Team Velvet, Inc.
A Non Profit 501(C)(3) Charitable Organization
Equine Facilitated Mental Health Services for Children
Understanding Bereavement, Giftedness, Grief and Loss, Treatment of Trauma, Adjustment Issues
"Our horses work in the arena of a child's heart"
Services are provided at NO CHARGE to the families.
Or mail checks made out to Team Velvet, Inc. to PO Box 268, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553-0268.
Annual Spring Fundraiser Honors the Horses and VolunteersSustaining This Charity from its Origin in 2009
Team Velvet Inc. asks our donors, friends, past contributors and special benefactors who love children and horses to help us SAVE THE FARM.
Our Annual Spring Fundraiser this year honors the many positive events, visits, workgroup volunteers and individual helpers who have worked to sustain Team Velvet Inc. and its work helping child trauma.
We have included some photo memories in the space following the address below. Help us move into the future with our funding for sustainability in place and our continued commitment to helping ameliorate pediatric flashbacks and strengthen child resiliency.
Many, many thanks!
Susan Edwards PhD
Psychologist/Director/President of the Board
Tax-Deductible Donations can be made on our
website via PayPal or credit card or mailed to:
Team Velvet Inc
PO Box 268
Rocky Hill, NJ 08553
A gentle horse named Buddy found his purpose at Team Velvet Inc, where he worked alongside
therapists providing non-mounted mental health support for young children who have experienced
trauma. His calm presence helped children feel safe, seen, and supported in ways words often cannot.
Watch Buddy’s inspiring journey:
Inspired by Horses: Buddy’s Story
We invite you to take a moment to learn more about Buddy’s story and the lives he helped to change. By
clicking HERE, you’ll be directed to Buddy’s GoFundMe page. Begin reading his story, then click
“Read More” to watch his full story film—available to view at no cost.
Thank you for being part of Buddy’s journey.
See the impact in action:
Little Horse, Big Medicine
Some Services We Offer:
Therapy and Strength-based Developmental Learning
Clinical Horse Counseling for Trauma in Children ages 6-12
Resiliency Training for children based on the book "Black Beauty" by Anna Sewell
Developmental 'Visits with Horses' Classes to increase Positive Power for Kids
Amelioration of Pediatric Trauma Flashbacks for Children
Child-Centered Workbooks & Books:
Death of a father [entitled Santa Claus Visits Heaven]
Strengthening self-esteem in children [called Children Are Treasures]
Growing Up Good [Tales of a Wonder Horse: The Birthday
Works in Progress:
A Coloring Book for Kids on Increasing Compassion for Animals
[entitled Precious and the Face of Compassion narrated by Velvet the Horse and Dr. Edwards]
A helping book for parents and therapists on
'How to Help Children Grow in Goodness through Relationships with Horses'
Community News
April 2026
The home page of our website www.teamvelvet.com announces our Spring Fundraising Goal of sustainability. Focusing on raising a core amount to meet our needs, we are reaching out with a fundraising request to everyone who has ever helped us: With any amount in mind, please Help Us Save the Farm.
The fundraising drive is being led by the volunteers and the horses on whom our hearts are centered as their work with the children is just special.
Precious, our palomino mare, is a cancer survivor who inspires children who have faced issues of medical courage.
Little Annie, our miniature horse rescued from a pony mill many years ago, has overcome bullying over food. When we first got her, every time she was fed she looked over her shoulder to make sure no other horse would steal her food. It took her four years to just eat her food without feeling she had to protect herself.
Parker, the newest member of our herd, is a retired Quarter Horse athlete. He has learned to play horse ball and continues his equine education in Relationship Functioning 101.
Each of our horses is an individual with a unique gift for the children with whom they work, and all of them make us laugh.
As our charity does not charge for services provided to traumatized children, fundraising is always essential. Go to our website home page and view some of our photos from the last 10 years we have been on Journeys End Farm in Flemington. If something inspires you or makes you smile, feel free to donate to Team Velvet and know you are supporting our work and helping us Save the Farm!
