| Most parents are fortunate to have healthy children. | | | | Volunteer of the Year. |
| However, there are also those whose children have | | | | What kind of support do these families give-besides |
| special needs. Where does one go, if you are one of | | | | the financial donations? Penny supervises a yearly |
| those parents, for therapy? | | | | barbecue fundraiser and a black tie event |
| Many families have discovered a wonderful place | | | | appropriately named the Shea Center Gala. The ladies |
| called the J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center in San | | | | refer to themselves as the "worker bees". |
| Juan Capistrano in California. It is one of the most | | | | All agreed that they do whatever needs to be done - |
| respected and largest accredited therapeutic | | | | raise money, raffle prizes, tie bows and ribbons onto |
| equestrian programs in the country. | | | | balloons, and decorate rooms. As Jenny Klein says "A |
| It takes more than 200 volunteers, physical and | | | | synergy has developed among us during our years of |
| occupational therapists, a staff to care for 25 horses | | | | friendship, mothering and volunteering." |
| and seven acres of land to provide care for over 540 | | | | All their children are involved as well. Many of the now |
| riders per year, according to executive director Dana | | | | adults still donate their time or have found passions of |
| Butler-Moburg and her assistant Dana Green. Green | | | | their own to volunteer to in a way of following in their |
| added that the center serves clients with | | | | parents very generous footsteps. |
| approximately 50 varying disabilities. | | | | One daughter finished college and decided to teach in |
| Why bring up the Shea Center in connection with a | | | | Madagascar. Some spend their summers at home |
| small, but exclusive part of Laguna Hills, California? | | | | from college volunteering in the administration section |
| Because some of the center's most devoted | | | | at Shea or heading up the Pig Race fundraiser. |
| volunteers and supporters live right in the city! | | | | Are there any special stories or memories that stand |
| How and when did it all begin? Twenty years ago, Jon | | | | out over their 20-year "rein"? |
| and Penny Fosheim wanted to volunteer and the | | | | Susie Roof-who is also a licensed physical therapist, |
| center was looking for someone with a background in | | | | said she sees things for a medical point of view. |
| finance to assist with its growth. With Jon's financial | | | | "I see traditional medicine only being able to take a child |
| background and Penny's interest in horses, the union | | | | with severe medical needs to a certain point and then |
| was made. | | | | the doctors send home the child with the parent and |
| Penny calls it kismet. Jon was more involved while | | | | that's basically it," she said. " With the Shea Center, the |
| Penny was raising their children. It was during those | | | | therapy is never cut off. We have seen clients such |
| years that Penny met other Nellie Gail moms. She | | | | as Michael Lewis, who has been coming to Shea since |
| recruited these families to form what Moburg and | | | | its inception 30 years ago, still attending and getting |
| Green have nicknamed "The Lone Pine Circle Gang". | | | | something out of the program." |
| Over the years, these Nellie Gail pals have raised | | | | Ellen Thomas commented that many of the kids have |
| literally millions of dollars in support of the Shea Center. | | | | siblings who play soccer, baseball and other sports that |
| Other families who have joined the fold are Jenny and | | | | require them going to all the games. |
| Bill Klein, who have donated $1 million dollars and an | | | | "The kids who come to the Shea Center will never get |
| $850,000 challenge grant to cover the final renovation | | | | to go and do those things," Thomas said, "but here, |
| costs last year. The grant was met Dec. 31, 2007, and | | | | they can and do compete in riding competitions and |
| Shea has just broken ground on The Klein Family | | | | their siblings come to those and cheer them on! They |
| Education and Therapy Building. | | | | also have a chance to earn trophies and medals" |
| Others are Les and Ellen Thomas - Les is the retired | | | | This group started with Jon and Penny Fosheim here |
| president of Shea Homes of Southern California; Susie | | | | in Laguna Hills, but their generosity and community spirit |
| and Bob Roof - past chairs of the organization; | | | | was contagious enough to spread too many of their |
| Georgia Redoglia, Bev Yocum, Diane and Wayne | | | | close friends and neighbors. |
| Blackburn and Dixie Sparks, who is the center's 2008 | | | | |