HHLA NEWSLETTER 2012 CAMPS The mission of Horses in the Hood, Los Angeles (HHLA) is to introduce the Watts and adjoining communities to the joy of caring for and riding horses. This experience, and the participants’ accomplishments, can open minds to pursue never before imagined possiblities. With your generous donations, HHLA organized and funded six camps this year at Mill Creek Equestrian Center in Topanga. Participating organizations for 2012 include: 92nd Street Elementary School (Watts), Maryvale (Rosemead), A Place Called Home (Los Angeles), St. John’s United Methodist Church (Watts), Shields for Families (Watts/Compton), Watts Towers Art Center (Watts). © 2012 Issue No. 18 HHLA Board of Directors Founder & Chairman of the Board: Kathy Kusner President: Jacob P. Wheeler, III Treasurer: Glen Stauss Secretary: Glenn Goodstein Nina Bonnie Craig Chambers, in Memoriam Joe Gillet Davies Virginia Fout Miranda Scott Sharon Warner HHLA Adminstrative Director: Amy Sawelson Landes Pro Bono Tax Accountant: Tamara Schuh Hanson Pro Bono Counsel: Alex Fukui, 501- C3 & Non Profit Advisor Jill Pietrini, Trademark & Copyright Pro Bono Webmaster: Dallas Jones Pro Bono Facebook Manager: Jennifer Wilson Pro Bono Photos: Laura Johnson & Donna Gulnac Newsletter Design: Donna Gulnac Print & Production: Britannia Press Horses in the Hood is a non-profit, public benefit corporation. You may obtain copies of this newsletter from our Website: http://www.hhla.org. “Watts Towers” Goes to Horse Camp By Rosie Lee Hooks, Director, Watts Towers Art Center (Rosie also rode in the Horse Camp) The 50 year old Watts Towers Arts Center Campus provides many of the Watts/Compton/South Central communities with high quality arts and museum education - free of charge. These non-competitive activities help to develop our youth in a variety of ways. Included is giving them a positive self image which leads to improving academic performance - thus supporting their aspirations for a successful future! For our families living in the Watts community, with the hi highest h pollution ll i and d ffewest trees iin the 15 council districts, and seeing streets blanketed with graffiti, concrete and blight, and being exposed to ongoing battles between gangs - this is all part of daily life! Just to be able to participate in regular activities can be a challenge! However, our community is also made up of loving, caring families who want the same things that most families want for their children. A chance to grow, learn and become the best that they can be! This summer we sent some of our students to spend a week at Horses in the Hood’s day camp. For most of our young people, they have never been outside of their immediate area, much less even thought about grooming and riding horses! Words cannot express the profound impact that this has had on them - and on us as well. Horses in the Hood provided a service that we could have never afforded; a week of exposure in a different environment other than Watts! It was such a joy to see Rosie Lee Hooks, Watts Towers Art Center Director, participated along our kids, eager everyday to go to camp and make an intimate connection with with the “camp Kids.” nature. They overcame a lot of fears fears of big animals, fears of trying new things and fears of failure. So much happiness radiated from the phenomenal staff and the wonderful volunteers from the Mill Creek lesson program! Because of them, we learned a vast amount of information in a very short amount of time! From this experience, our campers have newfound interests - some are thinking of new possible career choices! Horses in the Hood is a life saver! We can attest to that. Your organization is providing an opportunity that is priceless! We will be