To refer a child, complete the Contact form on the website. To donate by mail you may do so by mailing a tax-deductible contribution to Team Velvet Inc., PO Box 268, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553.
Community News
March 2026
The insignia of our charity is the drawing of a child with a big heart. It was drawn by a five-year-old I once worked with who asked me, “Why would somebody try to kill somebody?”
The child had witnessed someone attack her mother. At the end of therapy, she drew a picture of herself and her own love filled heart and inside it is the picture of a horse. Her experience resulted in a section of my therapy workbook Children Are Treasures entitled, "Some Hearts Have More Love in Them Than Others”and included a visual explanation to answer her question “How does someone get more love in their heart?” The animal friend in the workbook explains, “by helping others.”
Kids often tell animals things they don’t share with people. And when that animal is a horse, looking at them with big kind eyes, the two-way sharing can be very powerful. Sometimes, therapy horses are viewed as heroes by children who feel love shared from one heart to another.
From the beginning of March until the end of June this year Team Velvet Inc. will be reaching out to establish program sustainability. As more funds are committed, we can expand our services to more kids. To help us as a volunteer, angel benefactor or donor of any amount of money, please contact Dr. Susan Edwards via the website www.teamvelvet.com or to make a donation. Our charity was established in 2009 and provides services free to families.
Thank you for helping.
Inspired by Buddy
[A Mental Health Therapy Horse for Kids]
“When a horse dies, we are reminded of how fragile these
huge, intelligent and amazingly strong animals actually are.
And when we love them, we try to memorialize their impact
on our lives because the love of a horse is powerful and
can change us forever.” The words are those of Kathy
Piparo, PhD, Secretary of the Board of Directors of Team
Velvet Inc., a Flemington-based charity providing non-
mounted equine mental health therapy for children with under
twelve without fee to families.
Dr. Piparo addressed the charity volunteers honoring Buddy, a
therapy horse who spent the last two years of his life helping children at
Team Velvet before his recent passing. Buddy was well-loved and had touched
the lives of many people in his tenure as a therapy horse and will star in the upcoming short film “Inspired by Buddy: A Mental Health Therapy Horse for Kids” which presents first-person accounts of his impact on the volunteers who knew him.
Buddy was one of the charity’s inspirations in the May ‘Horses for Mental Health’ (HMH) campaign -- a
collaboration of 95 charities nationwide-- working to increase public awareness and facilitate fundraising to
sustain equine mental health services. Buddy is pictured in the attached HMH celebration photograph between two outstanding volunteer Fundraising Ambassadors of the charity campaign: Cheryl Wieczorek [holding the Award for Most Donations Achieved] and Connor Runk [a June graduate from Hunterdon Central Regional High School.] Buddy stands behind a yellow floral wreath symbolizing friendship and involvement in the program.
“Historically horses have often inspired people all across the globe,” said Psychologist/Director Susan Edwards, PhD. “ Team Velvet Inc. has strived to honor these animals who are ‘deep through the heart’ with love. Buddy was one such horse and in memoriam, we will be publishing a series of three coloring/informational workbooks on Compassion for Animals designed for children under age 12. The first will feature “Buddy in Horse Heaven” and will be co-authored by Velvet the Horse [namesake of Team Velvet Inc.] and Dr. Susan [Edwards]. The work will help children both understand death and recognize that the power of love lives on.” Perhaps the most telling legacy of Buddy in the life of an 8-year-old child is evidenced by the handwritten image below. In the picture a child is teaching Buddy how to play checkers. This is a drawing of legacy – a legacy of love that only an animal can provide. We at Team Velvet Inc. are always humbled at the power of such love.
Author’s Note: Team Velvet Inc. continues to offer (l) non-mounted equine mental health therapy for child
trauma; (2) Saturday morning Visits with Horses Child Seminar Series --“Resiliency Training for Children” ages 9-11 utilizing material from the lives/stories of horses; and (3) public education on child trauma.
