Empowering
Dear High Hopes Family,
As we reflect on the past year at High Hopes, I am filled with immense gratitude for the dedication and passion of our community. Whether you are a volunteer, staff member, participant or supporter, you have all contributed to the heart and soul of High Hopes. Together, we are nurturing abilities, empowering individuals and building a future that embraces inclusion and connection. Looking ahead, our focus is clear By investing in the growth and well-being of our staff, we ensure they continue providing exceptional ser vice and care. We also recognize that our volunteers are the heartbeat of our organization, and we are committed to nurturing their passion and dedication to drive lasting change.
At the core of our mission are our horses, whose health and happiness remain a top priority. Through thoughtful herd planning and care, we aim to sustain their ability to make a difference in the lives of our participants today and for future generations. We are also committed to evolving our programs to meet the changing needs of our community. By fostering innovation we create opportunities that empower and include, transforming lives through ever y interaction. Our campus, too, will continue to grow as a haven for connection and possibility, providing a welcoming and supportive environment for all who visit.
It’s an exciting time for High Hopes, and I’m honored to walk this journey with you. Let’s continue to nurture, empower and inspire—together
T ALLY HO ,
Missy Saracino Lamont, Executive Director, PATH Intl. CTRI, HERD Institute EFL
Journey of Commitment & Connection
Marci Bender
Equine Operations Director
We’re excited to introduce Marci Bender, a passionate equestrian and dedicated therapeutic horsemanship professional, who brings a wealth of experience to our team at High Hopes.
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Marci’s love for horses began at a young age as she attended numerous horse camps, eventually leading her to lease her own horse. While at Penn State, Marci refined her equestrian skills and earned a degree in Therapeutic Recreation. During her four years on the Equestrian Team, she proudly represented the university, competing at the national level.
After graduation, Marci moved to Park City, UT, where she discovered her love for equine-assisted ser vices and adaptive sports while working at the National Ability Center and supporting individuals of all abilities in their equestrian and adaptive ski programs. Next, Marci traveled to Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship in Texas to complete an Instructor Training Course and successfully achieved her PATH Intl. Advanced Instructor Certification.
Marci also worked as lead instructor at Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center for five years. While there, she traveled extensively supporting Para Dressage competitors and had the opportunity to be a groom at the 2008 Paralympics. During her tenure, she became actively involved in PATH Intl., attended many conferences and workshops, and became a site visitor for PATH Intl’s Center Accreditation program.
Later, Marci came full circle, returning to the National Ability Center as the Equestrian Program Senior Manager. Marci has become a PATH Intl. Master Certified Instructor, CTRI and has ser ved on numerous PATH Intl. committees, demonstrating her commitment to the field.
In her free time, she enjoys downhill skiing, hiking with her dog, Grizz, crafting and stained glass.
Marci is eager to help shape the next 50 years of the High Hopes mission. Her experience, passion and dedication make her a valuable addition to our team - we can’t wait to see the positive impact she will have! Please join us in welcoming Marci!
HIGH HOPES A W ARDS
Susan Shulman Volunteer
Judith Cohen Par ticipant / Volunteer
The Sally Aubrey Award was established in 1998 by Stever Aubrey in honor of his wife and long-term High Hopes volunteer, Sally. For this award, Stever created the bronze sculpture of a mare and foal displayed at our entrance, and a casting is presented to the recipient. The award is given to an individual who exemplifies the spirit of High Hopes through commitment, dedication and compassion. This year’s recipients, Judith Cohen and Susan Shulman, have unwavering dedication and commitment to High Hopes.
Over time, Susan and Judith have had their own journeys of commitment to High Hopes, and each could define their connection as a volunteer, artist, participant or even employee. For the past 18 months, they joined together to become an inspirational example of dedication, ser ving as the 50th Anniversar y historians. They carefully curated the archives and brought our treasured histor y to life. Their work was a labor of love and they were committed to honoring those who have made High Hopes such a special place. Thank you, Judith and Susan. You make a difference.
Sandy Mulligan Volunteer
Established in 2006, the Lytt Gould Award recognizes extraordinar y and exemplar y leadership. It is an honor to recognize Sand y Mulligan, who like Lytt, demonstra tes leadership, vision and commitment to the sustainability and future gro wth of High Hopes. Through her actions, words, and deeds, Sand y places High Hopes a t the forefront of her philanthropic organiza tions.
