2019 Impact Report

" T h e f a r m s w h e r e m i r a c l e s h a p p e n . "

Through its wide platform of various service options andnational-scale/class events, BraveHearts works to eliminateveteran suicide and improve the lives of veterans whostruggle with emotional and physical trauma and disability.We accomplish this through programs like therapeuticriding, Operation Mustang , and healing horsemanshipwhich all use horses to promote healing. 

Military organizations and the mental health and disabilitycommunities are our strongest allies and critical partners.Our innovative programs are designed to meet the growingdemand for successful mental and physical wellnessprotocols these communities seek.

BraveHearts envisions being the premier model forconnecting horses with people as a catalyst forwellness.  Everyone will have the opportunity todiscover healing horsemanship through theBraveHearts model.

V I S I O N

BraveHearts brings hope, joy and unlimitedpossibilities through the healing power of the horse.

M I S S I O NWe kicked off 2019 with a new strategic plan and

overview of BraveHearts.

B R A V E H E A R T S R I D I N G . O R G4 9 5 0 I L R T E . 1 7 3 , P O P L A R G R O V E , I L 6 1 0 6 57 3 1 9 M A X O N R D . , H A R V A R D , I L 6 0 0 3 3

OUR SERVICES

1,751OVERALL PARTICIPANTS SERVED

25,064OVERALL SESSIONS DELIVERED

725VOLUNTEERS

43THERAPY HORSES

29,756VOLUNTEER HOURSIN

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1,064VETERANS SERVED

BraveHearts is a PATH Intl.Premier Accredited Center &

American HippotherapyAssociation Member

SE

RV

ICE

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R E C R E A T I O N A L :

Therapeutic RidingVeterans Drill TeamFoundation HorsemanshipOperation MustangTrailBlazersTrail Riding

C L I N I C A L :Equine AssistedPsychotherapyHippotherapy (Physical,Occupational & SpeechTherapy using hippotherapyas a treatment strategy)

E D U C A T I O N A L :S P E C I A L E V E N T S :PATH InstructorTraining & CertificationPrison Inmate VeteranProgram

Trail to Zero ridesHorse ShowsFreedom Trail RideCowboy BreakfastHoliday EventRed, White & Blue Veteran CelebrationSpecial Olympics Equestrian Games

In 2019, we were blessed to have BraveHearts and ourteam members recognized by our community with thefollowing awards:

A W A R D S

PATH Intl. Equine Services for Heroes Award - MitchellHedlund, CTRI & VeteranPATH Intl. Region 7 Equine of the Year - PeachesGovernor's Award - Lake Barrington Shores/BraveHearts

M A J O R M E D I A H I G H L I G H T SUsing Horsepower to Fight PTSD and Veteran Suicide -Wall Street Journal

The Healing Power of Horses: How Equine TherapyBenefits Veterans, Victims of Abuse & More - Parade

Trail to Zero ride educates on Veteran suicide, equinetherapy - VAntage Point

The Gift Horses Miracles happen. Just ask Meggan Hill-McQueeney. - University of San Diego

American Quarter Horses are among those helpingprevent veteran suicides. - American Quarter HorseMagazine

Guest appearance on Fox & Friends Live

Guest appearance on Live with Kelly & Ryan

Veterans mount up for Trail to Zero ride, raising awarenessabout suicide rates and equine therapy -Washington Times

Guest appearance on The Roe Conn Show

O U R S U C C E S SOur success is revealed in our programs and events,which could not happen without our Board, volunteers,donors, sponsors and our staff. Our success is recognizedin national media and through awards received. Ourparticipants testify to their successes at BraveHearts.

Female Veteran Drill TeamEquine Assisted PsychotherapyVeterans dealing with substance abuse (thanks to theAndrew Mercurio Fund)Incarcerated Veterans Program (thanks to the KeheFoundation)Transportation of veterans in need (thanks to the SteenFamily Initiative)

N E W V E T E R A N P R O G R A M S :

V E T E R A N G R O W T H

All sessions for veterans and military family members areprovided at no cost – 16,820 veteran sessions and 2,738 veteranfamily sessions were delivered to 1,064 veterans and 322 family

members in 2019.