The charity has created a high impact organization that significantly changes children’s response to their
individual trauma. As services are provided at no charge to families, fundraising has been widened to a year- round cycle. Individuals wishing to help financially at any level are encouraged to do so in any donation amount made on this website or mail at Team Velvet, Inc., PO Box 268, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553. Charity EIN#26-2167394.
Anyone wishing to refer a child may do so by completing the website Contact Form to Dr. Edwards.
If you wish to help with the veterinary expenses, please consider making a donation to our Go Fund Me page by clicking the button below. Your support will not only honor Buddy’s life, but also help us keep his legacy alive for the many children and volunteers whose lives he changed.
January 2026
Community News
Inspired by Horses: Buddy's Story
Directed by Susan Edwards, Ph.D 9:9 mins - US
A quiet horse named Buddy came to Team Velvet Inc to work in non-mounted mental health therapy with young children of trauma. When he passed, he left a deep legacy of love felt by everyone.
Click link below to watch:
Inspired by Horses: Buddy's Story
Susan Edwards, Ph.D. Psychologist & Director has been licensed in NJ since 1990. She is trained in equine facilitated mental health and has worked with her horses helping children since 2009. Dr. Edwards assess all children referred to Team Velvet, Inc. and designs specialized treatments for them. Dr. Edwards has authored several books and 100+ articles, and has owned horses most of her life. She scripted and directed "Little Horse, Big Medicine", a previous Equus Film Festival Winnie Award winner.
Click link below to watch:
Little Horse, Big Medicine
Local Charity Wins Film Award
Hunterdon’s Team Velvet Inc. charity won its sixth media award from the international Equus Art and Film Festival for the non-fiction short film “Inspired by Horses: Buddy’s Story.”
Held in Reisterstown, Maryland in November of this year, the international film competition included entries from seven different countries: Australia, UK, Netherlands, Germany, Mongolia, Canada and the United States in multiple film categories.
The winning entry from Team Velvet Inc. placed second/ Honorable Mention designation in category Horses Healing Humans [short film]
and was written by Team Velvet Inc. Program Director Psychologist Susan Edwards, Ph.D., and produced by Program Volunteer Brandi Bartolomeo Machala.
The nine-minute film chronicles the accomplishments of a retired farm horse named Buddy who was adopted by the equine mental health therapy program for children. New to the mission of working with a psychologist partner and volunteer staff, Buddy’s talent for helping children transcend trauma becomes the center around which his story is told. Perspectives from program volunteers and illustrations of his gentle spirit and kind nature weave a story of the emotional power of horse therapy in helping heal the lives of children in the process of learning to overcome traumatic loss.
Staff volunteers ranging from adults to the children serving in the Young Volunteers provide a running narrative of the gentle workhorse who enters their lives in a whisper and leaves having left a legacy of love.
Buddy’s Story is the sixth national film award earned by Team Velvet Inc. It is currently available for Internet viewing at https://gofund.me/1e670896 where it also serves as part of the year-round fundraising effort for the charity which provides equine mental health therapy for children at no fee to families.
Community News
Resilience Classes for Kids
August 2025
Little Annie and Book - Photo Courtesy of Team Velvet
Psychologists identify RESILIENCE as one of the key components in good child mental health.
What makes it so important? It can be learned.
Team Velvet Inc. again offers "Visits with Horses: Resilience Seminars for Kids ages 10-12" on Saturdays in September from 10:30 - noon. There is no cost for the seminars but registration is required.
To register, parents must complete the CONTACT FORM on our website and list the child's first name, age and sessions planning to attend.
Parents must register children and attend the program with them at Journeys End Farm, 79 Old Clinton Road, Flemington NJ 08822. All seminars include content from horse stories, research, and fun filled horse-interatcion activities like horse ball which involves the programs therapy horses, Precious and Little Annie.
What do kids learn? Ways to successfully overcome obstacles in life.
