Winter 2021 In this edition: • Rachel and Jazz • Bruce and Barbara McGhie • Big Tailgate Bash
Horse Human Bond in action: Rachel andJazz The heart of the High Hopes mission is the horse and human connection, and nothing illustrates that bond more than the story of our rider, Rachel, and her love affair with her horse, Jazz. Rachel is 48 years old and resides in Westbrook. She began participating in 2017 and has been a Thursday night staple since! She’s working on improving her attention span, increasing balance, and following directions. Outside of High Hopes, she enjoys working out, taking care of animals, and working at the library.
One of Rachel’s other activities is participating in a writing group at the Acton Public library. This is where she wrote the essay about Jazz, a member of our special herd. In her essay she shares what she has learned about Jazz. The entire essay is a love letter to Jazz and demonstrates the bond between the horse and rider. Rachel loves Jazz’s sense of humor. She noticed
that Jazz likes to look at herself in the mirror in the barn and that she sneezes whenever she trots. She writes that Jazz “likes to sneak grass when being walked back to her paddock, and it’s a no-no.”
Rachel and Jazz’s partnership wouldn’t be possible without the support of a third partner – you! Volunteer service of time and talent, along with financial donations, help keep our fees affordable and allow our participants to benefit from the horse and human connection. Rachel’s participation at High Hopes is supported in part by the Westbrook Foundation, which has been a significant supporter of our financial aid program for years. Over 65% of our participants receive some sort of financial aid, and this includes all of our participants from the town of Westbrook, like Rachel. We thank the Westbrook Foundation and all of our donors and volunteers for their support.
Let's Tailgate! With the development of multiple vaccines to aid in the fight against the pandemic and a renewed sense of hope and our hearts full of gratitude, High Hopes is hosting a socially distanced Big Barn Tailgate. The Tailgate will be a celebration of our vibrant, philanthropic community whose support makes it possible for High Hopes to provide a place where horses and humans together improve lives. High Hopes is thrilled to announce the support of Dominion Energy as the Event Partner. Dominion has been the lead sponsor of High Hopes’ largest fundraising event for 5 years and before that as a long-standing corporate partner. But Dominion’s support has not stopped there. Dominion has supported High Hopes in upgrading both its telephone system and, more recently in 2020, its network server. Additionally, Dominion is also a generous supporter of financial aid for High Hopes’ veterans’ programs and the participation
of local non-profit Safe Futures, serving those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking in southeastern Connecticut. Dominion employees are also always willing to roll up their sleeves and help with various High Hopes’ grounds and event projects as well as serve at the Board and committee level. Nancy Bulkeley, Dominion’s Senior Community Affairs Representative and a High Hopes Trustee, comments, “The Dominion Foundation and the employees at Millstone Power Station are pleased to support High Hopes as a corporate partner. Through their unique and effective equine program, High Hopes provides services that are essential to our community in many ways. Dominion highly values the collaborative relationships High Hopes has developed with other social service, educational, and health related organiza-
tions throughout the region.” So, Save the Date - Let’s kick up our heels (socially distanced of course!) on June 12, 2021 to the extensive music repertoire of local sensation Sugar. Gourmet boxed dinners with dessert, bar service, and VIP packages will be provided. See you there!
Interested in joining Dominion as a Partner of the Tailgate? High Hopes offers various levels of support with unique promotional opportunities. For more information visit www.highhopestr/tailgate.
BruceandBarbaraMcGhie As High Hopes enters its 47th year, we are consistently rewarded by the incredible dedication and commitment to our mission that we continue to receive from many of our earliest supporters. Despite the advancing years, many of our founding volunteers still find valuable ways of providing support through donations of time, service, and money. It is their link to our past that keeps High Hopes true to its mission and guides our staff in continued program development. One such long-standing supporter is Barbara McGhie. Barbara’s involvement with High Hopes came about through her late husband, Bruce, who served as a Board member during our formative
On-going Legacy of Giving
years. Bruce was a quadriplegic who didn’t let his physical limitation slow him down professionally or personally. He was a partner in a NYC advertising firm, a published author, accomplished photographer, artist, world traveler, and the first quadriplegic sailplane pilot in the world. Through his actions and words Bruce inspired the participants, staff, and volunteers at High Hopes.
When Bruce passed in 2009 his wife, Barbara, took up the mantle of support and service to High Hopes as a way of keeping Bruce’s indomitable spirit alive. Barbara became one of the first members of our Legacy Society, which provides support to our endowment and ensures our sustain-
ability. She has purchased bricks in the High Hopes Legacy Garden, (one in honor of her grand-daughter, Nile, and another in memory of Bruce) and annually contributes to our fund raising campaigns with gifts that provide financial aid support, help build our endowment, or enable us to meet a time-sensitive matching gift challenge. We are thankful that Bruce and Barbara McGhie have been a part of High Hopes’ history and grateful that through their gifts they will continue to be a part of our future.
MyFirst Ride I look at you through my glasses, And you are so big and scary. I put my hand out to touch you, And your coat is smooth and warm. You put your face down to me, And your nose is gentle and curious. They put me on your broad back, And I am afraid, just a little. I hold on very tight as you move, And I try hard to balance and adjust. I think it’s not true what I’m doing, And I tell the nice people who help. They smile and lead and talk to me, And suddenly I am so happy! I can feel your strength and rhythms. They flow into my body, my mind. I feel different, I can’t say how, And I will come back my friend. I look up at you when they help me off, And it’s true, it’s true! I rode a horse. WrittenforHighHopes byBruceMcGhie,©2002
36 Town Woods Road Old Lyme, CT 06371 860-434-1974 www.highhopestr.org
Summer HorseCamp2021 Each summer High Hopes is pleased to offer five sessions of an inclusive summer camp. The sessions are designed to meet the needs of our campers’ ages and riding skill levels. Throughout our four-day camp sessions, participants will experience activites such as grooming, tacking, daily riding lessons, trail rides, carriage driving, and more! All activities are conducted in age-appropriate groups. All sessions are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Session sizes dependent on state regulations. 2021 Camp Sessions are as follows: JUNE 28 - JULY 1 (4-7 years old) JULY 12 - JULY 15 (8-13 years old) JULY 19 - JULY 22 (5-13 years old) JULY 26 - JULY 29 (4-7 years old) AUGUST 2 - AUGUST 5 (8-13 years old)
register online at highhopestr.org/summer-programs
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT # 119 DEEP RIVER, CT