Tag Archives: Horses Healing Hearts

Olympic Gold Medalist Peter Wylde Joins Horses Healing Hearts as First Show Jumping Ambassador

Peter Wylde at the 2013 Winter Equestrian Festival aboard Lipton L’Othian. Photo By: Carrie Wirth/Phelps Media Group.

Wellington, FL – September 4, 2013 – There are more than 28 million children of alcoholics living among us, but there is only one organization that brings smiles to their faces weekly by joining them with horses and mentors: Horses Healing Hearts (HHH). The inspirational national non-profit organization is proud to announce that Olympic Gold Medalist Peter Wylde has joined Horses Healing Hearts as their first Show Jumping Ambassador.

The first of its kind, HHH was founded in September 2009 by Liz Olszewski of Wellington, FL, and helps ease the pain of kids growing up in a home with substance abuse. Horse Healing Hearts provides these children with the opportunity to help heal emotionally by working with horses while having fun and learning positive life-coping skills, responsibility and confidence. Using equine experiential learning, HHH is the only program in the nation that works with the specific demographic of children of alcoholics and addicts. These gentle giants help them understand life, themselves and how to cope with their parents’ addiction to substance abuse.

“Horses can have a very transformative effect, particularly on children,” Wylde explained. “Horses Healing Hearts is an organization that helps children of families dealing with substance abuse issues to change their lives through riding and horsemanship.  I am honored to be chosen as an Ambassador and I’m excited to be part of the amazing work they do with these children and families.”

Wylde first made his national mark in the equestrian world when he was 17 years old. He rode to the United States’ highest junior honor when he captured the Rolex-Maclay National Equitation Championship at the National Horse Show in Madison Square Garden. His nationally acclaimed win was only the beginning to a long list of accolades ahead.

Since then, he has won some of the most prestigious titles in the world of show jumping including the President’s Cup at the Washington International Horse Show, the $100,000 Rolex/USET Show Jumping Championship at the Bayer/USET Festival of Champions, the $50,000 FedEx Gold Coast Grand Prix, and a Grand Prix at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian.

During the 1990s he was chosen to represent the United States in World Cup competition and at the Pan American Games, where he won both team and individual silver medals in 1999. That year he was named the United States Olympic Committee’s Male Equestrian of the Year.

In 2002, Wylde and Fein Cera represented the United States at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, where they won the individual bronze medal and Fein Cera earned the coveted “Best Horse” honor. In 2004 the pair was again chosen to represent the United States at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, where they won the team gold.

Wylde is the Head Clinician and Vice President of the United States Hunter Jumper Association’s Emerging Athletes Program, which seeks to identify and cultivate equestrian talent and reward horsemanship skills to aspiring young professionals.

Together with his partner Eduard Mullenders, Wylde runs Mullenders & Wylde Horses LLC, a Millbrook, New York-based training operation for top level horses and riders with a concentration on providing the highest level of care and training for the horse.

“HHH could not be more proud to have a leader in the industry like Mr. Wylde on board. With his history of already giving back to youth, his involvement seemed like a natural fit. We’re looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership helping these kids understand they are a product of their decisions and actions, not of their circumstances,” commented Liz Olszewski, Founder of Horses Healing Hearts.

Horses Healing Hearts is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to bettering the lives of children of alcoholics and substance abuse through equine experiential learning. To learn more about Horses Healing Hearts or how you can help with donations of money or time, go to http://www.HHHUSA.org or e-mail Liz Olszewski at liz@hhhusa.org or call (561) 713-6133.

Media Contact: Kendall Bierer
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389  fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Make a Pledge to Horses Healing Hearts on Pledgie.com

Wellington, FL – August 8, 2013 – Pledgie.com is the site that has helped non-profit organizations across the globe. Now, you can make a pledge on Pledgie.com for Horses Healing Hearts and make a difference in a child’s life. Finding resources for grass roots organizations is hard work, but Pledgie.com supports the passion and conviction of volunteers to collect donations online. Read the story by a Horses Healing Hearts participant, and make a pledge today at http://pledgie.com/campaigns/20238.

