Welcome to Quantum Leap Farm
We help people of all ages and abilities grow strong, achieve goals
and overcome challenges by engaging them with horses.
Looking for an Event?--click here to see Quantum Leap's Year at a Glance Events Calendar.
Every horseman knows the relationship with a horse is special. But for those who are recovering from injury or who live with mental or physical disability, this relationship can open the door to new realms of possibility. Horse and human become partners in a therapeutic relationship which offers the opportunity to explore abilities rather than disabilities. Participants learn to be at ease, rather than dis-eased.
Quantum Leap Farm, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization founded in 2000, is nationally recognized equestrian program serving injured and disabled civilian adults and children, as well as military service members and their families. We are able to provide these services only through the generous support of our local community and individuals like you. Thank you for taking time to explore our website. We invite you to join our family of friends and supporters: help us and our beautiful, gentle horses assist our clients on their journey to wellness. Read more about Quantum Leap Farm >>
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Row for Riders Makes Quantum Leap Farm Proud With Extraordinary Effort!
Brother and sister rowing team, Matt and Shannon Casey, alternated hours to row almost 20 continuous hours in a fundraising effort for Quantum Leap Farm. They began on Wednesday, May 15, at 11:00 a.m., rowing through the hot afternoon sun and heat on busy Tampa Street, and continuing through the night, ending around 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning!
Throughout Wednesday they were surrounded by scores of friends, Quantum Leap Farm staff, donors and volunteers, and most importantly, their Mom and Dad. Shannon and Matt's Father, Tom Casey, stayed with them through the watches of the night.
Funds came in from friends who were there to cheer them on, donors online, as well as charitable Tampa citizens who passed by Shannon and Casey during their busy work day and made a generous, spontaneous donation. You can continue to support their heroic effort to help Quantum Leap Farm by donating now. Click Make a Donation at the top of this page, then go to One Time Donation, and don't forget to tag your donation as Row for Riders.
The University of South Florida's Katy Hennig was on hand to interview and film the pair before they started. Click here to see her video. For additional information Row for Riders, please contact us at quantumleapfarm@verizon.net.
Team Quantum Leap Shave Day for Cut for the Cure Enlightening
On Wednesday, April 3, Team Quantum Leap shaved heads, manes and forelocks at 4th Annual Bright House Networks Cut for a Cure Charity Challenge presented by Carrabba’s Italian Grill benefiting the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Quantum Leap Farm and other nonprofits.
Our Team has raised almost $5,000 for pediatric cancer programs at Quantum Leap and the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, as well as bringing awareness to a terrible disease that afflicts so many children. Each year, over 160,000 children are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. In the United States, childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of children. Based on these statistics, we felt like we had to do something to raise awareness for those precious children battling cancer. The Pediatric Cancer Foundation is dedicated to funding research to eliminate childhood cancer. Its focus is to fund research to find less toxic, more targeted therapies by partnering with leading hospitals nationwide.
Meet Quantum Leap Farm's New Speech Therapist
Justine Nelson joined the Quantum Leap Farm Team a few months ago and she's brought a new therapy with her. Justine is working with clients of all ages and abilities, providing speech therapy with a special assist from the QLF therapy horses. Our new Licensed Speech Language Pathologist with Quantum Leap Therapy, LLC, earned her Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1999, after earning her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin.
Justine has provided speech, language, and cognitive therapy services to children and adults within their homes, private clinics, rehabilitation facilities and hospitals. She has worked extensively with preschool and school-aged children using a multisensory and play-based approach. She believes in using a dynamic means of speech and language therapy by tailoring the techniques to match the unique needs of the individual and their family. Justine makes use of numerous innovative therapy techniques including Interactive Metronome, Rhythmic Entertainment, Bal-A-VisX, Beckman Oral-Motor and Therapeutic Listening. For more information about Speech Therapy at Quantum Leap Farm, Contact Us.
The Fifth Annual Founders' Circle Celebration Raises Funds for Participants
On Saturday, March 16, Quantum Leap Farm's Founders' Circle Celebration welcomed major donors. The evening, dedicated to a special group of supporters who are making sure that Quantum Leap Farm continues to grow far into the future, featured tours of Quantum Leap, music by The Ocean Road Band, delicious barbeque cooked up by our Texas friends, the Sudwischers, and stirring presentations from Quantum Leap participants and their families. Our good friend, Patrick Bienvenu, worked throughout the evening, creating a video for the Farm and Cougars of Florida presented Founder Edie Dopking with a check for $7,000.00. The weather was kind, the horses got an extra helping of carrots and a good time was had by all.
To become a Founders' Circle Member or for more information, please contact Mary Diana at (813) 920-9250 or through email at maryqlf@verizon.net.
Letter from a Mom
"We want to share why we love Makayla's Hands on Horses and Quantum Leap Farm. Our daughter was diagnosed at 3 with a rare cancer and is now in remission at age 5. Since May we have visited the Farm quite a few times. We live in Lakeland, so it is a trek, but worth every mile. To see her face light up when I tell her we are going is just the best feeling in the world. It is a safe haven for her and her brothers. It is just amazing to see them laugh together and do something where they are on equal ground. Having a place like this to go and spend quality time together where our daughter is not singled out because of her issues is incredible and almost impossible to put into words. She tells everyone that she has a special Farm where all her family and cancer friends can go and have fun. For us, that is the best reason to continue this wonderful program. God bless you all!"
To find our more about MaKayla's Hands on Horses Program for pediatric cancer at Quantum Leap Farm, click here.
Our Hero, Edie Dopking, is an Official Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero
On Tuesday, November 6, the Tampa Bay Lightning invested Quantum Leap Farm’s Founder, Edie Dopking, PhD, as an official Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero. At the beginning of the 2011-2012 season, Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and his wife Penny, launched the Community Heroes initiative. Their goal was to recognize grassroots Heroes who are using their lives to make the greater Tampa Bay community a better place. Heroes were recognized and rewarded at each one of the Lightning’s 41 regular season games. Last season, the Lightning distributed a total of $2,050,000 to worthy community causes.
Their Community Hero selection process is based on the degree to which the Hero has enriched the lives of others, exhibited dedication and selflessness, made a special and significant impact, and gone above and beyond to serve and inspire others. Dr. Edie Dopking and Quantum Leap Farm are honored and thrilled to be selected for their over 12 years of service to the special needs community. At the awards ceremony, Dr. Dopking said, “This award is not for me. It is for all of us—the volunteers, staff, Board, and donors—but most of all, for our participants and their families. They are true heroes to all who meet them.”