Our Community Spotlight: Challenged Champions
Community. This is a word that has grown to mean so much more than just a word to Journey Financial. We have the pleasure of existing in a space built to allow small businesses like ours to thrive. From local events to hard-earned partnerships, our community has grown into a special place that we are proud to call home.
Last week, one of our summer interns had a chance to explore another small business within our community, giving us a better understanding of how other local organizations view our area. Katie Kaufman, our marketing intern, was able to head out to Challenged Champions—a local organization that specializes in equine therapy for individuals facing physical, emotional, and/or mental challenges. While there, Katie saw firsthand just how special this organization is and how it positively impacts our community.
Challenged Champions has been in operation for nearly 30 years and currently has 18 therapy horses that interact with visitors and participants. All horses are trained for a minimum of 60 days to handle equine therapy without being easily spooked. Katie found it fascinating to learn that over the years they have helped people ranging in age from three to their nineties!
Over the past year, they were able to serve over 400 individuals while consistently keeping the facility a fun, safe place for therapy. Special riding gear is worn to keep every rider safe, with different equipment tailored to individual needs.
At the end of Katie’s tour, Program Director Amanda Sizemore noted, “Without our community, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.”
Challenged Champions is a nonprofit organization that relies on volunteers to keep operations running as smoothly as it does. Word-of-mouth recommendations bring many people to their doors, meaning there is almost always someone training in their arena! All of this is made possible by generous community donors, grants, and fundraisers that keep the operation running and even provide scholarships for some riders.
Reflecting on his intern's experience, Dan Turnwald, owner of Journey Financial, shared:
“The journey is different for everyone and it seems to me we are both helping people with their journey—we’re just doing it in different ways.”
Dan hit the nail straight on the head. Whether through financial planning or equine therapy, our community is built to support you on your journey through life. Challenged Champions is a remarkable example of what makes our area such a special place to live. As Journey Financial continues to grow, we remain deeply committed to celebrating and supporting the people, nonprofits, and small businesses that make this community feel like home.
Our first priority is helping you take care of yourself and your family. We want to learn more about your personal situation, identify your dreams and goals, and understand your tolerance for risk. Long-term relationships that encourage open and honest communication have been the cornerstone of my foundation of success.
