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Ten Year Old Skyler Nunez Starts Non-Profit, Chance’s Fund
April 24 , 2007 by Editor(Phoenix, Arizona) While many ten years olds are content spending their free time playing baseball, bike riding and getting into mischief, in 2005 at the age of ten, Skyler Nunez decided to start a non-profit.
Skyler and his mom, certified level 2 Equine Assisted Therapist and founder of Healing Reigns, Meloney Nunez, founded Chance’s fund, which raises money to help rescue horses that may otherwise be destroyed. The fund is named after Chance, a former rodeo horse that was suffering from neglect and serious foot infections caused from standing in pools of urine. Skyler and his family brought Chance to their home where they provided medical care and a healthy diet, Chance was soon an important part of the family. Unfortunately, Chance lost his battle with infection after nearly a year of ongoing care.
Chance’s fund provides medical care and food for neglected horses and also provides scholarships for individuals and families requiring Equine Assisted Therapy. Chance’s fund has helped several horses that have gone on to be therapy horses in Healing Reigns programs.
In order to provide assistance to even more horses, Chance’s fund recently teamed up with renown artist Mike Scovel, who created a poster called Reflections. The poster depicts a stable horse named Dakota, who show a variety of expressions and feelings. The poster is useful in helping children identify their feelings. Five dollars from the sale of each poster goes directly to Chance’s fund. Healing Reigns uses these posters with some of the children they work with who have emotional problems and a difficult time communicating.
“Starting Chance’s fund was Skyler’s idea, he had a strong bond with Chance and wanted his legacy to continue on as well as to help other horses who are sick or neglected,” said Meloney Nunez. “This program helps not only the horses, but those people who come to Healing Reigns for Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning. It is a win-win for everyone involved.”
Skyler Nunez concludes “We may not get to keep the horses that long but at least we let them get a good home for as long as they can live. If they need medicine, we will use Chance's fund to try to make them feel better."
About Healing Reigns:
Healing Reigns has a primary goal of helping those that are hurting and helping families and individuals in need through promoting healing, self-awareness and growth through the use of Equine Assisted Learning and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. Healing Reigns Founder and President, Meloney Nunez has spent years in the medical field and trained at the world renown Remuda Ranch inpatient facility, where she became a specialist on eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, obesity and compulsive overeating. Her professional memberships include:
· National Board for Certified Counselors
· Equine Assisted Growth & Learning Association
· Christian Business Women’s Association
· Arizona Chapter EAGALA/Founder and president since 2005
For more information, visit www.healingreigns.com.
