WHISPERING HOPE RANCH FOUNDATION APPLICATION.PDF

Created Thursday, March 05, 2015
Page 1
General information
General information | Organization Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation
General information | Contact First name Shelley
General information | Contact Last name Huber
General information | Contact e-mail shuber@whisperinghoperanch.org
General information | Contact phone number 6022662216
Address
Address | Street PO Box 54070
Address | City Phoenix
Address | State AZ
Address | ZIP Code 85078
From what tribe is the organization requesting the grant?
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
Total grant amount request
$10,000
The Gila River Indian Community offers multi-year awards. If your organization is requesting a
multi-year grant for this project or program, enter the amount to be requested each year.
Amount
Year 1 $
Year 2 $
Year 3 $
Year 4 $
Year 5 $
Page 1



March 26, 2015
Mrs. Selena Castaneda
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Tribal Council Secretary
P.O. Box 17779
Fountain Hills, AZ 85269
Dear Mrs. Castaneda:
Thank you for the opportunity to submit the following request in the amount of $10,000 for consideration. Please find the
requested contact information below.
Local Government Entity Contact Information Organization Contact Information
Amanda Nash Shelley Huber
Maricopa County Government Relations Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation
301 W. Jefferson Street, 10th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85003 PO Box 54070, Phoenix, AZ 85078
602.506.4485 602.266.2216
Description of the Proposed (Continuing) Program: Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation brings hope and healing to
children with special needs by providing transformational experiences at the only camp facility in Arizona designed and built
expressly for them.
Since 1998, Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation has partnered with 50 children’s health organizations to provide
transformational experiences for those faced with challenges including abuse and neglect, autism, bereavement trauma, brain
injury, cancer, Down syndrome, heart and kidney disease, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida and visual impairment.
During camp children (ages 6 to 17) participate in adapted sports, ride horses in our specialized saddles, frolic in the splash
pad using aquatic wheelchairs, roast marshmallows and sing songs around the campfire, smiling all the while, thrilled to be
able to take part in activities they previously had to watch from the sidelines. Traditional camp activities, such as archery and
crafts, are blended seamlessly with animal interaction and equine facilitated programs. The heart of the Whispering Hope
experience is the healing bond that grows between campers and the 50+ gentle animals that reside at the Ranch. Like the
campers, many of the animals live with challenges. Some have been rescued from abuse or abandonment. Others were born
with physical anomalies, illness or were injured. At Whispering Hope Ranch, differences are accepted, even celebrated –
whether human or animal.
With your support and the Foundation’s expertise we have the opportunity to transform lives by providing an environment for
children with special needs where they:
• Feel independent; feel a sense of accomplishment; expand their social and physical boundaries .
• Gain a sense of normalcy by not being “the different one”.
• Gain confidence and coping skills that they can use in everyday life.
• Experience respect and dignity, in a place of security for campers of all ages and all levels of ability.
• Feel a sense of belonging as friendships are formed with others who face similar challenges.
Description of how the proposed program meets one or more of Fort McDowell’s Funding Priorities: Our programming
supports the health and well-being of children with any physical, medical, developmental or emotional challenge, aligning with
the health funding priority of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. The healing experiences provided by the animal-assisted and
equine facilitated activities at the Ranch blend seamlessly with traditional medical treatment. These programs, in addition to
the recreational and social opportunities which promote physical activity and wellness, create a holistic health approach all
rolled up into a fun camp setting.
PO Box 54070 Phoenix Arizona 85078 | P 602.266.2216 F 602.266.2219 | whrf@whisperinghoperanch.org | www.whisperinghoperanch.org P a g e | 1

