Greetings Friends:

Thank You all so much. Each day you give us a new reason to be grateful! While the final figures are still coming in, it is safe to say that the Boots and Bridles Barn Dance was an unprecedented success, and we could not have done it without all of your help and support. 215 people braved the hottest day of the year to attend and gave approximately $150,000 to support LTR. There were drinks and dancing and many “auction wars," but most of all the feeling of companionship and compassion filled the air. It was a truly magical night to behold.

In other exciting news…

·     We have added a member to our “Human Herd”. Please take a moment to welcome Tatiana Williams. Tatiana assumed the Administrative Services Officer position on May 20^th, exactly one day before the Barn Dance, talk about a trial by fire.

·     On the program front, we have added Horse Powered Learning to the mix. This program is still in the “testing” stages but should be available to all who are interested soon.

·     In our ongoing efforts to sustain, enhance and expand services, we have planned two exciting events for the fall, so mark your calendars now because tickets will go quick. On September 11^th the Long Stone Farm will host an intimate Farm to Table dinner for LTR. On October 13^th LTR host "Dining in the Dark" at the Bourbon Bayou Kitchen featuring renowned Chef Christine Ha from MasterChef, Scott Macintyre from America Idol, and Tommy Edison from the Tommy Edison Experience.

Please read on for more information and remember that Margaret Mead once said, “never doubt that a small group of motivated individuals change the world, it is the only thing that ever has." A truer statement about the LTR family has never been uttered.

Yours in Service,

The Boots & Bridles Barn Dance was an enormous success, in large part due to the dedicated efforts of LTR's volunteers. Thank you to the Barn Dance Planning committee, chaired by Amy Legan: Joyce Gill, Beth Czerwinski, Susan McMunn, and Kathleen Giusti; plus the dozens of volunteers who helped prepare for the event in the days before!

We even had a few brave folks who came out to volunteer at LTR for the first time that evening - thank you Natalie and Kathleen H. and Alicia P.! 

Viva welcoming new volunteer Alicia on Saturday night.

The new Horse Powered Learning program is off and running! The first month of program was very helpful to students, and LTR will be offering a summer session in June. 

Students enjoyed games like "Sight Word Soccer," "Word Herds," and "Story Circle." This program introduces learning concepts in ways that are fun and engaging for the student. 

Event Spotlight

Dining in the Dark

October 13, 2022

Dining in the Dark will bring together socially conscious community leaders, industry professionals and caring citizens for an evening of fine dining and entertainment to raise awareness and resources for LTR. Guests will enjoy dining in low light conditions while wearing eyeshades to immerse themselves fully in the experience by relying on their taste, texture, and smell to guide them through their culinary adventure.

Dining in the Dark will take place on Thursday, October 13, 2022, at the Bourbon Bayou Kitchen in Ashburn from 6:00 - 10:00 PM. Headlining the evening will be world-renowned blind chef Christine Ha, winner of MasterChef Season III, bestselling author and successful restaurateur. Entertainment will be provided by Scott McIntyre, blind pianist, and American Idol finalist from season eight. You Tube phenomenon Tommy Edison from the Tommy Edison Experience will act as the Emcee. All featured guests will raise awareness about disabilities by sharing their personal story of how they overcame adversity to build successful careers for themselves while inspiring hope in others.

The price of one ticket includes a five-course meal and the privilege of making a difference in someone’s life. Stay tuned for details over the coming months!

LTR has a new human herd member!

Tatiana Williams is excited to join the LTR family as the Administrative Service Officer. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in art and a minor in psychology from Shepherd University in 2022. She is particularly interested in non-traditional therapy methods, which is what drew her to this organization. In the future, she hopes to continue her schooling to earn a PhD in psychology and further study the field of art therapy. In her free time, she enjoys oil painting, crafting, and spending time with her fiancée and their cat.  

Don't forget to check out our Grazing For Good (GFG) Program. GFG is a community partnership with restaurants across Loudoun County to support LTR. Our vision is to create a network of restaurant partners across the county so that anywhere you are, at any time - morning, noon, or night - you can dine at a location that donates a minimum of 10% of the GFG plate special to us. Order the GFG special off the menu and enjoy, knowing that you are supporting a great cause.

DC Prime Steaks and Seafood is our pilot program partner! Every Monday night DC Prime will feature a Grazing For Good special and donate 10% of the proceeds from the special to LTR.

DC Prime is located at 20120 Lakeview Center, Ashburn, VA 20147 

https://dcprimesteaks.com/

Please contact Paul Shane, Executive Director at pshane@ltrf.org if you know any restaurant owners who would be willing to sign up for the Grazing For Good Program.

Upcoming Events - mark your calendars...

Saturday, June 11: Love, Trust, and Zen with Laura Crump Anderson. See more here! 

Sunday, September 11: Long Stone Farm-to-Table Dinner 

Thursday, October 13: Dining in the Dark 

Thank you to our generous sponsors of the 2022 Boots & Bridles Barn Dance!