forever grateful to Horses in the Hood for a life changing experience thru connecting with both nature and with horses! HHLA Newsletter Issue no. 18, page 2 Shields for Families by Flavy Vasquez Shields for Families is a Non-Profit Organization which is committed to providing comprehensive services for children and their families in the communities of Watts, Willowbrook and Compton. Horses in the Hood helped our children to heal from some of the wounds attained from living in the “hood.” One of our children stated, “I have never been around so many nice people telling me what a good job I was doing.” Another who has difficulty communicating with adults, communicated very well with horses; and she also bonded with “Lucky”. One of the reasons they are able to overcome these obstacles is a program like Horses in the Hood! Kids learn to ride and care for horses! Some of their difficult life symptoms have been agitation, anxiety, insecurity, poor concentration, anger, depression, grieving, post-traumatic stress, and sometimes even self-injury (cutting) and suicidal ideation. Our children carry heavy burdens that impair their social and emotional functioning. One of our children said, “I had never been anywhere farther than Compton.” After Camp, this child was “smiley and riding tall”. I have never seen him with so much confidence. It just proved that Horses in the Hood was the greatest experience for this child - on so many levels. Coming from an environment that is constantly bombarded with gunshots, violence and crime, Horses in the Hood became a sanctuary of warmth for our children. Being paired with horses has been a healing presence. Shields, is greatly appreciative to the donors of Horses in the Hood, and to the staff, including the wonderful volunteers; all who show such patience and are so good when working with our children. Horses in the Hood may be the only positive pro-social experience these children have experienced outside of their regular therapy sessions. Shields would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to Kathy Kusner and to everyone who makes Horses in the Hood happen. Thank you for believing in and contributing to this remarkable opportunity for our children. St. John’s United Methodist Church Camp HHLA campers are given a disposable camera and the book Happy Horsemanship on their first day of camp and a blue ribbon and certificate on the last day of camp. HHLA Newsletter Issue no. 18, page 3 Horses in the Hood Riding Photo Gallery, 2012 Visit us on the Web at www.hhla.org or www.horsesinthehood.org HHLA Newsletter Issue no. 18, page 4 Horses in the Hood, Los Angeles Thanks Our Generous Donors: Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous in the names of Jill Hamilton & Nancy Thomas Barry Abrams Cara Sue & Nicholas Achterberg Joe Aitcheson, Jr. Altaf Al-Thekair Debbie Allen Anchar Bay Farm, Carrie Farmer Catherine H. Anderson Louis Antonio Ann Archer Mea Argentieri & David Cornell Susan Ashe American Horse Shows Assn, Inc. Paul D. Assinesi Sandy Aston in honor of Susan Hutchison Nicole Avant Ellen Kavanaugh-Baer & Terry Baer Natalie J. Baffert W. Gary Baker Bank of America matching for Margaret Lech-Loubet Bank of America United Way Campaign Alexis Barba J.H.S. Entertainment, George Barnes Beth Bass Serena Bateman Tyler Baze Nancy & Bruce Beale Christine Beard Robert A. Bean Ronnie Beard Maureen Becker Frank Bekker Ron Belkin Louis Bell Cher Bentley Pamela Bernstein Annikka Berridge Melissa Bessette Jennifer Betow Ann & Faye Bierbower Louis Bell Jacqueline Birk William Blanchard Irith Bloom Carlene Blunt Boeing Company - Employees’ Community Fund Mrs. Edward S. Bonnie Lisa Borzynski,DVM & William Cooper,MD Pam and Richard Botzbach Tanya & Christopher