Why? Learning ways to successfully overcome obstacles in life helps children increase successful coping in the present as well as in the future.
Some of the horse stories used to illustrate resilience are taken from horse books like Black Beauty, Snowman, and Shy Boy - among others. The session is taught by Psychologist/Director Dr. Susan Edwards of Team Velvet Inc., a charity selected for inclusion in the national Horses for Mental Health Awareness Campaign for the past two years,.
Sessions are listed as:
Session #1 - Saturday Sept 20 - 10:30 - noon. The Resilience of Shy Boy (American Mustang)
Session #2 - Saturday Sept 27 - 10:30 - noon. The Power of Persistence - Snowman (horse rescue)
Session #3 - Saturday Oct 4 - 10:30 0 noon. The Ability to Adapt to Change - Black Beauty
Team Velvet Inc. is a 501 c-3 charity providing non-mounted horse therapy for children ages 6 - 12 who have experienced traumatic loss at no cost to families. More information can be found on this website and donations to support the work of this charity can be made via the Donate Now button or via mail to Team Velvet Inc., PO Box 268 Rocky Hill, NJ 08553-0268.
Community News
Acclaimed Artist James Fiorentino
Helps Team Velvet Inc.
July 2025
“What you are doing in the area of child mental health is extremely rare. It is incredibly important to help kids develop the ability to overcome trauma.”
The speaker is our most recent sponsor, Hunterdon’s nationally acclaimed watercolorist, James Fiorentino. The sale of his original painting of legendary racehorse Man o’ War will include a portion donated to Team Velvet Inc. as part of Mr. Fiorentino’s sponsorship to support our clinical horse therapy provided by a licensed psychologist for kids ages 5-12 who have experienced trauma.
“Yours is a specialty service,” he continues, “I suggest you keep your charity small and maintain it as a high impact practice. It is amazing to me that you offer this service free to families.”
Mr. Fiorentino and his wife Jessica toured Team Velvet farm, met The Young Volunteers and therapy horses, and talked with Psychologist/Director Dr. Susan Edwards about the program’s needs. An advocate for philanthropy and programs for children, he decided to help in multiple ways.
His multifaceted career is reflected in his website www.jamesfiorentino.com, and he describes his sports art saying, “I have a lot of art here already created and signed by the greatest athletes ever—prices range from $2,000 - $25,000 so it all depends on what people want or can afford and I would also take on commissions as well – all of which a percentage goes to Team Velvet Inc. “He has an original signed portrait of Willy Mays as a young man; signed works of Don Mattingly, Derek Jeter and others; Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth [ unsigned]; racehorse Funnycide and signed giclees of amazing athletes in the 500-1000 range, his new Art of Baseball book as well as multiple images from nature.
Team Velvet is honored to be able to work with James Fiorentino in sharing his phenomenal art in a way that also helps our charity develop sustainability. Any charity that provides services at no charge is always challenged to meet our expenses. We are funded by grants and donations and the generosity of sponsors such as James Fiorentino.
For more information on obtaining his art and helping Team Velvet Inc., call Dr. Edwards at 609 216 1910. To make a donation, click on the "Donation" button above or via mail to Team Velvet Inc., PO Box 268, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553. To refer a child, submit the Contact form on the website
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PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION – TEAM VELVET INC.
By Susan Edwards PhDA
New Story Behind a Classic Legend:
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Artist James Fiorentino Offers Man o’ War Painting to Help Horses Help Kids Flemington, NJ: Legends continue to inspire and it often takes a very talented artist to bring one to life. Award-winning and nationally recognized watercolorist James Fiorentino recently painted a portrait of Thoroughbred
legend Man o’ War for a unique purpose: to raise money for a Flemington, NJ charity that helps children ages 5-12 overcome trauma through clinical equine therapy.
Mr. Fiorentino explained: “ I am very excited to have painted the legendary horse Man o’ War to help benefit Team Velvet Inc. Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to paint some of the greatest racehorses and had the opportunity to present them to some of the most legendary owners, trainers, and jockeys in Sarasota for the Siros Cup. What Team Velvet does for children is amazing.”
