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A Message From Our Team
From the Board President’s Desk – Spring 2025 Update
As we continue through another impactful season at Horses Help, I want to extend heartfelt thanks to our community: our interim Executive Director, Lori Adukeh, volunteers, donors, staff, and board members who make our mission possible. Your time, energy, and dedication help us bring the healing power of horses to those who need it most. This spring has also brought a number of important transitions for our organization. Leadership changes are never easy, but they offer us the opportunity to reflect, reset, and refocus. I want to thank all of you who have stepped up with patience, support, and professionalism during these moments of change. Whether it’s adapting to new roles, covering extra responsibilities, or simply showing up with a positive attitude, it does not go unnoticed. I remain confident in everyone’s commitment to Horses Help and to the people and horses who make our mission real every day. Thank you for staying in stride with us, guided by integrity, compassion, and a shared sense of purpose. Sincerely, Brian S. Elsey
A Message From Our Interim Executive Director
Greetings! I am so honored to have been asked to step into the role of Interim Executive Director for Horses Help. As a 5th-generation Arizona native, born and raised in Tucson (yes, I’m a U of A grad), I have always been an avid horse lover. In fact, I learned to ride a horse before I learned to ride a bike! I came to Horses Help to serve on our Board of Directors last fall. When the opportunity presented itself to support our community by helping to grow our programs and enhance our business operations, I jumped in. Just a little bit about me: I have 40 years of experience in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors. With all my years of experience, I have found that my passion is to serve the underserved and to find innovative ways to provide programs and opportunities for those in need. I began my nonprofit journey as the Executive Director for an organization in Nashville that provided educational enrichment and career development programs for underserved youth. It was in this role that I received recognition as CEO of the Year by the Center for Nonprofit Management and a Woman of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal. I continue to be amazed by the overwhelming dedication of the staff, our donors, our Board, and especially our volunteers in delivering the mission of Horses Help. Together, we will continue to grow our programs and services to our community, and I look forward with great confidence to a successful future for Horses Help and those we serve. Sincerely, Lori Adukeh
Volunteer Corner
Hello incredible volunteers! I'm excited to be supporting you and Horses Help in the capacity of volunteer coordinator. For those of you I haven’t yet met, I’m looking forward to the opportunity! In case you’re curious, following is a brief summary of how I came to Horses Help and my experience so far. Seven years ago, I donated my English saddle to Tacks 5th Ave. As I was leaving, someone said to me, “we are always in need of volunteers…” That invitation spurred me to action (pun intended 😊). I began volunteering as a side walker, coach, and barn buddy. From there, my participation grew. I mastered the Horses Help techniques of horse handling and assisted in preparing horses for mounted classes—grooming, tacking, untacking— and then becoming a horse leader. I learned that Horses Help was a Premier Accredited PATH Int’l Center, having had zero knowledge of PATH Int’l prior. In 2021, I obtained an Equine Specialist Certification from PATH Int’l and joined Horses Help as a part-time staff member, leading individual and group Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) classes as well as Horsemanship classes. Throughout the years, I’ve benefited from working alongside our wonderful volunteers, staff, and board members during annual events such as the Arabian Horse Show, Golf Tournament, and the Barn Bash. In December 2024, I retired from my 37-year corporate career, leading a global customer experience team of technology professionals. When the opportunity arose to take on the volunteer coordinator role, I happily accepted. I am now experiencing the saying: “do something you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life!” Reflecting on my increased Horses Help involvement, I attribute it to three key factors: Horses Help’s high standards, ongoing learning opportunities, and the amazing like-minded volunteers, staff, and board members who positively impact our community. Sincerely, Lisa Tidwell
