Dear Friends, Is there anything more important to our human development than feeling a sense of worthiness, accomplishment and connection? Friends For Tomorrow (FFT) students find all of that, and more. FOUNDER Diane B. Lesneski Auger BOARD OF DIRECTORS Diane B. Lesneski Auger Karen Badia Roberta E. Berry Nicholas G. L. Chigas, CFP Fritz Ferbert Lisa Freed Leslie Goldberg Christopher Lippert HONORARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Bud Allen, DVM Kris T. Auger Marie Louise Barrett Harley Freedman Amy Mastrobattista J. Merriam, DVM Byron E. Woodman, Jr. A non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization FFT is a PATH Int’l. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) Member Center. www.friendsfortomorrow.org Mailing Address: PO Box 213 Lincoln, MA 01773 Whenever I walk alongside a student, in the ring or on a trail, my heart is touched by the miraculous transformations I witness on a regular basis; I watch riders transform from being silent and sometimes withdrawn to a state of absolute, thrilling joy! They go from having rigid, tight bodies that won’t or can’t move, to having relaxed, fluid movement in their limbs, and huge smiles on their faces. Those triumphs of spirit and capability ripple throughout their being, their families, and their communities. “Joining up’’ is a natural horsemanship phrase used to describe the process of gentle communication and trust-building with a horse that results in the horse and rider connecting from a place of trust. At FFT, the join-up isn’t just between horse and rider, it is also about the rider connecting with his or her own inner power. Here’s what I mean: • I think of Evie, who suddenly was able to sit taller, and went from being silent and shy to sharing and speaking everything on her mind! We could hardly get words in edgewise. • I think of Hannah, a blind girl who can not speak, using a stop-and-go button anchored to the saddle to signal the team of her intentions. I could see and feel her experience of believing in her horse and her team, and most importantly, her sense of accomplishment whenever she found the button, and the horse responded accordingly. Seeing her smile at that recognition of power and achievement was a spiritual experience! • I think of that time on the trail with Caleb, who at first thought he couldn’t move his feet to a safe posi- tion in the stirrups. Then, with gentle loving encouragement and the freedom needed to process and allow his body’s response, he progressed from being shut down and frozen to “OK”. Minutes passed…we walked forward! Moving forward. That is what we do; we help our FFT families move forward. We work with the horses to create an empowering environment in which our participants feel safe and supported to explore new territory. It’s amazing; although the horses take small measured steps, our students make huge leaps forward. Attitudes shift from “I can’t…” to “I can!” In talking with my fellow volunteers, the resonating theme from all is inspiration and gratitude for our students, the instructors, the patient, gentle and strong horses, and the FFT staff for making these dramatic shifts possible. And the additional benefit? At FFT, the riders, teachers, volunteers, and horses “join up” in a way that allows us all to experience a new level of worthiness, accomplishment and connection! On behalf of my fellow inspired and committed volunteers and myself, I am asking you to support this wonderful, healing place. Your contribution will have a tremendous impact on the lives of every family who joins us. Together, we can “join up” to empower young people with physical, cognitive, social and emotional challenges to move forward, to experience the “I can.” As you consider your charitable giving this year, I hope you, too, will say “I can”’ to this request for a generous gift to Friends For Tomorrow. With gratitude and warmest wishes, Kim Rice Whittemore, Volunteer 131 Weston Road Lincoln, Massachusetts 01773 phone: 781.259.8909 fax: 781.259.8758 Kathy “ Barbara At FFT, children enter a world where they are the focus; their being, their comfort, safety, thoughts, hopes, dreams, fears, songs are the most important thing to the adults with them at any moment in time. I know firsthand the enlivening, empowering effect of that focus; it calms the breath, quiets the mind and balances both in day-to-day life. Nothing could keep me from the honor of being witness to that transformation.” JOIN UP Celebrate Our 20th Year of Bringing Children and Horses Together “ I love the kindness of the horses as they make adjustments for the students and their various abilities. My time at FFT has strengthened my belief that this bond between humans and horses is special and that humans are the greater beneficiaries. Spending time at FFT makes me feel like I am making some sort of difference in children’s lives.” Our Volunteers Sarah Bennett Eve Corning Anne DeFilippo Fritz Ferbert Terri Karpel Kathy Johnson Avery MacLean Marjorie Smith Lucie Nolden Carolyn Sullivan Carol Bailey Hannah Ellerkamp Christina Kallitsantsi Lita Phillips ML Barrett Henry Gonzalez Chris Brown Jocelyn Souliere Jeannie Watson Kris Jaillet Jane Jenkins Dylan Baxter-King Kim Rice Whittemore Barbara Blakeney Kate Payne Marjorie We are grateful for all our blessings… Kate Kim “ our Friends For Tomorrow families, our home, our horses, our donors, and our incredible volunteers. What’s so great about the program is that it allows students who may struggle in school or in other activities to do something that is uniquely theirs. One of the Let our volunteers’ words and images carry you into best things about working with these a day with us and inspire you to give generously so students is that their confidence and self- that we may offer many more to our students and esteem increase as they are learning new their families. Thank you for your part in continuing physical and behavioral skills. Each of the horses brings unique personality traits to to “Join Up" with our riders and their mentors, our a lesson and can teach the students how volunteers, in partnerships that nurture mind, body and soul. Warmest wishes, important it is to develop skills like listen- “ One of the things that I’ve learned from volunteering at FFT is: your challenges don’t define who you are; the way you deal with your challenges is a far more accurate gauge of your character. That is true for everybody, not just the riders at FFT. Diane Volunteering at FFT has brought that idea into greater focus for me in my daily life.” ing, respecting others’ space and physical presence. I believe strongly that working with animals is something that helps our riders develop compassion and empathy, and horses can be so valuable in teaching these lessons.” “ What I hadn’t anticipated when I started at FFT was the connection I would feel to the kids. I hadn’t expected to feel so moved by them and their families. ”