"Thank you for everything you do for us. You saved my life by being so welcoming andgiving me drive again. I know I'm quiet, but I honestly don't know where I would be if I

didn't find BraveHearts. Thank you from the bottom of this broken vets heart."- Alexander Rodriquez, U.S. Veteran

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019534 veterans

639 veterans

726 veterans

834 veterans

1,064 veterans

380 veterans

345 veterans

2014

2013

2012 234 veterans

...I was a veteran who lived in a suicidal state daily. I had beenthrough every program, both inpatient and outpatient, to helpme with my PTSD, anger and suicidal tendencies - nothing wasworking. I just wanted to be dead. I wanted it all to go away, forthe noise inside my head to be silent and the only way I couldthink of to make that happen was a bullet through my skull.Then one day I touched a horse and something began tochange. For the first time a peace began to fill my soul and aquiet came over my body. Horses saved my life. They make adifference when nothing or no one else can...

Trecia R., U.S. Army Veteran, PATH Intl. CTRI

"I can say categorically that equinetherapy is truly beneficial in the battle

for veterans' lives."

"I was a Security Police Officer (Military Police) in theAir Force. I came home struggling with PTSD, majordepression, and anxiety which led to addiction, self-harm and thoughts of suicide. My personal life was amess and I even lost two jobs. I shut out family andfriends, and couldn’t maintain healthy relationships.My self-esteem was low and I didn't have hope thatthere would be a happy ending in my future. Nothingcould kill the pain and memories of the trauma Iexperienced in the military and I felt trapped,miserable, and alone for over 25 years. BraveHearts hasbeen the primary factor in changing that."

Angeline C., USAF Veteran

"Once I joined BraveHearts, I was able to reconnect with otherveterans who had stories similar to mine and yet, some of

which depicted events that were much more hazardous thanmine. Working with the horses, other veterans, and the folks

who managed the BraveHearts organization, I began to realizethat I was not alone. I began to realize that what I was feeling

was OK.   I began to be able to deal with many of my fears."

Master Gunnery Sergeant Clarence H., USMC, Retired Veteran

Bill M., US Army Veteran, PATH Intl. CTRI

2 0 1 9

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3 0 7 v o l u n t e e r sd o n a t e d t h e i r t i m e

7 2 5 v o l u n t e e r sd o n a t e d t h e i r t i m e

1 3 6 % I N C R E A S E I N 5 Y E A R S

H o s t i n g f u n d r a i s e r s o n F a c e b o o k i s j u s t o n eo f t h e m a n y w a y s t o g i v e t o B r a v e H e a r t s .$ 7 , 5 3 4 . 8 4 w a s r a i s e d i n 2 0 1 9

" I h a v e b e e n i n v o l v e d w i t h B r a v e H e a r t s f o r s e v e ny e a r s . T h e s i n c e r e a n d a u t h e n t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p s I h a v ec o m e t o k n o w h a v e g i v e n m e t h e f r i e n d s h i p s I h a v en e e d e d t o c o n t i n u e m y j o u r n e y b o t h s p i r i t u a l l y a n dp h y s i c a l l y . T h e f r i e n d s t h e r e h a v e e n c o u r a g e d m e ,s t o o d b y m e a n d p r a y e d f o r m e d u r i n g s o m e r e a l l yt o u g h t i m e s . T h e h o r s e s h a v e l i f t e d u s a l l u p . T h eh o r s e s h a v e t a u g h t m e w h a t i t ’ s l i k e t o h a v e p e a c ea n d c a l m i n m y l i f e . T o b e d e c i s i v e a n d f o r w a r dt h i n k i n g i s p a r t o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p n e e d e d t o b e w i t ha n y h o r s e a n d b e t h e l e a d e r t h e y n e e d . I a me m p o w e r e d t o m a k e d e c i s i o n s t h a t g i v e m e t h ec o n f i d e n c e t o b e b e t t e r a t e v e r y t h i n g I d o . I w o u l dn o t b e t h e p e r s o n I a m t o d a y w i t h o u t B r a v e H e a r t s . "

Pam B., Volunteer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ken Boyd, ChairKathy Allegretti, Vice ChairCynthia Gonya, Treasurer

Marge Gunnar, Secretary & FounderBob Brooks, Board Member

Helen Dorner, Board MemberDenise Drane, Board Member

Chadd Hartwig, Board MemberLaurie Johnson, Board Member

Andy Pataky, Board Member

Thank you to our Board for collectively

contributing 3,659 volunteer hours!

