We are excited to announce that Kristi Giddings is our newest volunteer of the month.

Why we love her: Kristi is a reliable volunteer who can lead any of our program horses, and she has a great sense of humor!

Path to The Shea Center: Kristi grew up around horses and worked as a special education attorney. “Several years ago, when I lived on the East Coast and in a different job, I looked into the possibility of volunteering at a therapeutic riding center because I wanted to combine my love of horses with my desire to assist somewhere that helps children with disabilities. At the time, my job prohibited me from committing to specific days consistently. In May 2021, I changed jobs and moved to Orange County. As soon as I realized my new job provided a more consistent schedule, I looked for a therapeutic riding center in SoCal. I found The Shea Center and immediately reached out to begin volunteering.”

Years of service: Kristi began volunteering in late summer of 2021.

Lessons learned: “Through my work at Shea, I’ve learned how generous people can be. The number of volunteers who willingly give up precious free time to spend it helping others is truly inspiring.”

Favorite Shea Center memories: “I love seeing clients progress. It is wonderful to see them gain confidence around horses and in themselves as a result of their time at Shea.”

When not at The Shea Center, she can be found doing this: “I also volunteer at an equine rescue facility. When I’m not volunteering, I usually work or spend time with my dogs.”