Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center

2009 Awards

Past Awards

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION LUNCHEON

The 2009 Volunteer Recognition Party for all of our AMAZING volunteers was held on January 16, 2010 in the Latigo Community Room Building on the Latigo property here and it was a grand success! The food was great, over 100 volunteers and family members celebrated and we all seemed a little more like family together.

The food was all generously donated by the Phantom Canyon Brewery and Olive Garden, with yummy desserts provided by staff and instructors; and so many desserts! But the food and the piano music to dine by provided by Charla McGaugh of the Colorado Springs Conservatory, were only the appetizers. The luncheon unfolded with us showing our gratitude to all of our volunteers and honoring the few (listed below) who have been our pillars of support this year. Listed below are also the special donors who gave us gifts from their stores and organizations so we could give a special thank you each honoree.

A few extra thank yous go out to the Latigo staff, Bob Harrison and Kenny Backstrand. Kenny is the manager of the Grill at Latigo. Latigo donated the space and linens for the event, and provide ongoing support for PPTRC and our program. Instructor Sylvia Bryson, who, besides loving on us each week, volunteered to design and print the volunteer certificates and volunteers Eugene and Mary Jo Snyder took the linens from the event home to wash and fold them! PPTRC volunteer photographers, Leesa Jones and Sue Bittner contributed their artistic talents; Leesa’s photo was chosen as the background on the volunteer certificates and Sue took the volunteer photos during the event. Volunteers, Cindi Ryan and John O’Horo designed the slideshow we watched throughout the afternoon.

Other highlights included Volunteer of the Year, Bill Reed, accepting his award with the encouraging charge for us to all “let’s go make some miracles!” Rider Candice Reeves and her mom, Andrea, shared their perspective about how much our riding lessons have meant to Candice and how we continue to add a certain sparkle to her life. Michelle Brouillette won both the Schooler of the Year Award and the Above and Beyond Volunteer award, the first to win two honors in one year. Horse of the Year, Sword, was the first two-time horse winner! The Silver Spur Award, which was created this year and awarded to Ken Maxey, is given to an individual, who, despite personal traumatic and life-altering circumstances, has continued to offer and provide outstanding support of the PPTRC program. Mack McDonald was given a one-of-a-kind Heart of Gold award.

Lastly, Diane Eshelman, PPTRC Business Manager, wrote this for you for the event:

You are our foundation.

Our strongest level of support.

The gift of your time is more valuable than any grant could ever be.

You are PPTRC.

Without you we could not provide this service to our riders.

To our riders you are:

courage & confidence

strength where there is weakness

a smile

a calm assurance of a job well done.

You provide a connection that helps build bridges of trust, caring & sharing.

You hold us all with your heart.

We are forever thankful & grateful.

Thank you for choosing PPTRC!

We had group pictures, said our goodbyes and headed home to spend time with our loved ones before our next PPTRC shift. Thank you to all who continue to support PPTRC in word or deed.

FAMILY OF THE YEAR: 3 generations - Richard and Carol Jeffery and Scott, Carol and Andrew Brown

YOUTH VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR - Elise Brouillette

AMAZING SUBSTITUTES - Cyndi Pride, Kiki Conrad, Sue Bittner, Victoria Ogden, Andrew Ogden, CeAnna Matthews, Greg Donelson, Greg DiCenzo

LEAD VOLUNTEERS - Betty Moore, Kathy Steward, Linda Kaczanowski, Peggy Foster, Jeanne Miller, Gary Irons, Ann Feigenbaum, Eugene Snyder, Elise Brouillette, Becky Hutton, Bill Reed, Michelle Brouillette

OUTSTANDING BARN LEADER, 2009, Becky Hutton

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, Eugene “Gene” Snyder

SILVER SPUR AWARD – Ken Maxey

“NOT QUITE AS THE CROW FLIES” AWARD - for the LONGEST DISTANCE TRAVELED TO VOLUNTEER: Wes Frederick, Bob and Teddi Vollaire

OUTSTANDING SUPPORT IN OUR MILITARY RIDER PROGRAM - Wes Fredrick, Cindi Ryan, JoAnn McNabb, Coleen Parker, Steven Lindsey, Melissa Armstrong, Annette Racz, Beth Gilbreath, Stefanie Gilbreath

OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP IN OUR MILITARY RIDER PROGRAM - Peggy Foster, Jeannie Miller, Bridget Anderson

GOOD CHEER - Bridget Anderson, Art & Joyce Aldridge, Larry Fink, Cindi Ryan

BEHIND THE SCENES HELPERS – WRANGLERS - Home Depot, Nancy and Thom Brooke, Tara Nolan , Cindy and Darryl of the Colorado Cowboy Challenge, Jim Steward of the Pikes Peak Mechanical Association, Joyce and Art Aldridge

VOLUNTEER’S CHOICE AWARD – Missy Hrkach

RELIABLE AND DEPENDABLE - Jane Howe

RISING STAR AWARD – Nickole Aubuchon

SCHOOLER OF THE YEAR -Michelle Brouillette

HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARD – SWORD

TOP HAND OF THE YEAR -Gregory Pell

ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARD -Michelle Brouillette

HEART OF GOLD AWARD -Mack McDonald

And last but not least by any means: VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR -Bill Reed

PPTRC Schooling Team, our Tuesday and Thursday morning volunteer teams, all youth volunteers, and all volunteer families were also recognized.

We’d like to thank all of the following companies and friends

who made this event possible: