Many Choose To ‘Rise Up’ For Magical Meadows
By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews
LEESBURG — It was an evening to “Rise Up” for Magical Meadows and the supporters who attended the fundraising event Saturday at Tippecanoe Country Club, did just that.
With a goal of $50,000 to be raised that evening, Tammy Stackhouse, the founder, said they were halfway there before the night started. Unofficially, $6,800 was raised through the live auction and two individuals came forward with $5,000 each in matching grants. The totals for the 42 silent auction items and other donations were not available.
Approximately 110 people gathered for the evening to help raise funds for Magical Meadows, a therapeutic horseback riding program for children and adults with physical and mental challenges.
Guests heard from Elizabeth Hausmann, Leslie Langfeldt and Brent Bockelman who all have children participating in the Magical Meadows program.
Hausmann’s 6-year-old daughter, Addy, has been participating since she was 2. Addy suffers from GNA01, a neurodevelopmental disorder, in which there are only 200 cases in the world. Hausmann said through research on how to help her daughter, they moved to the area from Chicago after learning she needed as much therapy as possible. They found Magical Meadows. “The difference we’ve seen has been remarkable,” Hausmann stated.
“This is a hidden gem that people don’t know it is there … People need to know it exists,” she stated. Her hope is one day her wheelchair-bound daughter will walk. “When she is at Magical Meadows on a horse by herself … grin on her face. The development we see each time she’s on the horse, we’re so thankful for the resource available and all the volunteers are top-notch.”
Langfeldt’s son, Jack, who will soon be a teenager, has a chromosome abnormality and is nonverbal. He has no interaction with other kids, but he loves the horses. “He gets excited before he sees the barn. It’s a blessing to be able to provide an activity for him,” Langfeldt stated. “It’s an amazing place,” she added, pointing out the smiles, laughing, one-on-one ride with his horse she sees in her son. “It’s an incredible thing for him. It’s made a huge difference in our life and our son’s.”
Bockelman, who is also a board member, is known as Kendall’s dad. “Her joy is boundless,” Bockelman stated of his daughter, who is deaf and autistic. “She is full of love and funny.” He noted the opportunities Magical Meadows has provided his daughter, who sang the national anthem with enthusiasm at one of their events. He also shared some of the comical happenings with his daughter, which indicated once she’s there, she doesn’t want to leave. “There are more kids wanting to be there than ever before,” he said.
Carl Adams, executive director, noted this is the 15th year for Magical Meadows and it has been the best year so far and the best year they have ever had with the lives being touched. He noted there are over 5,000 kids (of all ages) in the county with emotional needs. Additionally, Adams noted how Jim and Jean Northener came out, took a ride, and then made the donation to build a barn saving Magical Meadows $40,000 in hay costs.
Adams and Stackhouse noted the organization is moving into great things this year, with the hiring of a paid full-time staff member and the vision of building two to three cabins on the property to allow families to spend a weekend or longer. “The need is great, the desire to help is tremendous,” stated Adams.