Over the past few months, SAFE has been helped by some pretty amazing kids who have used their talents and effort to help horses in need. We’d like to share their stories with you for two reasons: one, because it feels good, and two, to inspire others looking for creative ways to make a difference for horses in our community and beyond!

Alex O

Alex chats with auctioneer Geoff Young at Heart

Alex is a second grader who took an after-school creative writing class and wrote and illustrated a book entitled Isabelle and Brownie Go Around The World. Alex and her parents decided it would be fun to publish her book on Blurb.com and offer it for sale, but it was Alex who made the decision as to what to do with the proceeds from the book sales: she wanted to donate the money to charity. The charity she selected was SAFE! Last month, Alex visited SAFE Harbor Stables and presented us with a check for $350. She also donated two signed copies of her book to Heart of the Horse, which raised another $875 for the SAFE horses! But our favorite thing of all was what Alex wrote on the copy of Isabelle and Brownie Go Around The World that she presented to the SAFE Board of Directors:

“SAFE — Thank you for all you do for the horses. When I grow up I want to work here. — Love, Alex 1/12/2014”

Isabelle and Brownie Go Around The World is available online at Blurb.com. Proceeds benefit Save a Forgotten Equine. Thank you, Alex!

Sage and her mom at Heart (inset: Sage’s donation)

Sage Y

Sage and her mom Kim have been volunteering with SAFE for several years now, and one of their favorite duties is handling the mini horses Sunny & Shasta at the start of Heart of the Horse every year. But this year, Sage decided she wanted to do something more for the event, so she took a discarded horse shoe from SAFE Harbor Stables, and with her own money, purchased beads and wire and turned it into a work of art! She even wrote a short poem to go with the horse shoe. This lovely jeweled horse shoe was offered during the Silent Auction at this year’s Heart of the Horse, and it sold for $70! We were so proud to offer such a gorgeous item at our auction, and we think that the winner is very lucky to have it! Thank you Sage!

Tate C

Tate selling calendars at the Holiday Open House

Tate is another talented artist on-the-rise, and she used her amazing artistic ability to create the twelve drawings that adorn her 2014 Calendar. Tate created her calendar to benefit two charities that are meaningful to her: SAFE and The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Tate sold her calendars online at her website, TateHelps.org. She also came to our Holiday Open House and sold calendars from the terrific little booth that she and her family made. Tate raised just shy of $900 with her calendar, so the SAFE horses received a check for $448.96! I have Tate’s calendar on my wall and it reminds me every day of her generous spirit! Thank you Tate!

Adie makes a new friend at SAFE

Adie S

Adie did something very special for our SAFE horses. This year for her birthday, instead of asking for presents, she asked her friends to bring money to donate to SAFE. Adie’s generosity and selflessness is inspiring. When Terry asked her if there a specific horse she wanted the money to go towards she said no, she loves them all. With kids like this growing up to care for animals in need our future looks very bright! Thank you, Adie (and mom Gina) for being such great friends to the SAFE horses.