"I am so blessed to be a small part of a great organization thattruly gives every ounce of its energy to help those in the darkest

of places save their lives. I know BraveHearts saved my life. Thereis no greater equine program in the country that helps moreveterans and children succeed in life than BraveHearts. I am

proud to be part of this great organization.K E N B O Y D

B O A R D C H A I R

Thank You for supporting

our mission.“We are blessed with a world class herd.  The horses at BraveHearts are

diverse, of the highest quality and hold the very best hearts.  Our horses areangels in fur and change people’s lives for the better every day, servingselflessly.  Often people ask me, “Why do horses work?”  The reality is to

become a horseman requires complete honesty.  Horses see through all theway to the soul.  Nothing less.  We can’t hide anything from a horse.  Webring fear, egos, impatience, selfishness into the horses space and they

breathe it in.  If we are present with a horse we can discover who we are andwho we ought to be.  Horses non-verbally show and tell us they want no

part of the negative baggage we carry.  Horses help us try to get better, by trusting in them we can become better people, then worthy to trustourselves.  Time with a horse is an avalanche to self-awareness.  The

relationship between a horse is the most honest thing on earth.  If you arebrave enough to take the journey of healing horsemanship, no matter

where you are, there is simply no better way to spend your life.“

M E G G A N H I L L - M C Q U E E N E Y

PRESIDENT/COOMeggan and Hank

Hank has been a therapy horse for over 20 yearsand has received many accolades for his service.

Thank you sponsors!

Trail to Zero is a 20-mile ride established to raise awareness for militaryveteran suicide and offer a solution for healing through healinghorsemanship. In 2019, BraveHearts team of veteran ambassadorstraveled to Washington, D.C., New York City & Chicago for Trail to Zero.Trail to Zero reached over 8 million people through media and wereceived contact from 67 veterans from 27 states needing help. Thank youto our 20 corporate sponsors & 2 grantors for making these extraordinaryevents possible! visit trailtozero.org

Our Future...

Our founders, Marge Gunnar and the late Dr. Rolf Gunnar  stated that, "Ourfuture will be written through the lives of the people we serve."  It also bodesthat those who support BraveHearts will dictate how far we can grow. BraveHearts has proven significant growth over our capacity as our missionrides forward with a massive following for healing horsemanship anduncharted positive evidence.  For the last decade the need for our servicesand the growth at BraveHearts have been on a serious trajectory.  Now is thetime for your support as we reach farther to create more innovative andquality services for those most fragile. We stretch out in reaching forindividuals with serious mental health concerns. We often hear how “nothingelse has worked” and how BraveHearts have given hope and an immediateanswer through positive programs.  With the national rate of 20 veteransdying by suicide each day  in the US  and with our immense calling to servechildren and adults, we continue to develop  and  expand  effortsand  programming across our great nation.  At BraveHearts we have justscratched the surface of what all our miracle farms can do.  Your supportdirectly determines the impact of BraveHearts.

To the donors,Thank you for continually believing and

supporting BraveHearts. We reflect on 2019being our most SIGNIFICANT year to date

for people served. We hope to meet themany needs in 2020 with your support.

“A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning ofhuman life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full

well he will never sit.”D. Elton Trublood

We ask you take a minute to reflect on your life and askyourself, what will be your legacy? It is a question notto be taken lightly and a decision that can have aprofound impact on BraveHearts. Hoofprints LegacySociety is one way you can choose to leave yourimprint on this world. A gift, at any value, can bedesignated to BraveHearts. Please consider leaving abequest in your will, give a gift of life insurance, excessretirement funds, pension plans or IRAs. For 18 years,BraveHearts has been compassionately serving ourcommunities. Your legacy gift will ensure BraveHeartscontinues to serve for generations to come. Pleasecontact your financial team or BraveHearts to learnmore.

REVENUE - $2,192,154

EXPENSES - $1,818,760

BRAVEHEARTS HOOFPRINTSLEGACY SOCIETY

in-kind/other

donations

fundraisers

grants

programDr. Rolf GunnarMarge GunnarKen BoydPatty Boyd

Helen DornerGreg BartoshukElla LomastroLinda Vincent

session fees

fundraisers

general & admin

Thank you to those living and to the angels no longerwith us for being a part of the BraveHearts Hoofprints

Legacy Society. 

Thank You

$205,410

$303,249

$725,808

$278,182

$679,505

$129,322

$78,898

$1,610,293

*The $373,394 difference between revenue and expenses is due to the restrictedfunding that was secured in 2019 which will be utilized for the construction and

renovation of the Harvard Conference Center.

braveheartsridingbraveheartsriding

To contribute and learn more about our cause please visit:braveheartsriding.org

Thank YOU for being the he rt

of our herd.

Thank YOU for being the he rt

of our herd.