The Way to Santa Fe | A Southwest Soiree
January 9, 2023
It was an urban cowboy showdown when more than 150 city slickers saddled up to raise over $45,000 for special needs riders.
It was an urban cowboy showdown! More than 150 city slickers, saddled up for a rousing Southwestern soiree to support Give Back for Special Equestrians and Whispering Manes Therapeutic Riding Center, raising over $45,000 for special needs riders.
Miami’s equestrian and philanthropic community donned denim, diamonds, Stetsons and boots at “The Way to Santa Fe” held at Biscayne Bay Yacht Club. Guests ponied up alongside hosts Nancy and Jon Batchelor, Christy and Earl Powell, Nancy Hector, Sissy DeMaria-Koehne and Dr. Guenther Koehne, Lauren Harrison Brown and Blake Brown, and committee members Andria Dickinson, Emily Zubizeretta, Dr. Heather and Dwight Kuhl, Munisha Underhill, Sandra and Randy Fiorenza, Maile Aguila, Helen Picard, and Dana and Kevin Nateman in support of life changing horsepower that heals.
“We had a fabulous evening with friends new and old who channeled their inner cowboy or cowgirl dressing the part in denim, diamonds, and cowboy hats to help support our mission to provide therapeutic horseback riding scholarships for disabled children and adults at the beautiful Whispering Manes Therapeutic Riding Center in Miami’s Horse Country,” said Co-Founder and CEO of Give Back for Special Equestrians DeMaria-Koehne.
“Equine therapy changes lives for those with disabilities and events like ‘The Way to Santa Fe’ help raise significant funds towards providing scholarships for children and adults overcoming some of life’s most challenging hurdles. We are grateful to our generous donors and corporate sponsors including our presenting sponsor Braman Miami, as well as Sunset Feed and Supply, Compass, the Nancy Batchelor Team, the Powell Family Foundation, Coral Gables Trust, the Nateman Family Foundation, Ani and Tony Fernandez, the Bialy Family, Legacy Residential, Kaufman and Rossin, Cultivate PR, TruckMax and our tireless board and committee members who helped us raise much needed revenue,” said Whispering Manes founder Hector.
Guests horse-played throughout the evening with a costume contest, a honky-tonk DJ, line dancing and miniature horses, while dining on a Southwestern buffet, featuring Texas barbecue sliders, chips and salsa, and churros in a warm and decadent chocolate sauce dished up alongside margaritas, cervezas, and sangria.
Philanthropist Marile Lopez took the honors alongside Dr. Guenther Koehne for best costume, while a bevy of beauties did the Texas Two Step under the Coconut Grove sky.
