Happy New Year, Friends!

As we are all joyfully welcoming in a new year, full of hope and optimism that it will look very different than the past one, I find myself reflecting on the generosity of our community. During a time that we were charged with isolating at home, covering our smiles, focusing on survival and by all means, keeping our hands to ourselves-you still kept Tall Tales Ranch in your hearts and on your minds. 

In spite of the need to reduce the size of your world, you thought of the work that we are doing to support our ambassadors and their families. Perhaps you imagined what the isolation of the past year was like for them, or you were reminded of the importance of community in your own life? Whatever the reason for your support, we are extremely grateful that you have chosen to remain dedicated to walking with us as we build our special community.

We appreciate that, with all of the many distractions, your support allowed us to keep our remarkable Tall Tales team intact, to offer a safe, supportive (remote) space for our ambassadors to connect and offered your encouragement and positive energy always.

We are excited about the opportunities that 2021 will present us with and our team is energized and ready to tackle whatever comes our way. We have some wonderful things in the mix, including continuing our virtual classes and beginning the operation of a coffee trailer.

Thank you for consistently showing up and for always making us feel like somebody who is important to you. We hope that 2021 blesses you all with good health and happiness!

Susan Mooney, Founder/Fairy Godmother
Tall Tales Ranch

• THANKS TO YOU, we met (and eclipsed!) our $50,000 end-of-year grant match goal offered by The Salah Foundation, who share our belief that diversity, neuro-inclusion and equal opportunity matters. This grant award will support a very exciting new coffee trailer program that will allow us to take giant steps toward our coffee shop operation, accompanying vocational programming and employment opportunities. (The Salah Foundation is a private foundation that accepts applications by invitation only).

• Thanks to all those who have signed up and listed Tall Tales Ranch as your King Soopers Grocery Rewards Program beneficiary nonprofit. We have surpassed $10,000 in support, thanks to YOU. Sign up for this valuable program, which costs you nothing, HERE!

Welcome to Emma!

We are so pleased to welcome Emma Benner as the new Tall Tales Ranch Trusty Sidekick! Emma recently relocated to Colorado from Minnesota. She is a graduate of Purdue who has a heart for working within the special needs community. Emma is an avid runner, who competed at the collegiate level. She loves spending her free time running, reading, hiking in the mountains, rollerblading, and baking!

She will be our new volunteer coordinator, social media guru and all around organizer of all things. We're so excited to have her on the team.

And, if you have signed up to become a volunteer, be on the lookout in the coming weeks for a volunteer newsletter from her.

Our amazing tribe came through enormously for us throughout a most challenging year, and we're happy to say our fundraising and forward progress hasn't missed a beat, thanks to YOU.

We have so many exciting things on the 2021 horizon, including our Sustaining Membership Drive (January 15-22), our "Lucky To Be Me" virtual event in March, and the launch of the capital campaign that will bring our community to life. 

I welcome all ideas and questions, and hope you know the gratitude that the entire Tall Tales family and I have for your ongoing support of our mission. Onward!

 - Heather Lauren Quiroga, Development Director