Decades of research has shown that interacting with animals results in measurable benefits to individuals with compromised
health. The positive effects of human-to-animal interactions have been scientifically documented to improve emotional
stability, self esteem, identity and self-worth in populations of all ages and with a wide variety of psychological dysfunctions. 1
Studies have also shown that children with conditions such as autism may verbalize more and increase eye contact, and human
healing—physical, mental and emotional—is accelerated.
Additional benefits include:
• Acceptance: Animals have a way of accepting without qualification. They don't care how a person looks or what they say.
An animal's acceptance is nonjudgmental, forgiving, and uncomplicated compared to humans.
• Nurturing: Many at-risk children have not learned nurturing skills through the traditional channel–their parents.
Psychologically, when a person nurtures, his/her need to be nurtured is being fulfilled.
• Socialization: Simply the presence of animals serves to brighten the atmosphere, increasing amusement, laughter, and
play and thus increasing socialization. These positive distractions may help to decrease children’s feelings of isolation or
alienation often experienced due to their challenges.
• Physical Contact: The touch of an animal is safe and non-threatening, and can make a world of difference to children who
have suffered abuse.
• Physiological Benefits: Positive effects on the basic functioning of the body such as the decrease in heart rate and blood
pressure can be dramatic.
Families and caregivers of our guests with special needs are overwhelmed and overjoyed by the empirical evidence of the
health benefits for all who enter our gate. Testimonials from our guests frequently refer to Whispering Hope Ranch their “place
of hope and healing”.
Identification of Need, Target Population and Number of People Who Will Be Served: There is a growing need for the
services Whispering Hope Ranch provides. There are 241,067+ children in Arizona with special health care needs, as well as
16,990 living in foster care and 3,177 children living in crisis shelters or group homes. Time spent at the Ranch is best and often
described as “transformational”, improving the quality of life for children who are coping with life-altering or life-limiting
illnesses, physical, developmental or emotional challenges. Hope is a very powerful medicine and it is vital that Whispering
Hope Ranch fill the prescription for every child and family who needs us today, tomorrow and for generations to come.
Thanks to the generosity of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, WHRF served 1,262 in 2014. Our goal is to serve 1,500
participants in 2015.
As the only camp facility in Arizona designed and built specifically for children with special needs, our services to the
community are unique. The sense of community forged among our campers and the multitude of medical personnel,
caregivers and volunteers extends well beyond our borders to enrich the vitality of our community at large.
Partners in the Program and Applications Made To and/or Awards Granted By Other Tribes/Nations:
WHRF has applied for a grant from the Gila River Indian Community. Committed funds for FY 2015: Discount Tire, Dorrance
Family Foundation, MAS Foundation, Perkins Coie LLP, Finish Line Youth Foundation, Geneva Fund, Marley Foundation,
McMeekin Trust, The Waters Foundation, The Wayne Foundation and Wells Fargo Community Support.
Timetable for Implementation of the Program: The Foundation’s ongoing programs welcome children ages 6–17 in the
summer months and individuals with disabilities of any age and their families during the non-summer months for retreats.
We would be most honored to again partner in hope for children with special needs with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.
Warm regards,
Shelley Huber
Director of Administration
1 SHIFT: AT THE FRONTIERS OF CONSCIOUSNESS, June-August 2004, William Benda and Rondi Lightmark
PO Box 54070 Phoenix Arizona 85078 | P 602.266.2216 F 602.266.2219 | whrf@whisperinghoperanch.org | www.whisperinghoperanch.org P a g e | 2

