Healing Reins awarded $10,000 ‘C.O. Impact’ grant

The Leadership Bend Class of 2015 is pleased to announce that Healing Reins was awarded the $10,000 grand prize at the inaugural Central Oregon Impact Summit.

Healing Reins is the only nationally accredited equine-based therapy program east of the Cascades in Oregon.

Their organizations operates under the governing body of PATH International, a federally registered nonprofit formed in 1969 as the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association to promote equine-assisted activities and therapies for individuals with special needs.

Healing Reins was established in Oregon in 1999, and brings horses into the lives of children and adults with physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral challenges. Having formalized a team of certified instructors and staff, they utilize adaptive, therapeutic horseback riding and horse-centered activities to support a wide range of needs and abilities.

In addition to the $10,000 prize, the Leadership Bend Class of 2015 contributed a $1,500 Audience Choice award. La Pine Community Kitchen was the recipient of the 2015 Audience Choice Award.

Jim White from the Nonprofit Association of Oregon was the keynote speaker at COIS. As part of his keynote address, he shared the collective social impact of nonprofit organizations and their economic significance in the state of Oregon.

NAO provided Nonprofit Network of Central Oregon scholarships to presenting finalists Better Together, Bend Family Kitchen, the Latino Community Association, and Audience Choice Winner, La Pine Community Kitchen.

COIS received a great deal of support from many members of the Central Oregon community.

Nonprofits participating in COIS received coaching from Pam Stevenson from the Small Business Development Center, Nate Liabraaten from Cascadian Group, Teresa Hogue from Cascade Center for Community Governance, Jared Standerwick from US Bank, Steve Curley from Central Oregon Community College and Maggie Kirby from Craft3. Jared Standerwick, Steve Curley and Maggie Kirby are all members of Leadership Bend Class of 2015.

Jim Lee from invitexcellence, Cyndy Cook a Community Volunteer, Tom Kemper from Housing Works, Connie Druliner from Express Employment Professionals and Jim Lussier from the Lussier Center all participated in COIS, judging the presentations and strategic plans of the nonprofit finalists.

Jen Rusk from Rusk Coaching & Consulting; Adrienne Graham from Leapfrog; Bruce Abernethy from Bend La Pine Schools all participated in COIS as Business Coaches working with the Semi-Finalist nonprofits on strategic planning, setting measurable outcomes and financial planning.

This event would not have been possible without the support of many corporate, philanthropic and in kind sponsors.

COIS 2015 cash sponsors include: The Ford Family Foundation; Bend Broadband; Bryant, Lovlien & Jarvis; Hurley Re, P.C.; Craft3, Arbor Mortgage; Miller, Nash, Graham & Dunn; Oregon Community Foundation; Oregon Adaptive Sports; First American Title; Knife River; Karnopp Petersen LLP; Taylor NW, Deschutes Brewery; Jones & Roth; Miller Lumber; Bank of the Cascades; Columbia Bank; Deschutes County; Brooks Resources Corporation and Old Mill District. In kind sponsors include: Deschutes Brewery; Big Foot Beverages; Twist; Newport Avenue Market; The Nonprofit Association of Oregon; Central Oregon Community College; Deschutes Children’s Foundation; 75Nineteen Media; St. Charles Heath System; Tetherow; XPress Printing, Inc. and SMART—Start Making A Reader Today.

The Leadership Bend Class of 2015 would like to thank the participants in the evening’s festivities and the Central Oregon for-profit and not-for-profit business community for their support of the Inaugural Central Oregon Impact Summit.