Spirit of Service

From a young age,

Ginna Maxwell Rauls ’92 loved to climb up into the saddle of a horse and feel the wind on her face as she connected with the empowerment, joy, and security she felt guiding the strong animal. Riding horses was her passion. She dreamed one day of turning that passion into a purpose. As a teenager, inspired by a television commercial she saw featuring a boy with Down syndrome, she began to envision how. She envisioned starting an equine therapy program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, where busses of children would pull up to her farm to ride. Even at that early age, it was clear that her gift would be connecting with and supporting young people with disabilities. It was during Winterim at Harpeth Hall that Mrs. Rauls began the lifelong commitment to serving the special needs community. As a student, she completed an internship at Harris Hillman, a school serving students age 3 to 22, many of who had multiple disabilities and dual diagnoses. “I am not sure who lit up with excitement more during those weeks — the children or Ginna,” friend and Harpeth Hall classmate Mari-Kate Hopper Miller '92 recalled. Years later, in a newspaper article recognizing her volunteer service, Mrs. Rauls would reflect on that Winterim experience saying she simply wanted “to help special needs children with activities that make them feel just like any other kid.” Her strong foundation for service to the community led to the founding of two organizations that would become her life’s work — the Southern Reins Center for Equine Therapy and Memphis Joy Prom. Through that work, she has made a difference in the lives of children and families across Tennessee, earning her the worthy recognition as Harpeth Hall’s 2022 Spirit of Service honoree. After Harpeth Hall, Mrs. Rauls went on to graduate from Rhodes College with a business degree, married her college boyfriend, Jason Rauls, and settled in Memphis. Through her Memphis church, Mrs. Rauls got involved with the special friends ministry and she and Jason, called by the mission, began introducing new activities for the group including a Special Friends Parent Nights Out, which was designed to let parents go to dinner, run an errand, or take a nap. Then, she dreamed bigger.

In 2014, Ms. Rauls founded the Memphis Joy Prom. For many with special needs, they are never able to pick out a dress, ride in a limo, and attend their own prom. Joy Prom, a full-scale prom for special needs friends ages 16 and up, brings this special event to life. The first Memphis Joy Prom welcomed 100 special friends ages 17 and up to a walk down the red carpet lined with paparazzi. After months of planning and signing up more than 350 volunteers, a beautiful evening emerged. Ice sculptures, live music, corsages, long dresses, and tuxedos were all part of the magical night. Each guest received a host Ginna Maxwell who made sure every detail was considered, including a photo, a limousine ride,

Rauls ’92 shoeshines, manicures, hair styling, make up — the star treatment. The prom concluded 2022 Alumnae with many parents joining their children on Spirit of Service Award the dance floor with tears of joy. Joy Prom has gained popularity over the years. Registration for the 2022 event filled up in 48 On April 19, 2022, minutes, and now more than 750 volunteers ranging from age 14 through senior adults help

Harpeth Hall presented make the night a success. Joy Prom now also includes a “dress fest,” held one month before the 2022 the dance. Hundreds of dresses are donated throughout the year from the Memphis

Spirit of Service Award community. Volunteers set up a one-day to Ginna Maxwell Rauls ’92 store and prom attendees try on and select a free dress, complimentary minor alterations, for her devotion to donated jewelry, and handbags. The prom shopping experience has become a very serving children with special exciting highlight for the shoppers and builds needs in the Memphis area excitement about the culminating event. Seeing the joy on the faces of the prom and for her attendees at the Memphis Joy Prom inspires volunteer service Mrs. Rauls every day. So, too, does her work with Southern Reins Center for Equine assisting Memphis hospitals Therapy. during the COVID pandemic. At age 40, Ginna teamed up with an Oak Hill School friend and fellow Nashville pony rider, Courtney Vlahos Smith, to launch a therapeutic riding program in Memphis. In 2015, they, along with several other women founded Southern Reins Center with five horses, 14 special needs riders, one certified instructor, an open arena, and a tiny office. Through the work, Mrs. Rauls began to witness “miracles.” She watched as a student who had never spoken a word in his life loudly said “whoa” to his horse, shocking and delighting those around him. She marveled as a child with autism — stimulated from a week of activity — took two or three laps around the ring on horseback and became completely calm. She saw her dream of bringing the joy of horseback riding to children with disabilities become a reality.