Sand y’s dedica tion and commitment to High Hopes is inspira tional. Since 1991, she has consistently supported our grea test needs as a dedica ted donor and volunteer As an activ e member of our volunteer corps, she ser ved as a side-walker and could be found a t the front desk with a warm, welcoming smile. High Hopes sincerely thanks Sand y for her long-term commitment to changing lives.
The Nancy Cash Program Volunteer of the Year Award went to long-time volunteer Shannon Kelly this year
Awarded to a person who, like Nancy, was dedicated and dependable, always willing to “go the extra mile.” This award is dedicated to a volunteer who shares her positive attitude and her unwavering commitment to helping our riders achieve their personal best.
Shannon is a highly skilled horse handler who has shown her dedication to helping others by consistently showing up, often several days a week. Shannon always brings her unique sense of fun that leaves ever yone around her with a smile while effortlessly maintaining the balance of fun and learning.
Shannon Kelly Volunteer
This year’s Event Volunteer Award goes to Kim Grant. Kim joined High Hopes in 2023 as an auction committee volunteer, quickly making her mark with her boundless enthusiasm and crea tivity. She was instrumental in organizing and executing distinctive auction packa ges.
In 2024, Kim took on the role of co-chair for the décor committee, teaming up with Kinn y Newman to craft a brea thtaking design tha t honored our equestrian herita ge and celebra ted our 50th anniversar y In addition to her roles on the auction and décor committees, Kim ser ves on the Development Committee. She is a key contributor in discussions, consistently offering innova tive ideas to boost and raise a wareness for High Hopes. Her commitment to providing constructive feedback and her willingness to dive into the hard work is highly valued by ever yone she works with.
Kim’s dedica tion to High Hopes is further evident in her recent a greement to cochair the 2025 High Hopes Gala. We ea gerly anticipa te the crea tive vision she will bring to this upcoming event.
Our High Hopes Office Volunteer Award winner is Dianne Walsh. Dianne joined the High Hopes crew in 2018 as a feeder and eventually moved to the front desk volunteer role.
Dianne grew up with all kinds of animals and also participated in a 4-H Equine Program. While she was in Minnesota, she raised 15 Golden Retriever puppies who she paired with people with disabilities such as autism, diabetes and the hearing impaired.
Dianne just reached her 500-hour volunteer achievement at High Hopes! Dianne always has a smile on her face and is an absolute pleasure to have on the High Hopes Team.
Kim Grant Volunteer
Dianne Walsh Volunteer
We are excited to present the Special Volunteer Award to Deb DeConto!
Although she’s been with us for less than two years, Deb has alread y dedica ted over 400 hours of her time to High Hopes.
Deb has a remarkable ability to connect with ever yone around her, whether human or horse. From sidewalking and horse handling to assisting with horsemanship lessons and volunteering a t the front desk, she a pproaches each role with a warm smile and infectious enthusiasm.
Her kindness and willingness to lend a hand—sometimes even volunteering twice in one day—make her an extraordinar y asset to our team. We truly a pprecia te all tha t Deb does!
Deb DeConto Volunteer
Barn Volunteer Award was awarded to Robin Kelly Robin has consistently demonstrated her dedication and reliability as a volunteer, both inside and outside the barn. For the past four years, she has been a vital presence on Thursday evenings, ensuring that the barn is kept impeccably clean and organized.
In addition to her hard work, Robin plays a key role in mentoring new volunteers, sharing her knowledge and fostering a welcoming environment. Her kindness and respect for ever yone she interacts with make her an invaluable member of our team. We’re incredibly grateful for all that Robin does.
The Davison Youth Ser vice Award is only given occasionally when a young volunteer stands out by going above and beyond in ser vice to the participants, horses and staff.
This year, one such volunteer was nomina ted and unanimously voted by staff to receive this a ward. Maddie Saraceno, while still young, has sho wn her ma turity and dedica tion while volunteering in the barn, sidewalking during summer camp, and supporting participants in horsemanship lessons. Maddie trea ts ever yone around her with respect and is al ways ha ppy to jump in and help, no ma tter wha t the task!
The Paul Burkarth Rider of the Year Award was established in memor y of Paul Burkarth in 1985. This award is presented annually to the rider who has shown the most progress during the past year
From the first time Sophia sat in a saddle at High Hopes in 2014 until now, they have embodied what it means to be an equestrian. Sophia listens to their horse and adjusts their riding to the horse’s needs, creating a special bond between them. Watching Sophia from one week to the next, one thing is clear: they improves with ever y ride. It is a pleasure to watch Sophia’s progress and we look forward to the good things to come!
