Our New Horse!

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We have a cute new mare named Hope!
 
Hope is a 20-year-old bay Quarter Horse mare. She has been very well trained and loved by a sweet gentleman for the last 16 years but he is not able to ride anymore. The barn where she was boarded is where two of our best horses we’ve ever had, Joe and Jac, are from. We are blessed to be her retirement home!
 
Right now she is settling in and getting used to a new place, but we can’t wait to introduce everyone to her when sessions start!
 
Hope needs a sponsor! Since she doesn’t have any special needs like shoes or medicine it is just $90/month to cover her basic costs of hay, regular vet care, and hoof care. Sponsors get the opportunity to visit their horse up to 3 times a year, receive quarterly updates and a professional photo of their horse, and acknowledgement of sponsorship on our website.
 
Sponsors make it possible for us to offer a place of hope, healing, and restoration to kids and horses. We can’t begin to thank our sponsors enough!
 
Questions? Email us at info@havenacresmn.org or visit our sponsorship page. 

Flannel Gala Thank You!

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We had a great night at our Flannel Gala this year! Our theme was “Pouring into the Next Generation” (hence the centerpieces!). For the first time ever we played Family Feud which was super fun — as seen in the pictures of people laughing on stage. We also had people share amazing testimonials about how Haven Acres has impacted them or their child, our founders Jenifer and Jason Heath shared their heart for Haven Acres and some stories from the years, and more. God has blessed us so abundantly over the years through all of our supporters and through the lives He has changed out here!
 
About $15,000 was generously donated that night! The proceeds will allow us to continue to offer Christ-centered sessions free-of-charge and take care of our amazing special needs horses.
 
Thank you so much to all of those who came, donated, and volunteered. We couldn’t have done it without you, and we are so grateful!
 
If you would like to watch either of the testimonial videos we premiered at the Gala, you can view them on our YouTube channel. One is about our Deaf and hard-of-hearing program and one is about a student in our regular program. They are well worth your while!
 
Picture by Brittany at Juniper Digital Media. Thank you!

Looking for Summer Volunteers!

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We are looking for summer 2024 volunteers!

It takes an army 40-50 strong each summer to run sessions for the students who come out. We need mentors, mavericks, overseers, photographers, ASL interpreters, chore help, and more. Whatever your experience level, your gifts, your age, or your personality, we would love to talk to you about volunteer opportunities at the ranch!

Mentors come on a weekly basis throughout the summer and/or fall to meet one-on-one with a participant. Throughout the season they build a supportive, loving relationship with the participant through working on chores and horsemanship skills together. Mentors must be 18 or older and actively growing in their relationship with God. No horse experience required! (Both hearing and Deaf mentors needed!)

Mavericks are weekly volunteers during the summer and/or fall who provide extra support on the ground for the mentors. Mavericks can help with the horses if a need arises, can run errands during the session, or be an extra set of eyes to make sure everything is running smoothly. Some mavericks have significant horse experience and some have minimal. Mavericks must be 14 and over.

ASL interpreters support hearing staff during Deaf / hard-of-hearing sessions. Sessions are run almost identically to regular sessions but with the support of Deaf mentors and ASL interpreters.

For more information about any of the positions, please visit our volunteer page or contact us with questions!

Volunteer training begins mid-April, so applications need to be turned in before then!

You’re Invited!

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Help us pour into the next generation!

Our 4th Annual Flannel Gala is a flannel-themed fundraiser dinner, with funds going towards our ranch mentorship program for at-risk youth in the Twin Cities. We will serve a country dinner, share stories of God’s work at Haven Acres, and provide an opportunity for others to join our work. This is our most important fundraiser of the year and we are hoping to raise $40,000 to continue offering all sessions free of charge.

More than ever before, youth in our community are struggling with mental health issues, adverse childhood events, and trauma. The most effective means of supporting them is through connection and relationship. We provide this in a country environment where youth not only get to connect one-on-one with a caring adult, but they get to connect with a horse who has a story like theirs. This can break down barriers that nothing else can to allow for lasting healing and growth.

Your ticket or table sponsorship enables us to continue pouring into these kids!

Ticket Information:

Individual: $50

Table: $250 to sponsor a round table for 6 people

Would you consider becoming a Table Sponsor at our upcoming Haven Acres Dinner Gala? This $250 investment allows you to invite friends, family, or coworkers that you think may be interested in learning about the work that Haven Acres is doing in our community. Your sponsorship covers the cost of the meals for those at your table.

Click here to learn more or register.

Win $500 for Haven Acres!

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Today is Give to the Max Day! And you could win $500 for Haven Acres!

If you donate any amount between now and midnight tonight on GiveMN.org (no sign-up required) they will put us in a random drawing to win $500 — every 15 minutes!

