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.
October 2025
First Nature Notes: From Horses to Heroes: Programs, Events, and Giving Opportunities
Dear Friends of First Nature Foundation,
​Can you believe there are just over two months left in 2025? This year has absolutely flown by! Things are going strong here at First Nature Foundation—we’ve booked four new programs and events in just the past week. More details to come soon, but for now, we hope the start of your fall season has been both happy and productive!
While we had hoped for beautiful weather for our Whiskey Dinner Fundraising Event on Saturday, October 4, the skies had other plans—bringing rain, rain, and more rain…plus a few persistent bugs! The ranch was covered in standing water, so much so that we used the golf cart to shuttle guests from the parking area to the barn.
Despite the downpour, nearly everyone braved the weather and had a wonderful time. Instead of hosting the horses in the open arena for photos and interaction, we pivoted and brought them into the barn’s outdoor stalls. With the tops of the Dutch doors open, the horses could look into the barn during the reception—creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere.
This fundraiser directly supports our Horse Wisdom for Heroes program. We were thrilled to partner with Hooten Young Distillery, whose whiskey and presentation were a huge hit with our guests. We’re still finalizing our event financials, but early numbers show that we raised enough to fund two of our four Transition House cohorts for 2026—an incredible milestone!
If you’d like to support this life-changing program for next year, click the button below.
Want to discover the amazing nonprofits making a difference in our community? Don’t miss the Citrus Club Charity Expo on Monday, October 27, from 5:30–8:00 p.m. at their stunning downtown Orlando venue. This is your chance to explore the Club for free and connect with organizations doing extraordinary work—an evening you won’t want to miss!
There are still a few spots left for the Charity Classic Golf Tournament on Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, at Rio Pinar Country Club. This premier event supports nonprofits that serve our veterans, and every dollar shared with us fuels our Horse Wisdom for Heroes program.
Step up and make an impact—attend, donate, or sponsor today! Buttons below will guide you.
we’re thrilled to announce that we graduated our third cohort of Horse Wisdom for Heroes veterans last month and welcomed our final cohort of the year just two weeks later!
If you know of any veterans’ organizations that would like to bring more cohorts to the ranch, please connect us. We’re eager to expand our impact and reach even more veterans in the Central Florida area.
We’re excited to share that our year-end plans for expanding the Horses Healing Hearts program in 2026 are nearly ready, and we’ve already signed several agreements to host retreats and Horseplay for Leaders programs over the coming months.
If you’re planning an event, retreat, or program and are looking for an inspiring venue, we invite you to experience First Nature Ranch. Reply to this email to schedule a visit, or use the button below to set up a meeting. Our ranch is not only beautiful (and yes, that’s what everyone who visits says!) but also offers reasonable rates for your event.
Discover why so many choose First Nature Ranch for meaningful experiences in a serene, one-of-a-kind setting.
We’re excited to announce a special opportunity to support First Nature Foundation at Kendra Scott (Mall at Millennia)! On Friday, November 21, from 6–8 p.m., we’ll have a table in the store to connect with holiday shoppers and encourage donations at checkout.
This is a fun, festive way to engage the community and spread the word about our programs—plus, it’s a chance to join us in the holiday spirit while supporting our mission. The graphics below give all the necessary information so you can join us.
The holidays are coming! If you have loved ones who love horses, a Serenity Session may be the perfect gift. It’s a sweet, relaxing, and rejuvenating supervised hour with one of our horses.
You can book a session early to secure the ideal date and time, or purchase a gift certificate for a Serenity Session—perfect as a stocking stuffer! Use the button below to reserve your session or grab a gift certificate today.
With the new year just a few short weeks away, why not integrate a little self-care into your life by volunteering at the ranch? If your organization offers volunteer days for employees, we can help coordinate that, too!
Volunteer groups have helped us clean the barn, dust and power-wash the feed and tack shed, and muck one of our pastures. We also always need help with tasks like washing barn doors and windows, cleaning stall panels, and weeding our flower and herb gardens—all great exercise and a chance to connect with our horses.
Reply to this email to set up a volunteer date, and join us in maintaining and beautifying our ranch!
From Our Hearts to Yours,
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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