HHH is a 501(c)3 organization that helps children of alcoholics and addicts to build self-esteem and learn coping skills by working with and riding horses. Supporting their cause is a way to help mold a brighter future for our kids. The pledges raised during this campaign directly support the program expenses for the year. The children at HHH often do not have a safe place to go. But with monies donated, HHH can provide a safe and healthy environment where they can feel free to talk about their home and their lives. They have the opportunity to enrich their lives by working with and riding horses. They begin to understand that their parents’ addiction is not their fault. The average donation is $20, but any amount, large or small will help us put smiles on their faces, and help HHH to reach their goal of $20,000.

Please take a few moments to read the story below and make a pledge to this inspirational organization.

The following short story was written by one of Horses Healing Hearts’ participants:

Live my life for a day.

The only predictable thing – my parents will drink and fight.  Sometimes I hide in the closet with my sister and a flashlight to get away from the screaming and finish my homework.  I hope the police aren’t called again because if the money goes to bail then the electric bill won’t get paid.

I can’t worry about that now.  I have to get my little sister fed so when mom gets home she won’t be mad.

Fourteen shouldn’t be this hard.

I never invite any friends over because I don’t know what we’ll walk into.  I know mom loves me, but she says she just can’t stop drinking.  She’s an alcoholic.  Not everyone believes this, but it’s a real disease.  And it takes the whole family hostage.

Luckily, there is a place I can go to get away from all of this called Horses Healing Hearts.

Every Saturday I go to be with kids like me, volunteers, and most importantly HORSES!  It seems like the horses understand me instantly. It’s like a magical world, I’m able to be myself with no secrets, and I’m completely accepted – it’s a safe place.

I’ve met adult volunteers who grew up just like me.  One shared a great way to deal with stress when I feel like I’m going to lose it.  I think I have a better chance to have a great life now. If she did it, I can too.

–  Anonymous past participant

Horses Healing Hearts is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to bettering the lives of children of alcoholics and substance abuse through equine experiential learning. To learn more about Horses Healing Hearts or how you can help with donations of money or time, visit www.HHHUSA.org or e-mail Liz Olszewski at liz@hhhusa.org or call (561) 713-6133.

Media Contact: Kendall Bierer
Phelps Media Group, Inc. International
phone 561.753.3389  fax 561.753.3386
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
PhelpsMediaGroup.com

Horses Healing Hearts’ Savanah Quinones Awarded as Finalist for 2013 Do The Write Thing Challenge

Savanah Quinones’ essay for the Do The Write Thing Challenge, My True Story, was published in a book, and Quinones was recognized in front her family, teachers and peers for her talented writing. Photo By: Kendall Bierer.

West Palm Beach, FL – May 29, 2013 – Out of 24,111 students, Horses Healing Hearts’ very own Savanah Quinones stole the hearts of the judges during the 2013 Do The Write Thing Challenge (DTRT). This essay challenge provides middle school students in Palm Beach County with an opportunity to examine the impact of violence on their lives and communicate in writing what they can personally do to stop violence. Quinones’ story, My True Story, spoke volumes concerning the amount of violence she has seen in her life, and her words are now bound and published in the DTRT Challenge book.

There are 36,620 students currently enrolled in the 36 Palm Beach County district public middle schools. Quinones’ story required her to answer the following three questions:

How has youth violence affected my life?
What are the causes of youth violence?
What can I do to reduce youth violence?

My True Story told the truth of Quinones’ life, the words that she has never been able to speak out loud. At 14 years old, Quinones has been active within Horses Healing Hearts for three years, since its inception, and the equine experiential learning has helped her face new challenges every day. A few months ago, Rhonda Fritzshall, HHH’s Child Educator, suggested Savanah put some of her feelings and her story down on paper – as a cathartic experience. This is how it all began.

“It was definitely a process to put my experiences on paper. It took me about two or three months. I had already been writing the story, and the Do the Write Thing Challenge was a perfect fit,” Quinones said. “I loved seeing everyone’s expression as they read the story. It felt amazing to be published, and to help stop violence.”

