A CENTER FOR 21ST CENTURY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT:
Where horses and nature bring the best of leadership together for the dignity and benefit of all.
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Your Donations are Tax Deductible.
December 2025
First Nature Notes: A Year of Growth, Connection, and Magic at the Ranch
Dear Friends of First Nature Foundation,
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What a year it’s been! From inspiring leadership through our equine programs to creating new opportunities for growth and connection in nature, 2025 has been full of remarkable stories and achievements. Join us as we celebrate the impact your support has made and revisit the highlights of this unforgettable year.
Foundation Highlights
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We won the Nonprofit of the Year Award from the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce! What an honor to be recognized for the work we love doing every day.
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Our 2024 Year-End Campaign was a success, and we’re excited that the lighting numbers are being finalized so installation can begin soon, bringing a little more brightness to the ranch!
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Kerul shared her expertise as a guest on several podcasts recorded right here at the ranch. See one of the podcast videos below!
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Allyn Carnahan, who served as our Assistant Executive Director, was promoted to Executive Director —congratulations, Allyn! She also celebrated 5 wonderful years with the foundation.
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We welcomed so many amazing volunteers from local community partners throughout the year. Your support keeps our programs thriving!
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Experience Kissimmee filmed an episode of “The Kissimmee Experience” at the ranch, which debuted in November. Our horses truly shined alongside The Walking Dead alum Beth Kinney and multi-talented writer/actress Jen Bonner.
Program Highlights
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PASOS (Parents and Spouses of Suicide) celebrated an incredible milestone this year - 100 sessions!
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We earned Candid’s Platinum Transparency rating, which gives us access to their Foundation Directory (normally a $1,600 annual fee!) It’s a big help as we look for new grant opportunities for our programs in 2026.
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The Whiskey Dinner at the Ranch fundraiser was a hit! We raised enough to support almost two full cohorts of participants. And everyone who joined had an unforgettable evening.
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The ranch welcomed lots of new events this year, including a Mother-Daughter Retreat and Pilates & Mocktails, adding fresh ways for people to connect with horses and nature.
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We also hosted two Nonprofit Roundtable events, bringing together nonprofits and philanthropically-minded individuals and businesses for learning, collaboration, and community building.
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Over 130 men and veterans have experienced our Horse Wisdom for Heroes program since 2022, gaining confidence, skills, and support through equine-assisted learning.
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The ranch served as a backdrop for staff retreats and several Horseplay for Leaders programs, offering teams and leaders a unique way to learn, grow, and connect.
With Gratitude
We are so thankful for the incredible support that makes our work possible. A special thank you to longtime supporter and volunteer Wendy Dabrowski and Second Chance Thrift Shop in Saint Cloud for a wonderful surprise end-of-year donation—your generosity means the world to us!
We also extend our appreciation to Toho Water Authority for a $1,000 sponsorship of our Horse Wisdom for Heroes program, and to the Glenda G. Morgan Charitable Foundation for their generous grant support this year.
Finally, we want to recognize and thank our 2025 sponsors for their continued belief in our mission: AdventHealth, Olde Kissimmee Realty, The Transition House, Liberty Legion Outfitters, and Detailing Express. Your partnership allows us to grow, reach more participants, and make a lasting impact in our community.
We’re currently looking to welcome a few new local board members to our First Nature Foundation family. If our mission inspires you and you enjoy being part of meaningful, community-centered work, this could be a wonderful way to make an impact.
Our board commitment is intentionally manageable, about one to two hours per month, and focuses on offering insight, encouragement, and strategic support as we continue to grow and expand our programs. You don’t need prior board experience; you just need a passion for our mission and a desire to help a small nonprofit take its next big step.
If this sounds like a good fit, we’d love to start a conversation. Simply reply to this email to learn more.
Looking Ahead to 2026
We’re excited to share that February will be a big month at First Nature Foundation, as we host two equine-assisted learning and education events designed to inspire connection, professional growth, and hands-on experience.
The first event is the Equine Experiential Education Association’s Demo Day, taking place on February 21st. This special event brings together practitioners, educators, and equine professionals to experience equine-assisted learning in action, offering a practical, immersive look at best practices and innovative approaches within the field.
We’ll be sure to share registration details for Demo Day in our January newsletter, and we look forward to welcoming participants for a day of learning and collaboration, both with horses and with one another.
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The second event we’re proud to host is Horse Fair Day on February 27, held in partnership with the Horses and Humans Research Foundation as part of their annual conference. Horse Fair Day offers a unique opportunity to experience equine-assisted learning and development in a hands-on, interactive setting, while also highlighting the important research that supports the powerful connection between horses and humans.
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Allyn and I have also been invited to attend the conference following Horse Fair Day, where leaders and researchers in the field will gather to share insights, evidence-based practices, and the latest developments in equine-assisted work.
If you’re curious about Equine-Assisted Learning and Development, we invite you to join us for Horse Fair Day by registering at the button below.
We’re excited to share that we’ll be hosting another Nonprofit Roundtable in the first quarter of 2026. This gathering is open to anyone interested in connecting with local leaders who are passionate about strengthening their communities—you don’t need to be a nonprofit executive to participate.
Our roundtables are typically held at the ranch on a Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and feature thoughtful conversations, guest speakers, and collaborative brainstorming around what it takes to build and sustain impactful nonprofit work. It’s a relaxed, supportive space to learn, share ideas, and explore ways to collaborate.
Interested in joining us? Send us a message because we’d love to include you.
As we look ahead to 2026, we’re preparing for a meaningful season of growth with a renewed focus on our Horses Healing Hearts program, a deeply needed offering within our community. This program has quietly transformed lives, creating a gentle, supportive space where women who have experienced trauma can pause, breathe, and begin reconnecting with their inner strength. Through the steady presence of horses and the healing rhythm of nature, participants are seen, supported, and reminded they are not defined by their past.
To open this space to more women in the year ahead, we’re launching our 2026 Jump Start Fundraiser with a goal of $15,000. These funds will support monthly sessions, essential horse care, and key partnerships with organizations serving women in crisis. Every gift, no matter the amount, helps us hold space for healing, hope, and connection. Thanks to a generous early donor, we’re already off to a strong start, with $14,000 left to reach our goal.
Dates are filling quickly to rent our beautiful ranch facility over the coming months. If you’re planning an event, retreat, or program and are searching for a unique, nature-centered venue, now is the perfect time to reserve your spot before availability is gone.
If you haven’t visited First Nature Ranch yet, we’d love to welcome you. Our space offers a uniquely peaceful, inspiring setting that guests consistently rave about, and we work hard to keep our pricing accessible and reasonable.
Reply to this email to schedule a tour or starts a conversation, or click the button below to book a visit.
With Christmas just days away and Hanukkah coming to a close on Monday, now is the perfect moment to give a gift that truly nourishes the soul. A Serenity Session gift certificate is a meaningful and memorable option for anyone who loves horses—or could use a peaceful pause during a busy season.
Each Serenity Session offers a calming, restorative hour spent in the gentle presence of one of our equine partners, creating space for relaxation, reflection, and quiet connection. Gift certificates are available for a limited time, so don’t wait—purchase yours today and give an experience that lingers long after the holidays.
Wishing You a Pleasant and Loving Holiday Season,
Kerul and Crew
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First Nature Ranch / First Nature Foundation
“Where the past, present, and future of leadership come together for the dignity and benefit of all.”
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