REVIEW
Our Vision
To become a comprehensive equestrian program serving a broad spectrum of special needs adults via a viriety of equine-assisted therapies and a wide selection of equestrian disciplines and activities
QLF Goals
- To continue to increase both the number of diversity of clients we provide services for regardless of their ability to pay.
- To enhance the scope, quality and delivery of services we provide.
- To sustain Quantum Leap Farm's growth as a community service organization by strengthening its leadership and management.
SERVICE TO PARTICIPANTS
We continued to expand both the number and diversity of participants we served in 2009. We worked with 158 special equestrians (18 months to 91 years of age) and scheduled 5,435 sessions with only 516 cancellations and provided 4919 sessions to local area residents. Because therapeutic horseback riding stimulates the neural networks and musculature responsible for normal human gait, it is an excellend form of excercise for patients with mobility diability arising from a variety of conditions. 1n 2009 we served participants with a wide range of diagnoses including traumatic brain injury, upper and lower extremity amputation, burns, Parkinson's disease, age-related frailty, spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative disorders. Most of the are only mildly to moderately impaired, but participants who have little posture control, severely impaired righting responses, or who are wheelchair bound participated in our carriage driving program. We also served participants diagnosed with a variety of developmental diabilities including Down syndrome, Praderwilli syndrome, autism, Asperger syndrome, cerebral palsy and mental retardation. Clearly we are expanding both the number and scope of participants we serve.
We experienced explosive growth in our At E.A.S.E. program. EAP program and sessions for this program will begin in July 2008. We saw a 93% increase in participation from active and veteran servicemen, women and their families. They have now become the largest population. Collaborations with James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa and Bay Pines VA Hospital in St. Petersburg brought many of these participants to the Farm. With Bay Pines we have entered into a research project and service for end of life patients. We served 343 military participants in QLF’s At E.A.S.E. and other therapeutic programs.
SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
In 2009 Quantum Leap Farm provided numerous community service opportunities to residents of the Tampa Bay area including individual volunteers of all ages, corporate and social volunteer groups, and community service organizations. Volunteers logged over 7000 hours of service time in 2009. That’s a 40% increase over last year’s number! In addition the Farm was host to multiple and various educational camps, seminars and internships. We hosted “Operation Family Fun Day” attended by over 180 servicemen, women and children largely from MacDill Air Force Base. Our annual Veteran’s Christmas party was attended upwards of 150 veterans and their families. QLF hosted two certification clinics with EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association). Eagala is an international certifying body for professionals practicing equine assisted growth and learning. Four QLF staff members received certification as ‘Equine Professionals’ during these clinics.
FUNDRAISING & AWARDS
In 2009 Quantum Leap Farm completed Phase II of our covered riding arena, installing fans and lights which will increase the usefulness of this state-of-the-art facility. Additionally we earned approximately 50 percent of its annual revenue and continued to receive support through the local community via grants, fundraisers, and many generous corporate and individual donors.
In 2009 we were awarded grants by the BRAIVE Fund through Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, Levi Strauss Foundation, Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, and the Keystone Civic Association.
QLF also held several successful fundraisers and garnered new sponsorships in 2009. Fundraisers included the Tampa Yacht Club Benefit Fundraiser in October 2008, the 8th Annual Roger Whitley Charity Golf Tournament in November 2008, Circle of 100 (100 donors giving $1,000) in March 2009, Sustaining Donor mailer fundraiser in June 2009, The Divine Equine II benefit art sale in July 2009.
Please see our Audited Financials for complete information.
SUMMARY & 2010 PREVIEW
Quantum Leap Farm’s growth continued in 2009, furthering our mission and moving us closer to the accomplishment of our goals. We increased both the number and diversity of clients we provide services for regardless of their ability to pay; we enhanced the scope, quality, and delivery of services we provide; and finally, we helped sustain Quantum Leap Farm’s growth as a community service organization by reaching out to citizens in our surrounding community and offering numerous and varied opportunities for involvement. QLF covered riding arena was outfitted with new fans and lights in August 2009.
We anticipate fiscal year 2010 to offer additional opportunities for growth and expansion with our state of the art covered riding arena we can add additional hours, staff and serve an even higher number of participants and increase the number of sessions we provide to the local community. The new covered arena will allow us to develop additional fundraising activities to further support our mission.