Bowland Cynthia A. Boyer Debbie Brand Dorothy & Leo Braudy Ann Brede Thom & Wissie Brede Bremer, Whyte, Brown & O’Meara, LLP Joe & Karen Bressler Morgan Brown in the name of Kevin McGinn Whitney Brown Angela Brunson Rebecca Brunson Connie Buckley on behalf of Bitsy Shields Elizabeth Burke Jackie Burke Linda Starkman Burke Robert Burke James & Debbie Burrows Lynn Butler Sean Caenepeel California Community Foundation John & Hallie Cameron Bebe Moore Campbell Julia Cannon The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation in honor of Kathleen De Witt Jack Carava Michelle Coltrane Carbonell Diane Carney - Telluride Farm Penny Carpenter Faye Caswell B. D. A. Cecil Vladimir Cerin Craig Chambers Denise & John M. Charlebois Laura Chatterley Gwen & Roberto Chavarria Penny (Tweedy) Chenery The Cherbec Advancement Foundation Phillip Cillis Citibank/Citigroup Foundation Community Health Charities Jo Cho The Chronicle Bulletin Board in memory of Kathy Havens Jennifer Kate Clapp Andrew Clarkson Joni & Samuel Clayton Richard Clayton Anne, Brent & Michael Clinger James Cloonan Combined Health Appeal of California Margaret Cone Lacey Connor Lorna & Anne Conway Paul Cooley Jean Ann Cooper Patrice Corbridge Dorrit Corwin in the name of India Brittenham Jon Court Court Racing Diane Cowell Rachel Croft Agneta Currey Brownlee Currey Foundation Jane & Norman Curtis Anatasia Curwood Gina Burr Dailey Kathleen Daniels Joe & Blythe Davies Kelly Davis Sandra de Roulet Diane de Souza Jane Dejarnette Delaware Equine Center Dennis M. & Marion C. DeLeo Jose E. DeLima Peter and Sara Densen Betsy Gerson Densen on behalf of Mrs Liz Rooney & in memory of Dossie & Sy Gerson Kent & Sonia Desormeaux Peter Denton Alexis Deutsch Kathryn Di Carlo Leonard Dorfman Ed Dorio Robert Dover Fran Drescher Neil Drysdale Leilani & William Duke Dun Foundation Maleta & John Dunne, M.D. Robert Duvall Children’s Fund Robert & Luciana Duvall Mollie Eckelberry Joan Edwards Lynne Eisler Janet Elliot In Memory of Henry Mallory& Dickie Hendricks Marnye Elliott Ronald W. Ellis Tom Ellison Michael Elmore Isaias Enriquez Harriet Entin, MSW Rev. Gail Epes Equistar International The Equus Foundation Amanda Espy Eleanor Estes Anne Etheridge Julie Evonna & Ann Thal in memory of Craig Chambers James D. Faber Joe Fargis Carrie Farmer John Fechtman Don Feinstein Carol Fenwick Dorothy Ferrante Julie Fershtman Lauren Fetterman Mr. & Mrs. Bertram Firestone Anna Fischer in memory of Craig Stone Gerald Fisher & Mary C. Kennedy Jack Fisher Elizabeth Fitzgerald Loretta Floyd Pamela Forrestal Lillian Forward Elizabeth & Roger Foster Foundation for Global Sports Development Virginia Fout Robert Frankel Barrie & Kevin Freeman John French Ruth Frey in memory of Martha Frey Karen & Zev Fried Lynn & Jonathan Friendly Claudia Frost Brooke Fruchtenbaum Alex Fukui The Fuller Foundation Laura Johnson Furr Megan Furth Patrick Gallagher Debra Gannon Louis Gatto Keith Gayhart James Geibel The Geomar Foundation, Inc. Germantown Charity Horse Show James Giacopuzzi, D.V.M. Dolly Giner Gregory Gingery Melissa Giovagnoli Giving Express from American Express Raizy Goffman - Camelot Riding Club Claudia & Hector Gomez Lisa Gomez The Gonda Family Foundation R.Otis Goodin Glenn & Laura Goodstein Megan Gore Joan Goswell Maxine Gottesman Jim “Mallard” Green Molly Rose Green Dean Greenman Kimberley Gregg Gail Gregson Dana Grenier & John Holcomb Dianne Grod Helen Groves Donna Gulnac Kim Guess Jana Gustman Sam Gustman Colleen & Robert Haas Joan B. Hadley Jill Hamilton Tom & Rita Hanks Family Foundation Maureen Hanley Gail Hargrove Marjie Harms Gabrielle Harris Judith Hasko in honor of Jill Hamilton & Nancy Thomas Carol Hawkins In Memory of Battle Life Frances Haws Mike Hay Sarah Hayes Elizabeth