Help us create deep connections.

Help us foster new beginnings.

Help us bring God more glory and praise.

Help us make more of THIS happen!

Visit GiveMN.org to donate by midnight tonight!

 

 

Lucy is Looking for a Sponsor!

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We are looking for a partial sponsorship for Lucy!
 
Lucy is a beautiful, little paint mare in her teens who came to Haven Acres in the fall of 2020. She has an eye problem called uveitis that has caused her to go mostly blind and needs to be constantly monitored. Lucy has been a sweet, gentle girl who is a star patient with her eye treatments and totally trusts people even though she cannot see very well. She has to wear a special fly mask that keeps the majority of the sun out of her eyes as the sun is what triggers her eye condition. She has a lot of bravery and spunk when being ridden and has been a really great horse for her kids!
 
A partial sponsorship for Lucy is $90/month and covers the cost of her feed, hoof care, eye medications, and basic medical costs, as well as offering children the chance to build a relationship with her free of charge.
 
Sponsorship includes:
– Quarterly updates on Lucy
– A portrait of Lucy showcasing your sponsorship
– Acknowledgement of sponsorship on our website
– Three opportunities per year to visit Lucy
For more information about sponsoring Lucy, please visit our horse sponsorship page.
 
Please let us know if you are interesting in investing in this special horse and the kids she impacts!

Buttercup is Looking for a Sponsor!

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We are looking for a partial sponsorship for Buttercup!
 
Buttercup, aka “Barbie horse,” is our gorgeous palomino mare in her early twenties. Her previous family was looking for a new home for her since their kids had grown up, but she needed a home where she would not have to work hard or compete because of a previous injury in her hoof. Despite her limitation, Buttercup still prefers to speed walk or go as fast as you’ll let her! She has developed a great relationship with a few of our more experienced riders who have been really enjoying her spunk and desire to go faster.
 
A partial sponsorship for Buttercup is $90/month and covers the cost of her feed, hoof care, and basic medical costs or medications, as well as offering a child the chance to build a relationship with her free of charge.
 
Sponsorship includes:
– Quarterly updates on your horse
– A portrait of your horse showcasing your sponsorship
– Acknowledgement of sponsorship on our website
– Three opportunities per year to visit your horse
For more information about sponsoring Buttercup, please visit our horse sponsorship page.
 
Please let us know if you are interesting in investing in this special horse and the kids she impacts!

Looking for Bowlers!

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We are hosting our 10th annual Bowling for Bucks fundraiser on November 3rd and we are asking everyone who loves Haven Acres to consider bowling for this event!

For this fun fundraiser, bowlers ask their friends and family to sponsor their bowling games to raise funds for Haven Acres. Bowlers are asked to set a goal of raising $250 or more through people sponsoring their games (but that does not mean we will kick you out or look down on you if you don’t reach your goal!). Sponsors can be asked to give a flat amount or pledge an amount per point. Bowlers are just asked to cover the cost of playing three games of bowling (plus the shoe rental). Pizza, pop, and a cheering section will be provided for the bowlers!

Our goal is to raise $10,000 this year to help cover the expense of running this program free of charge to anyone who comes out! To reach that goal we will need around 40 bowlers, and to be honest, how good of a bowler you are has pretty much no impact on how much you raise. What matters more is just being willing to ask people! Volunteers, parents, participants, or anyone who wants to have fun while making a difference can help. The more bowlers we have, the more people we can reach and donations we can raise together!

The event will be held at Bowlero in Lakeville on November 3rd from 6-8pm. Email us for important papers you will need! I would recommend telling people how Haven Acres has impacted you (or someone you know) so they know why it is important to you.

Please let us know by October 20th if you or your child are planning on participating (but we recommend getting starting as soon as possible!). Children under 13 must be with an adult.

Hope to see you there!

Round-Up 2023 Thank You

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We had such a great day at the Round-Up on Saturday! The kids did an amazing job, we had so many wonderful volunteers helping, and so much was generously donated to make this possible!
With all the generous donations, we were able to raise about $4,500 this year!
 
Thank you, thank you to everyone who attended, helped, and donated. You helped make this a great day for the kids of Haven Acres.

10th Anniversary Gala Results!

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We are so thankful for everyone who attended, donated, volunteered, and sponsored a table at the 10th Anniversary Flannel Gala! We had a wonderful night!

We had around 170 people in attendance, many hearing about Haven Acres for the first time! Thank you to those of you who sponsored a table and invited your friends, families, and coworkers. Your part in the success of the gala cannot be overstated!

$27,246 was raised that night! These gifts allow us to continue the ongoing work of rescuing horses and sharing the love of God with hurting and at-risk youth free-of-charge.

We hope you can come next year!