WHISPERING HOPE RANCH FOUNDATION
Projected Budget FYE 2015
OUR PRIORITIES
1. PEOPLE & ANIMALS with special needs; Every Dollar Goes
to One of These Three
2. UNIQUE, CUSTOMIZED ADAPTED EXPERIENCES; AND Interconnected Priorities
as an Investment in
3. Fully accessible MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY of hope & healing. Our Impact.
It is our responsibility to deliver excellence in virtually every area of these transformational experiences, from designing programs & planning
activities & food service with each of our partners to accommodate the needs of our campers, to caring for the animals that are an enormous part
of the healing experience, to ensuring the 45-acre facility is well maintained and prepared for the unique needs of each person that we serve.
Amt
Requested fm
FYE Aug '15 Fort
Budget Item
Budget McDowell
Yavapai
Nation
Program Design; Activity Scheduling; Food Service Planning; Animal Care & Programs; Facility & Amenity
$ 465,162 $ 3,722
Design, Maintenance & Preparation. Includes all Full-Time, Part-Time & Seasonal Program & Facility Staff.
Animal Feed, Bedding, Hoof Care, Grooming, Medications, Shelter, Shoeing, Veterinary $ 41,875 $ 335
Ranch & Program Supplies $ 21,162 $ 169
Insurance, Licenses $ 33,166 $ 265
Printing, Reproduction, Office Supplies $ 4,600 $ 37
Utilities (Including Gas, Electricity, Internet, Water Treatment, Telephone, Waste) $ 69,880 $ 559
Infrastructure, Occupancy, Equipment, Repairs, Maintenance - ensuring the 45-acre Fully Accessible
Mountain Sanctuary is well maintained and prepared to accommodate the unique needs of each person that we $ 256,800 $ 2,055
serve.
Professional Services (Audit/Tax Return) $ 31,209 $ 250
Total Estimated Fixed Operating Costs $ 923,853 $ 7,391
Estimated Food Service customized by groups & individuals based on the special dietary $ 221,379 $ 1,771
needs & food & additive allergies of each participant.
Subtotal, Fixed & Variable Operating Expense $ 1,145,232 $ 9,162
Administration $ 58,283 $ 466
Fundraising $ 46,403 $ 371
Total Estimated Expense $ 1,249,918 $ 10,000
Note: This budget represents the best estimates of staff and management.

WHISPERING HOPE RANCH FOUNDATION
Long Term Funding Resources
FYE 15 FYE 16 FYE 17
COMMITTED FUNDS
Board of Diretors $ 250,000 $ 250,000 $ 250,000
Geneva $ 80,000 $ 40,000
Marley Foundation $ 300,000 $ 150,000 $ 200,000
McMeekin $ 20,000
Waters Foundation $ 10,000
Anonymous Individual $ 15,000
Anonymous Family Foundation $ 5,000
Interest Min $ 10,000
Glassman $ 20,000
Gumpert (Rcvd $240k FYE 14 for FYsE '14 & '15) $ 100,000
MAS Foundation $ 20,000
Perkins Coie LLP $ 5,000
Wayne Foundation $ 6,150
IN-KIND (Office Space) $ 30,000
Partner Organizations (Camp Use Fees) $ 300,000 $ 300,000 $ 300,000
AMOUNTS EXPECTED BASED ON HISTORICAL ANNUAL GIFTS
Dorrance $ 25,000 $ 25,000 $ 25,000
McMeekin $ 20,000 $ 20,000
Waters Foundation $ 8,000 $ 8,000
Anonymous Individual $ 15,000 $ 15,000
Anonymous Family Foundation $ 5,000 $ 5,000
Interest Min $ 10,000 $ 10,000
CA Community Fdn $ 1,500 $ 1,500 $ 1,500
Glassman $ 20,000 $ 20,000
Amount requested /to be requested from others $ 160,418 $ 200,000 $ 300,000
IN-KIND (Office Space) $ 30,000 $ 30,000
Finish Line Youth Foundation $ 5,000 $ 5,000
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation $ 10,000
Pendleton Memorial Fund $ 5,000 $ 5,000
Phoenix Suns Charities $ 10,000 $ 10,000 $ 10,000
Safeway Foundation $ 10,000 $ 10,000 $ 10,000
Wells Fargo Foundation $ 10,000 $ 10,000 $ 10,000


The faces of hope and healing

Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation extends our deepest appreciation to you for your
commitment to children with special needs in our community and to our resident animals,
many of whom have special needs, and who provide love and comfort to our campers.
The faces of hope and healing pictured on the pages that follow convey more eloquently
than we could in words the impact of your generous contributions.
On behalf of all the extraordinary children and families who have found hope and healing
at Whispering Hope Ranch—we thank you.
“Hope is like a single candle in a dark hallway—it gives off just enough light to continue on
and find the way out of the darkness. Hope creates endurance and strength in a person.
If one has hope, he or she can go on in times of trouble, can be motivated to do the best
possible, and can overcome the pain that surrounds him or her.”
- Christiana Casey, Author