Still, when COVID-19 hit, Mrs. Rauls unsurprisingly jumped into action to help her community. A friend who was an ER doctor at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital asked Mrs. Rauls to please make masks for her and other doctors. In the wake of her own unexpected health struggles and recovery, Mrs. Rauls felt called to address the medical needs of her community as the pandemic overwhelmed the profession. Once again starting small, and not able to be within 6 feet of fellow seamstresses, Mrs. Rauls organized drop-off stations on her front porch. Everyone wanted to help, so friends and strangers pulled through the circular drive dropping off supplies in labeled stations. Fabric here, elastic here, if you can’t sew please cut fabric using this pattern, return cut fabric here, return finished masks here.

Many doctors and front-line workers would pick up the masks from the porch. This went on for months, grew to an unknown number of helpers, and was covered on the local news. Then, a phone call from Baptist

Ginna was one of my first friends at Oak Hill kindergarten. She has always been a fun Hospital to Mrs. Rauls and a sewing friend compassionate friend who exudes confidence and raises the level of joy. She is a true leader and changed the project overnight. The hospital she has carried a wonderful devotion to help others her entire life. — Langford Barksdale ’92 found 27,000 N95 protective face masks in a basement, but the elastic had dry-rotted. At that time, N95 masks were scarce and The work has taken dedication. Each rider requires up to three desperately needed in overcrowded hospitals. Could Mrs. Rauls and her friend volunteers. In the beginning, being sure there were enough trained organize the replacement of the 27,000 elastic straps? helpers each hour was a tough responsibility for Mrs. Rauls to tackle. She accepted the challenge as essential for the safety of the riders and offered training sessions on Saturdays, showering the volunteers with support and gratitude. In 2018, with the strong support of the Memphis community, new property was purchased with a large, covered arena, 12 stalls, and administrative offices for a director and staff. They agreed to take 6,000 and began organizing a pyramid of 20 teams offering training on Zoom. Elastic needed for masks was in short supply world-wide. The order was delayed. By the time the elastic came, 410 volunteers had joined the pyramid and all 27,000 masks were repaired and delivered back in three days. CNN and local stations covered the story as they searched for happy news. Mrs. Rauls’ gift was nurturing the riders, encouraging the volunteers, and supporting the parents. A sell-out Derby Day party called Jockeys and Juleps funds a large portion of the budget for the expansion of Southern Reins. Jockeys and Juleps is held on the Today, as friends speak with Mrs. Rauls by phone, she is still often looking for an address to deliver a “happy” to someone having a hard time. When she was a little girl, her artwork usually had a sunshine in the upper left corner. To those who know her, Mrs. Rauls is sunshine. beautiful Southern Reins equine campus and is strongly supported Currently, she is busy planning another Memphis Joy Prom and she has by Memphis business underwriters and generous individual donors. returned to helping the Sunday School class for special needs kids, now “Whatever your passion is,” she told students, “Harpeth Hall is great at preparing you academically — the school also helps you find what fills your heart.” called SHINE. She continues to recruit her husband, her daughters, and their friends to dedicate a Friday night to fill slots at Joy Prom or a Saturday to lead a horse. Ms. Rauls hasn’t stopped seeking those opportunities for fulfillment. Her tireless work and dedication to others inspires those around her of all ages. She has been a catalyst for powerful and positive change in her In her personal life, Mrs. Rauls went through a life-threatening health communities. She remains humble about her role in the dreams she has experience in 2018 when she was diagnosed with Von Willebrand helped come true — dreams that began years ago in the halls of blood disorder. She was bedridden for several months. Her Harpeth Hall. volunteer energy was sapped for a period. Raising two teenage daughters absorbed much of her time and strength. SUMMER 2022 | 57