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Give Back for Special Equestrians, a non-profit founded in 2013 providing horse-back riding scholarships for disabled children and veterans, held a bayside soiree on Nov. 7 to commemorate a decade of volunteerism and honor 10 “grand champions” of equine therapy.
The elegant equestrian-themed dinner and awards ceremony took place at the historic Biscayne Bay Yacht Club. Sponsored by Coastal Construction, Coral Gables Trust, The Nancy Batchelor Team – Compass, TruckMax, Braman Bentley, and Cultivate PR + Social Media, the event raised $80,000 for Whispering Manes Therapeutic Riding Facility, the official charity partner of Give Back for Special Equestrians.
Guests attended the cocktail reception dressed in equestrian chic attire and classic riding habits. They enjoyed such delicacies as cracked conch, sautéed snapper, and coconut cake while taking in the sea breezes and rhythms of saxophonist Jorge Gomez.
Give Back for Special Equestrians co-founders Sissy DeMaria-Koehne and Dr. Heather Kuhl spoke to the all-volunteer non-profit’s enduring legacy, from its early beginnings as Give a Buck, when horse owners were asked to give as little as a buck or as much as they could, to its most recent accomplishment of providing more than $600,000 for horseback riding scholarships for disabled children and veterans.
Libby Herrera-Navarrete, a parent of a student at Whispering Manes spoke passionately about her own personal experience with equine therapy and its life changing benefits of empowerment, freedom and powerful connection between horse and rider.
Receiving the Grand Champion Award was Nancy Hector, an advocate for children’s causes, and a lover of horses who founded Whispering Manes Therapeutic Riding Facility, the stable partner of Give Back for Special Equestrians.
Located in Miami’s original horse country, Whispering Manes Therapeutic Riding Facility works with children and adults with a variety of emotional, physical and learning disabilities and is doing incredible work each and every day to transform the lives of children. Since retiring from corporate life, Nancy has been an active volunteer and philanthropist focused on organizations that work with at-risk children and families. The Hector Foundation has proudly provided grants to more than 50 charities throughout South Florida.
Recognized with the Champion Awards were:
Nancy Batchelor, accomplished in both equestrian pursuits and real estate, serves as a board member for Give Back for Special Equestrians. She also holds the distinction of being one of the top 10 Realtors in Miami and ranks in the top 1 percent of Realtors nationwide.
Alongside her family, through The Batchelor Foundation, Nancy has committed to making it their life’s mission to give back to their communities. They support numerous charities, including Whispering Manes, University of Miami UHealth, Chapman Partnership, and the Humane Society, among many others.
John Harris, managing director of Coral Gables Trust, with 30 years of experience managing trust and investment services and private banking and active member of the community, is involved with charitable organizations including Give Back for Special Equestrians, Coral Gables Community Foundation, University of Miami Citizens Board, United Way of Miami-Dade County, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, International Wine and Food Society and Georgetown University Alumni Association.
Dana Nateman, vice president and partner at TruckMax, her family-owned commercial dealership with locations throughout Florida, is a native of Miami and former equestrian who appreciates the benefits of equine therapy for the vulnerable group of children and veterans and is a past board member of Kristi House.
Recognized in absence were Christy Powell, Isabel Ersnt, the Cabrerizo Family, Susan and Jim Carr, and the Thomas P. Murphy, Jr. Family.
“We are extremely proud to mark this milestone anniversary, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the philanthropists who have made it possible for us to bring the healing power of horsepower to children and veterans facing challenges such as autism, Down syndrome, spina bifida, paralysis, and post-traumatic stress disorder,” said Sissy DeMaria-Koehne, co-founder and CEO of Give Back for Special Equestrians.
“This celebration is a testament to the remarkable impact we’ve made together. Every dollar raised during this special evening is a step closer to ensuring that our partner Whispering Manes can provide more life-changing riding lessons for those with disabilities,” added Dr. Heather Kuhl, Give Back for Special Equestrians co-founder and president.
Founded in 2013 by Sissy DeMaria Koehne, Dr. Heather Kuhl and Isabel Ernst, Give Back for Special Equestrians is an all-volunteer non-profit, 501(c)3 registered in Florida, providing therapeutic horseback riding scholarships for disabled children and veterans. The charity, with no paid staff, has proudly raised more than half a million dollars in support of special needs riders since its inception. Give Back for Special Equestrians raises funds through corporate sponsorships, generous donors and fundraising events such as the Winter Equestrian Festival, Hampton Classic, and Polo matches.
In 2021, Give Back for Special Equestrians joined forces with Whispering Manes to exclusively serve Miami’s primary riding facility for special needs riders.
For more information on Give Back for Special Equestrians visit www.givebackeq.org.
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