Give Back for Special Equestrians founders Sissy DeMaria Koehne, Isabel Ernst, and Dr. Heather Kuhl
Isabel Ernst, the co-founder of Give Back for Special Equestrians and President of its Young Ambassadors Program, was honored on National Philanthropy Day, Nov. 14 with the prestigious Youth in Philanthropy Award from the Indian River Chapter of American Fundraising Professionals.
The recognition ceremony held at The Vero Beach Museum of Art on November 14 was part of National Philanthropy Day, an annual event taking place across the country for community leaders, non-profit organizations and volunteers to honor outstanding philanthropic leaders who have invested their passion, time, talents and financial support to better their communities.
Give Back for Special Equestrians co-founder Isabel Ernst was the recipient of the Youth in Philanthropy Award from the Indian River Chapter of American Fundraising Professionals
An accomplished junior equestrian, Isabel, age 16 a Junior at Vero Beach High School made it her mission to share the joy of horses and horsemanship with those who could most benefit from it. Passionate about the kind of “horse power” that heals broken bodies, minds and spirits, Isabel joined Sissy DeMaria Koehne and Dr. Heather Kuhl in founding the all-volunteer nonprofit in 2013 in Vero Beach, Florida and soon launched its Young Ambassador program.
“Isabel is a remarkable young woman whose compassion for people and animals knows no limit,” said Dr. Heather Kuhl. “She leads by example and has dedicated her time and talent to ensure that no child or adult with special needs is denied access to this life changing therapy.”
Give Back for Special Equestrians, formerly Give a Buck for Special Equestrians, is 501©3 that provides therapeutic horseback riding and equine assisted scholarships for disabled children and veterans through its partner stables in New York and Florida. Give Back aims to share the joy of horses and horsemanship with those facing some of life’s most difficult physical, emotional and mental challenges, like paralysis, autism and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and enables them to experience the life changing benefits of horsepower that heals. Through its Young Ambassador program, youth between ages 7-17 are encouraged to pay forward their blessings through active volunteerism. For more information please visit www.giveabuckeq.org or call 305.608.5350. Give Back for Special Equestrians can also be found on Facebook and Instagram.