His Man o’ War original 22 x 30 watercolor is available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit Team Velvet Inc., a 501 c-3 providing non-mounted horse therapy to children who have experienced profound trauma. Such children may have witnessed the death of a parent; experienced violence or traumatic accidents through no fault of their own and still others, overwhelmed by loss, may have expressed a desire to die and were plagued by flashbacks from any of the above. Team Velvet Inc. offers a charity serving these children at no cost to families.
“What James Fiorentino has done for us is no less than amazing,” said Dr. Susan Edwards, Psychologist/Director of Team Velvet Inc. “Sometimes parents are unaware that a child experiences trauma flashbacks until he or she expresses a desire to die [to sometimes end the flashbacks]. The combination of psychology and horse therapy offers a powerful avenue of treatment but one which is very expensive to provide. When I saw his amazing painting of legendary Man o’ War, I was overwhelmed with the beauty and power of his painting. The work of artist James Fiorentino inspires me.”
Dr. Edwards continued, “At Team Velvet Inc. we have created a high impact organization that significantly changes children’s response to their individual trauma. We are always challenged to meet our expenses since our services are provided at no charge. There are no words to express the profound gratitude we feel for the Man o’ War painting by James Fiorentino, a nationally known award-winning artist whose career itself is inspiring.”
Artist James Fiorentino turned professional at age l5 when his painting of Reggie Jackson was featured In the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Among others, his professional work has encompassed paintings of many sports legends, famous individuals, wildlife scenes and thoroughbred racers. His work graces the walls of notable museums, galleries universities, corporations and private collectors. An American watercolor artist who lives in Hunterdon, James serves on the board of several trusts and has been active in both sports and philanthropy his entire life. His recent decision to use his art to help Team Velvet therapy horses help kids coincides with the national Horses for Mental Health Campaign to increase public awareness and fundraising for equine mental health therapy programs.
For more information, go to https://sth2025.raiselysite.com/t/team-velvet-inc. To hear James’ WDVR radio interview on Monday, May 19 from 4-5 pm at https://wdvrfm.org
To find out more information on purchase options for the Man o’ War painting, contact Visionary Art Inc. at
www.jamesfiorentino.com or complete the Contact form at www.teamvelvet.com and thank you for your support!
“Team Velvet Inc. relies on volunteers and what PSEG did in one day was magic for the farm … we would not be able to exist without this help, which allows us to spend more time serving children in need.” – Susan Edwards, PhD, psychologist, director and president of the board at Team Velvet Inc.
Thank you to our employees who recently visited the farm and helped repair fences, clean up and prep blankets to help keep Team Velvet horses Annie, Precious and Buddy warm this winter. 🐎
We’re #PSEGProud to volunteer with nonprofit organizations like Team Velvet Inc., which provides free, non-mounted horse therapy for children who have experienced trauma, adjustment issues, grief and more.
Community News
Sometimes the doctor’s helper is a horse. Equine-facilitated mental health services continue to grow and provide a unique contribution to healing trauma.
Veterans Hospitals now routinely involve horses in treating PTSD, and there is a children’s hospice in Austria which houses 17 horses on site, offering apartments for families of children whose diseases have no cure. In this setting, specially trained horses may stand by a child’s bedside for hours at a time offering companionship and comfort without words. Clinical horse psychologists continue to work to advance the treatment of pediatric PTSD with Flashbacks in children ages 8-11. Much is happening.
One national organization is spreading the word about this new research and its importance. That group is called “Horses for Mental Health” (HMH) and it has asked 95 charities working in mental health incorporating horses to share their inspiration in this field and for the second year in a row Team Velvet Inc. was selected as part of that group. HMH is also helping fundraising efforts across the entire field.