Sophia Singer-Johnson Par ticipant
Robin Kelly Volunteer
Maddie Saraceno Volunteer
The Patrick Moreno Sportsmanship Award was established in memor y of Patrick Moreno in 1993 by Sis Gould.
This annual award is given to the rider who shows outstanding sportsmanship, consideration of others and encouragement to his or her fellow riders, exemplifying Patrick’s way of helping his peers and never giving in to adversity.
This year it was awarded to William Black, who emulates all of the mentioned attributes. In addition to Will’s sportsmanship, he greets ever yone he meets with a smile or a fist bump, and makes an effort to learn ever yone’s full name. He’s a pleasure to have at High Hopes!
William Black Par ticipant
CELEBRA TING HOPE.
50TH ANNIVERSAR Y EVENTS
Thank You, Teddy & Al
In our herd of ver y special horses, Tedd y and Aladdin were exceptional. Their passing left a hole in our hearts, and an absence in our community of humans and horses. This loss compels us to take a moment to honor and remember these two extraordinar y thera peutic horses who worked hard for man y years, touching the lives of so man y. Tedd y was a handsome Morgan with large, soft eyes and a shin y bay coa t. A true equine professional in ever y sense of the word, he well understood his job and worked with diligence and pride. With his smooth gaits and exceptional understanding of his role, Tedd y made ever y thera peutic class and volunteer training session a two-way conversa tion. His ability to communica te with instructors, participants, and volunteers made him a fa vorite in our program. Tedd y’s special lesson for us was the importance of trust, asking us to accept his guidance and the fact tha t he knew the job better than most. He compelled us to listen to him. He was particular about ho w he was groomed; not too hard or soft, but just right, reminding us tha t listening and a ttention to detail ma ttered. Tedd y’s legacy is one of reliability and grace, caring and devotion, and working with dignity as he a ged. We will be forever gra teful for his man y years of ser vice.
Our small but mighty minia ture horse, Aladdin, brought different strengths to our program. His small sta ture, soft Palomino coa t and long, white mane drew participants to him. Al’s spirited personality, and a t times limited pa tience, taught participants to listen and respond quickly, making ever y interaction an opportunity for gro wth.
Al’s strong bonds with his pasture ma tes, first Smokey, and la ter Petra, sho wcased the deep connections he forged with both horses and humans. Whether in horsemanship classes or pulling his little carria ge a t a brisk trot, Al proved tha t size does not determine impact.
Al was true to himself, never changing his personality to fit the situa tion. In doing so he became an incredible teacher for us all. His unwa vering spirit and the lessons he imparted about being authentic resona ted deeply with those who had the pleasure of working with him.
Together, Tedd y and Al exemplified the deep bonds between horses and humans. They taught us tha t the connections we ha ve with these incredible animals enrich our lives in ways we could never ha ve ima gined. Their kindness and dedica tion are part of the work of the thera peutic horse, the lessons they share and rela tionships they build with us is where ma gic ha ppens.
Thank you, Tedd y and Al, for your hearts, your wisdom, and the jo y you brought into our lives.
With heartfelt gra titude,
- The High Hopes Team
Al and his buddy Smokey
Teddy standing patiently
Al showing a participant the ropes
Teddy spreading smiles
Innovative Ways to Give
Donor-Advised Funds
A donor-advised fund, or DAF, is a charitable investment account for the sole purpose of supporting charitable organizations you care about. When you contribute cash, securities, or other assets to a donor-advised fund, you are generally eligible to take an immediate tax deduction. Then those funds can be invested for tax-free growth, and you can recommend grants to High Hopes or any eligible IRS-qualified public charity. Donor-advised funds are the fastestgrowing giving vehicle because they are one of the easiest and most tax-advantageous ways to give to charity.
Qualified Charitable Distributions
If you are 70 ½ or older, in 2024 you can contribute up to $105,000 tax-free from a traditional IRA to High Hopes without being subject to federal income taxes on the distribution. The gift must be made directly from the custodian of your IRA to High Hopes. Your rollover gift will be excluded from your gross income, and for those aged 73 or older, it counts toward your required minimum distribution (RMD).