Hays Robert Heath, Fibar Inc. Jeanne Heiple Yael Hellman Arletta Henderson Dan L. Hendricks Susan & Paul Herer R. B. Hess, Jr. Patricia Heuckeroth Hunter’s Hideaway Wm. C. Kirk Hinshaw Jamie Hirsch John & Dana Holcomb Alice Holt Conrad Homfeld Housing Corporation of America Jay Hovdey Jayne Huddleston Bernard Hudson Andy Hunter Barbara Hunter Tab Hunter Stephanie & J.Steven Hutcherson Susan Hutchison Sally Ike Interior Music Corporation Interscholastic Equestrian League Denise & Mike Jeffries Gary Hudson & Julie Jewls Jin Tiffany Joerger in the name of Kevin McGinn Dallas Jones Arvid Johnson Laura Johnson, HHLA Photographer Laura Johnson on behalf of Jessica Lopez Rutha Johnson Kaiser Permanente Watts Counseling & Learning Center Richard Kahn Christine Kapetan Kenneth Kapfhammer Karen Kay Chuck Keller Taia Kemp David King & Phoebe Weseley Beverli & Steve Klausen Randal Klein in memory of Craig Chambers Gail Kopcsak Ada Koransky, MD Julie Krone Lisa Krutchik Kathy Kusner Yvette La Vigne Joan Scharffenberger Laarakkers Laurie J. & Claire Landeau Amy Sawelson Landes Joann Landon Larry Langer N. Patricia Lasko LBW Insurance Marion H. Lee Midge Leitch, VMD Liz Leow Jill & Ari Levin-Arroyo in memory of Josh Levin Juan Leyva Elaine & Donna Lindelef Beverli Linn Pauline & Terrence Locken Londonderry Equine Sarah Longmire-Cook Los Angeles Horse Show Association Los Angeles Turf Club - Santa Anita Park Pierre Loubet & Margaret Lech-Loubet The Lucas Foundation Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation Abigail Lufkin on behalf of Margaret Bishop Allison Lufkin, Elise B. Lufkin, Elise G. Lufkin & Helen Marx Elise B. Lufkin Joe Lumarda Dorothy Lyman Macedonia Baptist Church Benevolence Fund John Madamba Andrew Maier Karen Maish Barney Mallace Mark & Carroll Maltzman Richard Mandella Lauren Manera Patty Marken Dan Marks, DVM Ken Marash Helen Marx Suzanne Mattson Dorothy Matz Summer Mayberry Rachel K. McCart - Equine Legal Solutions Mary Kate McCaw Susan McClammy Jay S. McClellan Kandi McCoy Virginia McElroy Kevin McGinn, McGinn Riding School Margaret McGovern Tamara McKinney Dorothy McNoble,MD John Medina Linda Melski Ada Meltzer Larry Meyers Middle Ranch Operating Co. Millennium Farm - Jill Hamilton/ Nancy Thomas Carol & Bill Miller R. Michael Miller W.G. Miller Tom Mills Laura-Anne Minkoff-Zern in the name of Sydney Povich Agus Anne Mize Anne Modi Ellen Moelis Continued on next page HHLA Newsletter Issue no. 18, page 5 Horses in the Hood, Los Angeles Donors List, continued: Jacqueline & G. Lawrence Moison Peter Rabinowitz Elizabeth M. Radakovich Vicky Moon for Lucy Moreton Tara Moore Peggy Rainey Douglas Morgan Carolyn Randall William Moroney Suze Randall George H. Morris Christian Ratsch Anne Moss Sallie Motch & Robert Lawrence Thomas C. Rattigan Rosalie Reed Ronald Motsinger Christy Reich Ken Nagy Mary Litchfield Reid Corey Nakatani Max & Judy Richter The Newstead Foundation Robert & Hillary Ridland The New Tudor Foundation Audrey Riker Maryann Nisley Samuel & Caroline Rogers Mary Jo Nolan Roll Giving & Paramount Carol Noonan Community Giving Sheryl North Luana Romanelli The Norton Foundation Muriel Rose Laura Numeroff Jaclyn & Sydney Rosenberg Karen Reid Offield Foundation Old Oak Farm Charles & Karen Rosin Family Carole O’Brien Gail Ross & George Meyer Frank & Janice O’Meara Robert Ross Joy O’Neal Randolph Rouse Carolyn Orfanella Stephanie & Charles Roven - The Willow Fund Deborah Rush Donn Ozaki Richard Rust Carita Palmer Cornelia Rutledge Guru Parhash in honor of Leslie A. Rutledge Mary Ann Parmelee Jessica Saalfield Robin & Gerald L. Parsky Amy Safdeye Leslie Ripley-Pasterko & Jenine Sahadi Peter Pasterko Santa Anita Racetrack Deborah Patten Sheri Saumers Tammie Peacock Barbara