The DTRT Challenge is the largest program in the nation, and helps middle school students embrace the concept of empathy. Research has discovered that there are over 130 gangs in West Palm Beach alone, and that during the middle school age range there is a better chance of deterring them from that path. The National Campaign to Stop Violence established the program, and it has continued to make an impact across the nation since its establishment. Palm Beach County is only in its sixth year of participation, but over 30 schools participated for the 2013 Challenge. Multiple panels of volunteer judges read and reviewed each essay, narrowing down the field until the top six were chosen. Although Quinones’ essay was not in the top six, she was recognized as being one of the top finalists for L.C. Swain Middle School, a distinguished honor.

The Kravis Center was filled with over 800 attendees for the prestigious Do The Write Thing Challenge Luncheon. Many of the students had never attended the Kravis Center before that day, and the Breakers catered a beautiful luncheon. The finalists were introduced to several celebrities, and they were presented with a backpack filled with prizes, as well as the bound book with the finalists’ published work. One parent and a teacher accompanied each student. The day was dedicated to the prevention of violence, and the hard work and talent, which was prevalent in the heartwarming essays.

“I thought Savanah’s essay was so powerful and incredible,” Chairman of the Palm Beach County DTWT Challenge, Bill Bone, Esq explained. “I was astounded that she wasn’t chosen as one of the national finalists, but I know she has a gift to reach people and move them. She is very talented, and I hope she can make a difference in the world with her words and wisdom.”

Quinones admitted that she has already begun working on another story, and she has every intention to pursue writing. “Once I knew that it was getting published in a book, I knew I had gone so far. Once I found out that I could actually write, and that people liked my stories, I decided it is something I want to continue. Horses Healing Hearts has helped me with all of the challenges that horseback riding come with. My story explains what we have been through; HHH has been such a relief. This amazing program, and Liz, really lifts the weight off of my shoulders.”

Liz Olszewski, Founder of HHH, shares, “I could not be more proud of Savanah. She is an incredible writer. As I was reading her story, the details of which I didn’t even know despite all that we had shared over the years, came to light. I realized what it takes to put yourself out there like that. In true form, Savanah ‘stepped up to the plate’, just like she does in riding, and she held nothing back. This is one thing I’ve learned about children of alcoholics. They have been through a lot, but in spite of, and probably because of these experiences, they are resilient beyond belief. I have every confidence she will go on to write – not only to help herself, but to help others from what she has been through. She will be a successful professional in whatever endeavor she chooses.”

To read Savanah’s essay, please click here.

Horses Healing Hearts is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to bettering the lives of children of alcoholics and substance abuse through equine experiential learning. To learn more about Horses Healing Hearts or how you can help with donations of money or time, visit www.HHHUSA.org or e-mail Liz Olszewski at liz@hhhusa.org or call (561) 713-6133.

Horses Healing Hearts Announces the Anthony Michael Bishop Fund after Young Participant’s Father Passes

Wellington, FL – March 20, 2013 – In a world plagued by economic turmoil and the daily trials that challenge us through body, mind and soul, substance abuse and its effects are resounding. Addiction is something that affects the mind and the body, and although Horses Healing Hearts, Inc. uses equine experiential learning to assist the children of parents struggling with this disease, it is something that, unfortunately, many of their children have to face. It is with a heavy heart that Horses Healing Hearts announces the Anthony Michael Bishop fund in remembrance of his departed father, who passed away only last week.

Over 25 percent of the children involved with Horses Healing Hearts have an absent parent, due to death, jail or rehabilitation. Many of these children reside with a family member or an assigned guardian, and Horses Healing Hearts is there to help provide them with the assistance they need to stay strong during the times of doubt, depression and devastation. The death of Anthony’s father is the first one that Horses Healing Hearts has encountered while having a child as part of their family. Although many of the other children have dealt with similar circumstances, they occurred prior to their participation in the non-profit organization’s program.

Anthony is one of Horses Healing Heart’s youngest participants, only six years old. He came to the organization a little over a year ago, and has been living with his grandparents for the last three years in South Florida. The death occurred nearly a week ago; however, the words to explain the death of a parent to a child so young is such a matter of fragility, that it took a few days to form the words to allow him to understand.