"If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving. You lose that
courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

the vital need for Whispering Hope Ranch
240,000 / 1
There are more than 240,000 children in Arizona with special health care needs, 14,400 in
foster care and 2,112 children living in crisis shelters and group homes – and there is one
camp facility designed and built from the ground up specifically for them: Whispering
Hope Ranch. 1
“They're (WHR) set up to handle families in our situation," says Chad, Daniel’s dad
(pictured next page). "They are experienced with children with all levels of disease and
they have the facilities to handle them. The entire camp is built for children with
disabilities. The staff is absolutely phenomenal. This is a rough road and you cannot
walk it alone. You have to have help." 2

"When you get a diagnosis like cancer, it dominates your life, your schedule and your
heart," says Chad. "Everything becomes about the cancer. To be able to go away for a
weekend like this . . . It's probably the only vacation where you get to leave your
baggage at home." 2 (Daniel and family at the creek at WHR; Daniel sharing a special
moment with Black Beauty, a duck who was blinded by a predator prior to being
adopted by WHRF.)

the need for Whispering Hope Ranch
is greater than ever
The need in our community for the transformational experience provided by Whispering
Hope Ranch is greater than ever.
√ The number of children we serve is growing.
√ The number of organizations we partner with is growing.
√ The number of children who can benefit from our unique service is growing.
√ Our impact in the community is growing.
In addition to a much needed break from the day-in-day-out marathon of procedures,
appointments and treatments these children and their families endure, they are in need
of hope and healing.
Feedback from our campers and their caregivers tells us that hope is a very powerful
medicine, and the unique service Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation provides is highly
valued by them.

“Hope redefines what is probable and opens the paths to the impossible.”
- Hope. More Important Than You Think.
Solomon’s Porch. Feb. 2012

Hope – an essential element for healing
Reviewing statistics, such as those on life expectancy for the various diagnoses facing our
campers, often leaves families with little room for hope and a lot of room for despair. The
same can be said for a child living in foster care or a group home when learning of the
statistics related to teen adoptions.
Unfortunately, it’s often when we're at our most vulnerable that we are faced with what
are often devastating prognoses and statistics.
Children and families living with physical, emotional or intellectual challenges need hope to
help them find the way out of the darkness of despair. They need Whispering Hope Ranch.


lives are transformed by hope
at Whispering Hope Ranch
Hope is important because it tells us there is a chance that things will be better. Hope helps
us face the day. Hope gives us our child back today while statistics can leave us gripped
with the fear of a tomorrow without them. For a child living in a group home, hope keeps
alive the dream of becoming part of a loving family.
Hope can help strengthen immune systems. Hope helps us to imagine a future. Make plans.
Live. Hope heals.

“Connection is why we’re here. We are hard-wired to connect with others—it’s what gives
purpose and meaning to our lives, and without it there is suffering.”
- Brené Brown, Ph.D.,
Researcher and Educator

providing access to Hope
Hope is best accessed through community and connection – not in isolation and not by
wading through articles with statistics, prognoses and stories of loss.
Hope is accessed at Whispering Hope Ranch –
Through the connection that occurs between a child and one of our animal
residents, both of whom have special needs.
Animal programs at Whispering Hope Ranch provide therapies on a level that no
medical treatment or counseling session could ever provide. Animal interactions
create experiences that are cherished by our campers for a lifetime. Our guests
frequently describe their experiences or those of their loved ones as ‘amazing’ or
‘magical’.
Each and every time we see these magical moments occur we’re reminded of the
importance of our work. They inspire and invigorate us to do everything in our power
to make sure the Foundation continues to be here for every child and family who
needs us.

...Through the bonding and connection that occurs human to human.
A feeling of belonging is experienced when friendships are formed with others who face
similar challenges, such as when eight-year-old Nathan, who has had multiple heart
surgeries, befriended six-year-old Jake, who was dealing with a similar heart condition.
Campers come to realize they are not alone; other children (and animals as well) are not
only managing and dealing with issues similar to their own, they are making a positive
difference in this world. (Nathan and Jake pictured above.)