Here is Team Velvet Inc’s schedule for April/May:
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Thursday, May 1 – Kick-Off Day - Seen Through the Eyes of Horses: https://sth2025.raiselysite.com/t/team-velvet-inc Want to learn more? View the Campaign Page
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Saturday, May 3 – Open Barn - Meet and Greet the Therapy Horses and Horse Ball Demonstration, 10:30-noon (Journeys End Farm, 79 Old Clinton Road, Flemington)*** Virtual movie 6pm-7:l5 Rescued Hearts Movie on horse therapy experiences.
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Saturday, May 10 – Caring for the Caregivers and Horse Ball Demonstration 10:30-noon [farm)***.
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Wednesday, May 14 –“ Inspired by Horses and Child Mental Health Awareness” 2-3:30pm Community Room, Hunterdon Public Library, Headquarters Branch
Mid-Month Partnership Announcement – Local Artist James Fiorentino has donated some of his amazing works to match financial donations to Team Velvet Inc. charity.
First come, first served: signed copies of “The Art of Baseball” donation of $50; signed giclee of ‘Justify Wins the Triple Crown’ and giclee of ‘Sky Beauty’for $200 donation each.
Artist James Fiorentino begins Original Painting of Man o’ War to be sold at Silent Auction end of May.
***Please note: Insurance regulations prohibit bringing food or drink, smoking, or pets onto the farm.
Community News
INSPIRED BY HORSES
TEAM VELVET INC SELECTED
FOR NATIONAL‘HORSES IN MENTAL HEALTH’ CAMPAIGN
Team Velvet Inc. was chosen for the second year to be part of a national public awareness and fundraising campaign during Mental Health Awareness Month in May to represent innovative treatment perspectives with horses for mental health. Part of the campaign presented a sixty-page research review booklet of horse therapy treatment applications in mental health.
Included in booklet are peer-reviewed articles documenting positive outcomes for patient populations addressing issues of substance abuse, student/staff wellness, psychiatric and clinical applications, child and adolescent treatment, military PTSD therapy and individuals coping with aging. Horses are increasingly integrated into mental health therapy.
This is also a worldwide movement. One specialized Austrian hospital for children experiencing severe medical trauma with complex psychological involvement has a stable with l7 horses on the hospital grounds where children receive daily equine therapy along with physical and occupational therapy.
Team Velvet Inc. is totally supported by grants and donations as child trauma services are provided FREE to families. National campaigns such as this increase public awareness and help us obtain donations and funds for sustainability.
Some of our special activities inspired by horses in May include:
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Thursday May 1 – Kick Off, Horses in Mental Health
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Saturday May 3 – Open Barn, Meet and Greet the Therapy Horses and Horse Ball demonstration,
10:30 to noon [Journeys End Farm, 79 Old Clinton Road, Flemington 08822] -
Saturday May 10 – Caring for the Caregivers and Horse Ball demonstration 10:30 to noon, then from
6pm – 7:l5pm Rescued Hearts Movie on horse therapy applications -
Wednesday May l4 – Inspired by Horses and Child Mental Health Awareness 2-3:30 Community Room, Hunterdon Public Library, Headquarters
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Radio Interview – Dr. Susan Edwards, Psychologist/Director – TBA
TAll drop-in events are scheduled for Journeys End Farm, 79 Old Clinton Road, Flemington.
Program donations may be made at all events; via the website www.teamvelvet.com or by mail at Team Velvet Inc., PO Box 268, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553. For further information or to refer a trauma child to the therapy program, call Dr. Susan Edwards at 609 924 4330 or complete the website Contact Form.
**Please note: Insurance regulations prohibit bringing food or drink, smoking, or pets onto the farm.
Community News
INSPIRED BY HORSES SEMINAR FOR CHILDREN 10-12
Next month – April -- is National Mental Health Month and Team Velvet Inc. was again selected in the national public awareness media movement “Seen Through the Eyes of Horses” as part of the “Horses in Mental Health” national campaign.
