Celebrating Our November Volunteer Milestones! Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, and every milestone reflects their incredible dedication. This month, we’re proud to recognize those marking 1, 5, and 10-year anniversaries! Thank you all for your time, energy, and steadfast support of our participants and horses.
Emmanuelle Van Vleet
(10 Years & 500+ Hours)
“E” as she prefers to be called, brings a world-class equestrian background straight to Mane Stream! Before joining us, she spent over 25 years riding and competing internationally—from UK Eventing (up to Intermediate level) and Pony Club coaching, to riding up to Prix St. Georges (PSG) dressage in the US.
Mane Stream's Lead Therapist, Melanie Dominko-Richards, MS, CCC-SLP, HPCS describes E's contribution to our therapy program as "invaluable!" Melanie said, "I have had the pleasure of working with E in too many therapy sessions to count over the years! Her experience with not just horse-handling but equines in general is a wealth of knowledge, and one that I have found myself taking advantage of before and after treatment sessions. E's personality pairs so well with working with our therapy clients, and she is never one to shy away from doing something silly as our clients work towards meeting their functional treatment goals. I am always excited to see when E is on my schedule, as I know that the quality of movement she is going to encourage our therapy horses to give will have immeasurable benefits for my clients and that I am going to learn a thing (or two!) along the way."
Dedicated and deeply experienced, she travels a long distance whenever she can to support our team. Whether leading Adaptive Riding, stepping in for Horses for Healing, or lending her rare skills as a Therapy Longliner, we are so grateful for her 10 years of incredible service!
Mary Ellen YeN
(5 Years & 425+ Hours)
Mary Ellen is the absolute definition of heart, loyalty, and dependability! A cornerstone of "Cliffie’s Ladies" in Adaptive Riding, she has seamlessly fit right into a wonderful group of women who share a deep bond, so much so that their connection extends far beyond the arena, with regular get-togethers and genuine friendships outside of their Mane Stream shifts.
Whether she is serving as a dedicated year-round sidewalker or jumping in wherever needed, Mary Ellen is always ready to step up for our horses, participants, and team. From pitching in at our Spring events and Equus Galas to answering last-minute calls for extra hands during Summer Camp, her generosity and warmth know no bounds. In fact, when we launched our new Paddock Pals toddler program, Mary Ellen was the very first volunteer to raise her hand to help lead the way!
Thank you, Mary Ellen, for five amazing years of incredible dedication, vibrant community, and steadfast heart!
A huge thank you to everyone celebrating their 1st anniversary! We’re thrilled to have you on the team!
1st Year Anniversaries:
Jill Dolan, Karen Evans, Carole Strickroth