...And through the sense of community forged—among our children with special needs and
a multitude of medical personnel, caregivers and volunteers serving them—that extends
well beyond our borders, enriching and improving the health and vitality of our
community at large.
Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation’s vision is for every child
with special needs in Arizona to have access to this life changing experience
through which so many have found hope and healing.

“Telling our stories and listening to the stories of others can be healing. We learn what
makes us similar, what connects us all, what helps us transcend the isolation that
separates us from each other and from ourselves. A deep trust of life often emerges
when you listen to other people’s stories. You realize you’re not alone; you’re traveling
in wonderful company.”
- Dean Ornish, M.D.
When Mia, pictured with mini-horse, Maggie, was diagnosed with Diamond Blackfan Anemia at
seven months of age, the prognosis allowed little room for hope of her celebrating her 100th
blood transfusion as a beautiful, vibrant 10-year-old. Now she is the face of hope for other
children and families who met her and her family at the Ranch after they have received a
diagnosis of this or another rare disease.

transcending isolation
Prior to 2005, there was no camp facility in Arizona for children with special needs to
come together and reap the benefits of that sense of connection and community that their
typical peers experienced at camp.
Returning to school in the fall often further intensified feelings of isolation already
experienced by children with special needs, as they could not join in the conversation when
their typical peers shared of their camp adventures.
The completion of Phase I construction of the Ranch meant the end to that isolation for
children in Arizona with special needs, and the start of building memories that not only
sustain them until their next visit, but are cherished for a lifetime.
Children with special needs can now begin the school year sharing news of their camp
adventures: of friendships they forged at camp; of horseback riding; learning a new skill
such as archery; of ghost stories, song and S’mores around the campfire; of gazing at the
moons around Jupiter; spying elk grazing near the cabin while playing charades on the
porch in the moonlight; frolicking in the splash pad; kissing Tony Llama; playing wheelchair
soccer and a host of other activities they previously could only watch from the sidelines.

Partner Organizations 1999–2014
Adult Training Center Lura Turner Homes
American Stroke Association Mosaic
Apache Junction High Life Skills Muscular Dystrophy Association
Arizona Cancer Center National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Arizona Mentor New Way Academy
Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association Oasis/Perry Rehabilitation Center
Awakening Seed School Payson Care Center
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Scottsdale Payson Community Kids
Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona Phoenix Children's Hospital 'Camp Maska'
Camelot/Happy Horseback Riding Royal Family Kids Camp-Chandler
City of Mesa Adaptive Recreation Royal Family Kids Camp-Scottsdale
City of Scottsdale Adaptive Recreation Scottsdale Bible Special Adults Ministry
Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District Sharing Down Syndrome Arizona
Department of Developmental Disabilities Shelby School
Down Syndrome Network Southwest Advanced Neurological Rehabilitation
Fibromyalgia & Arthritis Support Groups Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center
Foundation for Blind Children Southwest Behavioral Health Center
Grace Home School Group Stepping Stones of Hope
Hacienda Healthcare Sunshine Acres Children’s Home
Hemophilia Association Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Retreat
High Star Center for Children Teen Reach Adventure Camp – Chandler
HopeKids Phoenix Teen Reach Adventure Camp – Scottsdale
Horizon Human Services Thomas Elementary Special Needs Class
Horizon Pediatric Therapy Tonto Apache Children (Through Sage Memorial)
Julia Randall Elementary School Youth Evaluation & Treatment Centers
Little People of America Association
1 The Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs. Children with special health care needs have, or are at increased risk for, a chronic physical,
developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and also require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children
generally.
2 Barr, K. D. (2014, July 1). A Special Kind of Family Camp - Whispering Hope Ranch. Raising Arizona Kids, pp. 16-21. Print.

PO Box 54070 | Phoenix AZ 85078  phone 602 266 2216  fax 602 266 2219
whrf@whisperinghoperanch.org  www.whisperinghoperanch.org