Saunier Julie O. Petrini Pat Scanlan Harriet E. Pfleger Foundation Steven Schachter Ellen Phenpimon Sara Schaefer Christina Pickles Marion & George Scharffenberger Bruce Pike Elizabeth Schiff & Andrew Potluck’s Place Kaufman Stephan & Ginny Plancke Christina Schlusemeyer Steven D. Price Linda Scott Andrea Rabinowitz Miranda Scott Rachel Rabinowitz Heather Secker Gay Wiles Senk Sewanee University of the South Equestrian Team Kathleen Shannon Allen & Darian Shapiro Mark Sheeran Elena Sherman Erin Rudy & Troy Shipp John Shirreffs Ron Shishido Aaron Siegel in the name of Darian & Allen Shapiro, in memory of Stanley Nelson Kerry Silver Laura & James Sinner LaVern Slavin Jane Smiley Linda Irvine Smith Mike Smith Preston Smith Daniel Smithwick, Jr. Smithwick Racing Stables Snaffles, Inc. Alex Solis Leslie Sowle Steven Spierer in honor of Lisa Davies & Carlos Siderman Douglas Spencer Jennet & Brig. Gen W.H. Spillers, Jr. Robert Standish, U.S. Equestrian Team Mary Lynn Stanton DVM Maj. Diane Marie Stash Dani & Leonard Steinberg in honor of Glenn & Laura Goodstein William Steinkraus Frances Steinwedell Gary Stevens Nathan Stiles Susan Stillman Glen Strauss Jim & Nancy Stoll Krista Strauss Paul Striberry K.N. Strickland Gary Stevens Dana Pilar Stumvoll Diana Stumvoll in memory of Hugh Wiley Michael Sullivan Scott Sullivan Sheri Summers Karoline & Ronald Swan Brian Sweeney Melissa Sweeney Polly Sweeney Debra & A. David Szot Paula Tallen Tamara Tamburro Janet Hibel-Tarpell Nancy Targaglia Deborah Tassie Chrystine & George Tauber Mary S Taylor in memory of Jane Moore S. George Terbovich Ann Thal Bud Thomas Deborah Thomas Phyllis G. Thomas Carol Hoffman Thompson Kenneth & Cornelia Thompson Thoroughbred Charities of America, Ltd. Melinda & Al Tichenor Mary Tiscornia The T.R. Family Trust Andrew Turney Nancy Turrill Melissa Tyson, D.M.V. United Way USET Show Jumping Developing Riders’ Committee Jose Valdivia, Jr. Tammy Valley Martha Van Sickle Stacey Van Syckle Michael & Janet Vandever Jeff & Jana Vannini Lee Ann Veley Octavio Vergara Julie & Paul Verona Charlotte Von der Hube Vibeke Von der Hube Dan Walker Ellen Walz McLain & Barney Ward Bill & Beverly Warren Water Buffalo Club Marilyn Watts Judy Warkentin WCE/Zone 10 Maria Weaver in the name of Kevin McGinn Mary Weisberg Dawn Wells Patricia Wells Rebecca & Donald Wells Terry Lee Wells Shelly & Mary Wetterstroem Julie Whitney Barbara Wicks Sheila Wickstrom Henry Williams Valerie Williams Jennifer Wilson Jean Wingis Julia Winston Robert Winthrop Charitable Trust Jennifer Wolch & Michael Dear, PhD. Jim Wolff Kathryn & Paul Wolyn Anne B. Wong, M.D. Suzannah Woods Shannon Woolfe Anne Morton Wyman Yahoo! Employee Giving Anne Zolla - Zolla Family Foundation We Need Your Donation so Inner City Children Can Go to Horse Camp! $3984 Sponsors a complete five-day horse camp, including books and cameras, for 12 participants. $332 Sponsors one horse camp participant for five days, buys a disposable camera & the book Happy Horsemanship. $20 Buys a disposable camera and pays film developing costs for one horse camp participant. $12 Buys the book Happy Horsemanship for one horse camp participant. $________Choose your own donation toward sending children to horse camps. $________Here is my gift in honor of/in memory of (circle one) _______________________________ $________Wear your support for HHLA. Please specify quantity of each size and/or color: Visor ($15) Black:______ White:______ Baseball Cap ($15) Black:______ White:______ T-Shirts - Black or White ($25):Youth Medium (10-12):______ Youth Large (14-16):______ Adult Medium:______ Adult Large:______ Adult X-Large:______ Adult XX-Large:______ Enclosed is my tax deductible donation of: $______________ Make checks payable to