Gifts of Appreciated Stock
Often, gifts of stock are a tax-wise option to give instead of cash. When you make a gift of longterm appreciated stock, your gift amount is the current market value of that stock and you avoid capital gains tax when the stocks transferred directly to High Hopes.
Meet the Team
MISSY LAMONT Executive Director
LESLEY OLSEN Finance Director
MARCI BENDER Equine Operations
CLAIRE GADROW Chief Philanthropy Officer
HAYLEY PLAS Communications
AMARA ALPERT Program Manager
MIKE FOX Property &
NICOLE MAKOS Development TRUDY BURGESS Events Manager
AUDRA CHMIEL Office Manager
CHRIS CLARKE Volunteer Coordinator
JENN DUBE Program Coordinator
Meet the Team
AVA SWARTZ Equine Program Coordinator
MYKENZIE PARKER Lead Camp Counselor / Lesson Assistant
NICOLE LAJEUNESSE Farm Coordinator /
BETH ATHERTON Instructor
JORDAN LAJEUNESSE Farm Assistant
JULI YUDKIN Instructor
KATHY CHRISTENSEN KIM SEVERANCE JUANITA PARIS Barn Assistant
KAREN CASTELLI Accounts Payable Assistant
JESSICA CARON Development Coordinator
PETER WATT
Chair
LANDON POTTS
GARY ROGERS Vice Chair, Development
NATALIE YONKER
SARAH HILL CANNING Vice Chair
CHRIS BERGER
Secretary Trustee
LIZ DOERING
Trustee
Treasurer
MARK FADER Trustee
SARAH KITCHINGS KEENAN Trustee
PRIYA TANDON
Trustee
BARBARA WILLKENS
Trustee
TODD MACHNIK
WENDY VISGILIO Trustee
GREG VARGA Trustee
Trustee
JOHN CATLETT JACKIE KANGLEY
BETH GARRITY
Trustee
MAC MUMMERT
Trustee
MARIS WACS
Trustee
Meet the Horses
C o m f o r t
C o o r d i n a t o r
WARRIOR
CHURRO
V i c e P r e s i d e n t o f N a p s
P a d d o c k P o s i t i v i t y
CENTOS
LUCKY
C h i f H O f f i
LULU
ARTHUR
K i n g o f P a s t u r e
D i r e c t o r o f G r a z i n g
E q u i n e H a p p i n e s s
A m b a s s a d o r
CHIP C a r r o t C o o r d i n a t o r
MIA
G l l G
NIFTY
M a n e E v e n t
M a n a g e r
PETRA
Happy Retirement, Vixen
On the surface she is easy to describe: a beautiful bay mare with the solid bones of a draft, obser vant bro wn eyes, and a personality tha t makes her seem larger than her actual size. Benea th the surface, her striking intelligence and profound sensitivity are only part of her true complexity She is indeed a horse of considerable depth of both schooling and character In her work Vixen embodied the best qualities of a thera py horse. She seemed to understand the different ability levels of her riders, and adjusted her part of the equa tion accordingly. If you were ca pable of more, she asked for more. She encoura ged her riders to become part of tha t silent conversa tion of leg, hands, muscle, and balance tha t is the ma gic of riding. These conversa tions with Vixen could become ever more nuanced as she read through pads and saddle, responding to the slightest tightening of muscle. She would transition from walk to trot with just a subtle shift of sea t, and turn to various points in the arena, follo wing the movement of a rider’s eyes.
Wha t made her an extraordinar y thera py horse is tha t Vixen knew the difference between an inexperienced rider simply changing position and an independent rider asking for something specific, and she acted accordingly
For over a decade, Vixen carried each and ever y rider with pa tience, sensitivity, and discernment. She meant man y different things to man y riders over the years: a spirited mount who took you cantering around the arena, a stead y horse who circled the space a t a brisk walk, a dear and honest companion who kept you in the moment, a special friend who taught you ho w to communica te with her - and ho w to listen. Vixen was honest, straightforward, and committed to her work. She worked willingly and with dedica tion, even as she began to a ge. Some months a go, when it became clear tha t a ge was ca tching up with her, she was retired.
Vixen ga ve the best of herself to her riders over man y years. She read them as a horse might another member of their herd. With the particular acuity tha t horses possess, she could hear the ver y bea ting of their hearts - our hearts. No w, with her retirement and a coming move to a loving, kind, a ttentive home with both human and equine friends, she is getting the best of wha t is in ours.
- Judith Cohen, Participant and Volunteer
