Why we love her: Stacey jumps in wherever she is needed: As a leader, sidewalker, member of the barn crew, and helping prep crafts for summer camp. Stacey’s company Black Diamond Print Center, printed the names of our herd for their new grooming totes, and Stacey applied each one!

Path to The Shea Center: Stacey is a life-long lover of horses and owned a horse until she went to college. As for volunteering, she and her corgi Tanner visited senior care facilities. Her love of horses and helping others came together when she met a volunteer from a therapeutic riding center in Huntington Beach at a Christmas party in 2016. “A light bulb went on as I remembered seeing the Fran Joswick Center sign by my old barn. I found out it was now The Shea Center and by February 2017 I was trained and volunteering!”

Lessons learned: “I have learned so much about the amazing physical, mental and supportive gifts horses share with our riders. I also continue to learn from the staff and how to be a component of the growth riders gain here. I love all of the continuing education training provided at Shea. I go to as many as I can and ALWAYS learn something new. It is such a great way to keep building my tool box as a volunteer!”

Favorite Shea Center memories: “My favorite memories are related to the people here! So many new friends from day one, when I met [volunteer] Carly Green at volunteer orientation-it has been a never-ending roster of great people!  My favorite memory of 2021 involves Aaron: One of my first lessons as a volunteer was with Aaron and [occupational therapist] Karen Yamasaki. When I was assigned to them again last session, it was great to see how much he has grown and that he is now riding in a saddle!”

When not at The Shea Center, she is…: “At work: as a graphic designer and artist. At play: at a concert, with family, on a trail, at Disneyland or on a horse. At life: balancing the comfort of the familiar with the challenge of learning something new!”

She finds her bliss doing this: “Attending live music shows of all genres, being out in nature, storytelling and make friends and family laugh, creating art and of course, volunteering at The Shea Center!”

Future plans: “I look forward to more travel and living life! And spending more time volunteering at Shea!”