achievements. We're so proud of you, Amelia - keep shining! Join Charlie's Circle This year, we're inviting you to become a founding member of Charlie's Circle, a community of donors who provide the long-term support needed to sustain and expand our programs. Your gift will be MATCHED dollar for dollar thanks to a $10,000 matching challenge from an anonymous donor. Founding members commit to a pledge of $1,000, $2,500, or $5,000 annually for five years - ensuring a brighter future for taking the Lead. When you join Charlie's Circle, you'll help riders like Amelia and horses like Shae continue to inspire and heal. A Message from Nicole Hear from our President of the Board of Directors, Nicole Whitaker, as she shares our mission and the vision of this year's End-of-Year Giving Campaign. Every dollar brings us closer to our goal - and every gift helps create a world where individuals of all abilities can thrive. Thank you for bring part of our mission. Together we can make an extraordinary difference, starting now. Warm Regards, Taking the Lead |