With increasing significance, equine-assisted mental health agencies have been a fast-growing area of service and research across the United States for helping children who have experienced trauma. As Team Velvet Inc. has been involved in this work since its incorporation as a nonprofit in 2009, we have been honored to be selected two years in a row to share in this media awareness campaign.
To that end, we have added a Child Mental Health Seminar Series called Inspired by Horses for children ages 10-12 to run on Saturday mornings from 10:30-12 at Journeys End Farm, 79 Old Clinton Road, Flemington 08822. Topics are designed to increase psychological resilience illustrated by stories of horses.
There is no cost for seminars but email registration is required to kpiparo64@gmail.com and parents must accompany their children.
Schedule:
Saturday March 8th - 10:30 - 12 - Medical Courage - Precious the Therapy Horse
Saturday March 15th - 10:30 - 12 - Not Giving Up - Snowman the Rescued Champion
Saturday Marrch 22nd - 10:30 - 12 - Overcoming Fear - Shy Boy, The Wild Mustang
Saturday March 29th - 10:30 - 12 - Power of Kindness - Black Beauty
The Spring Program in May continues with Visits with Horses and a Child Seminar Series focused on topics of overcoming obstacles and increasing social intelligence for children. For more information on referring a child for equine therapy for child trauma at no cost to parents, please complete the website contact form at www.teamvelvet.com and donations to support this work can be made via the same website or via mail to Team Velvet, Inc. , PO Box 268, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553-0268.
Help for Precious's Medical Bills
We need your help. Our wonderful mental health therapy horse Precious had a cancerous tumor removed some time ago. Unfortunately, the tumor grew back and in order to save her life, her eye needed to be fully removed.
We are an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that provides free mental health therapy for children 5-12 who have experienced trauma. All Team Velvet Inc. services are provided by licensed psychologists and the program works with a small herd of three therapy horses, volunteer handlers and peer mentors to help children transcend adversity resulting from traumatic loss, violence, witnessing death of loved ones and profound adversity.
The loss of Precious' eye was necessary in order to save this amazing horse's life, a horse who has helped so many on the road to recover. She has shown us through this difficult time, medical courage with which she faced cancer and she will continue to work with children, some of whom may have physical manifestations as well as psychological ones.
We ask for any help you can give us to reduce these massive medical bills for a horse of boundless love. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
Childhood Trauma
Each day there is a child who experiences the death of a loved one, witnesses violence, is victimized by crime of intense bullying, disfigured by an accident, or other countless events - all resulting in severe childhood trauma. In the extreme, child trauma may cause flashbacks, blackouts, and may result in severe and harmful physical behavior.
Team Velvet, Inc. provides multi-modal horse therapy for traumatized children ages 5-12 with psychologist Dr. Susan Edwards. Therapy horses may be involved in interactive games, kick a soccer ball, dance or be taught liberty performance. Children do not ride the horses, they interact while working towards goals of increased self-esteem and resiliency over adverse childhood events.
Team Velvet has treated 40 families with children who have experienced severe trauma. Many of these children have been referred to us by other professionals who found the child's problems intractable with traditional therapies. We do not have the funding and resources to treat all of the children referred to us. Therefore, we are seeking generous donors to help us to be able to accept all referrals of the most emotionally vulnerable children.
Our successful, continuing counseling service is located on our farm in Flemington, NJ. If you have any questions whatsoever about our history, therapy methods, potential therapy costs (if any) beyond insurance coverage, success stories, to arrange a visit to our farm etc., see out "Contact Us" page on how to contact Dr. Edwards directly.
We Make Children Smile
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YOU Can Make a Difference in the Life of a Child
The continued success of Team Velvet depends on generous contributors like you. We are in urgent need of funds to ensure our continuing operation. Your donation provides therapy scholarships for children and help feed and care for our therapy horses. Your dollars can help to heal a child's heart and mind, one smile at a time.
Tax-deductible monetary contributions can be made through PayPal via our "Tax Deductible Donations" page or mail checks made out to Team Velvet, Inc. to PO Box 268, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553-0268.