Horses in the Hood and mail to: Horses in the Hood, P.O. Box 573249, Tarzana, CA 91357-3249 Donations may also be made by credit card by going to our website: www.hhla.org and clicking on the "To Give Donations" link Confirmation of your donation will be mailed to you. All donations are tax-deductible as provided by law. Tax ID: 95-4628198 HHLA FOUNDER’S MESSAGE: Horses in the Hood had 6 camps this year. Our goal is to never say no to a group that basically comes from the Watts/ Compton area. Horses in the Hood has only one paid person, Amy Landes, our Administrative Director. She receives $1,000 a month. ALL the rest of the people do what they do pro bono. Our expenses are: $4,000 to Mill Creek for each camp. This includes everything! Mill Creek is a wonderful place to have our camps - good school horses, a very good teacher, beautiful place! We include a book about horses and riding - “Happy Horsemanship” - and a disposable camera to each camp rider. Newsletter Printing/mailing cost is approximately $3,300 for our newsletter - its layout and photos are pro bono. We recently got a new supply of stationary - the invoice was $530.70. Our horse campers do not only have two riding lessons a day, but they also learn from the Blacksmith, the Veterinarians and Mario, who is in charge of the school horses. A few programs that we work with do not have any transportation to go to horse camp. We pay $2000 for a bus, round trip, for the camp week - Global Transportation. HHLA has excellent comprehensive insurance with Nonprofits Insurance Alliance of California. It is all maximum coverage except that we have a $5 million Umbrella - this goes over the top of the Directors and Officers and the General Liability Insurance. Annual charge for all of our insurance is $6670. Horse Camp has a few other small costs -- for example, the Friday picnic which is part of each camp’s Graduation Day! We have great photographers, and a newsletter designer, a webmaster, and HHLA’s Facebook “caretaker” - all of this is for no charge! Wonderful excellent young horse people from Mill Creek’s lesson program help with the campers. They are the same age as the camp kids - and they love helping the camp kids! Camp kids and Malibu, Palisades, etc.: kids from different lives - nice humans! They are at Mill Creek working together for the week. Perfect! Horses in the Hood does not have fund raisers. Don’t have that to pay for that! ALL support comes from our donors! Our mantra: “Keep It Simple. Bring kids to horse camp!” Horses in the Hood has been a joy to all concerned. Thank you to our donors that care about the people that we serve. WHO? Horses in the Hood, Los Angeles (HHLA) is a nonprofit public benefit corporation that has been working with organizations and institutions in the low-income, largely AfricanAmerican and Latino, community of Watts and adjacent areas since 1999. As of the October 2012, HHLA has sent 845 at-risk youths to 83 horse camps. WHAT? Our primary goal is to continue to provide five-day horse day camps, which are made possible by our donors. HHLA believes that children learn by doing and that education should be rewarding and fun. Working with horses is conducive to forming emotional bonds. Shared experience promotes personal growth. HHLA hopes to teach the students new skills, which will help build their self-esteem and confidence. WHY? Watts is infamous for the riots of 1965 and 1992, but HHLA has been enriched by the experience with wonderful people in Watts, Compton and neighboring areas who work hard to improve their lives and their community. P.O. Box 573249 Tarzana, CA 91357-3249 Tel: (323)564-7669 Fax: (818)776-9637 Printed on Recycled Paper Visit us on the Web at www.hhla.org or www.horsesinthehood.org