Bishop009053The Anthony Michael Bishop Fund will promise this child a good future filled with love and security. Horses Healing Hearts has created an account at Wells Fargo, where those who understand the circumstances he and his family are experiencing, can donate to their cause. Please give the teller at the bank his full name, and all the money raised will go towards nutrition, medicine and education for Anthony.

Horses Healing Hearts is in the process of creating a fund, such as this, to be used for other children that may have or will go through a similar loss and feel the financial burden of having an absent parent. For now, Anthony is at the top of the non-profit organization’s donation list.

“Nearly a quarter of our children have been through the loss of a parent before joining Horses Healing Hearts, but this is the first time it has happened while they are with us,” Ambassador Karina Brez explained. “This is heartbreaking, and we are hoping that we can continue to provide Anthony with the love and compassion he needs while in our care, while helping to raise money for his grandparents who have done an incredible job so far.”

“We at HHH want to thank everyone for all of the prayers and financial support for Anthony’s family during this difficult time. Anthony will grow up being loved by so many incredible strong role models in our HHH family,” Founder of Horses Healing Hearts Liz Olszewski concluded. “In addition to horseback riding, he also loves going to church, fishing with his grandpa and is already a basketball star, having scored 18 of the team’s 40 points at the last game.”

If you would like to donate to the Anthony Michael Bishop fund, please visit your local Wells Fargo bank and make your kind donation under his name. Any general donations to HHH can be made through www.HHHUSA.org. Any questions can be sent to Liz Olszewski at liz@hhhusa.org.

Horses Healing Hearts is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to bettering the lives of children of alcoholics and substance abuse through equine experiential learning. To learn more about Horses Healing Hearts or how you can help with donations of money or time, visit www.HHHUSA.org or e-mail Liz Olszewski at liz@hhhusa.org or call (561) 713-6133.

Horses Healing Hearts Receives Grant from FTI Great Charity Challenge

Volunteer Kathleen Hayden and participant of HHH Julie Vanhille celebrate Todd Minikus' generosity during the Great Charity Challenge drawing

Wellington, FL – January, 15, 2013 – Horses Healing Hearts (HHH) is proud to announce that the non-profit organization recently received a $25,000 grant from the FTI Great Charity Challenge. In previous years, the Great Charity Challenge has only consisted of those charities drawn for the competition – an opportunity that has always escaped HHH. It was one phone call that changed their luck that Sunday, January 6, 2013.

The Great Charity Challenge distributes over $1 million in prizes to competing charity teams. Thirty-one charities have been selected to participate in the 2013 Challenge. The night of the Trump Invitational Grand Prix, Horses Healing Hearts was called and told that they were drawn as the winner of the ‘surprise grant.’

Even though Horses Healing Hearts was not selected to participate in the competition, “We ended up getting the grant,” Liz Olszewski, Founder and Executive Director of Horses Healing Hearts, smiled. “This was the first time anything like this has happened for the Great Charity Challenge.”

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Horses Healing Hearts Brings Smiles to Children through Equine Experiential Learning

Alicia Windsor, Esq. President; Karina Brez, Ambassador & Honorary Chair; Samantha Wills (rider); Liz Olszewski, Founder/Exec. Director; Phil Diaz, Chairman

Wellington, FL – January 11, 2012 – It could be their charming smiles or the musical notes in their laughter, but one thing is for certain: children capture our hearts. There are 28 million children of alcoholics living among us, but there is only one organization that brings their smiles into full fruition: Horses Healing Hearts. Using equine experiential learning, Liz Olszewski has created a program that uses horses as positive mentors to help children learn from the gentle giants and understand life, themselves and how to cope with their parents’ addiction to substance abuse.

The non-profit organization, founded in September 2009 by Liz Olszewski of Wellington, FL, helps ease the pain of kids growing up in a home riddled with substance abuse. Horses Healing Hearts (HHH) provides these children with the opportunity to help heal emotionally by working with horses while having fun and learning positive life-coping skills, responsibility and confidence.

“They are the only organization in the nation at the time doing this,” President of Phelps Media Group International Mason Phelps said. “It is amazing how far they have grown, and we are hoping to take them even further.”

Continue reading Horses Healing Hearts Brings Smiles to Children through Equine Experiential Learning