Volunteer Spotlight
Our Volunteers help keep this place running smoothly. Without their help we could not do what we do with such joy. Here we want to honor some of our dedicated volunteers with a spotlight on one special person each month.
March 2024: Amy Gross
What inspired you to work at the ranch?
What inspired you to work at the ranch?
How has your volunteer time impacted your life?
My days at the ranch inspire me to continue advocating for people with disabilities on legislation and accessibility. I am also inspired by the horses and am currently taking a few weeks to focus on my mental health at a ranch where I will have my own horse to care for and ride! When I get back, I will be looking for a horse of my own :)
Who is your favorite animal at the Ranch?
It’s hard to choose a favorite animal at the ranch! I really love them all but am especially drawn to Dusty because of his size and his sweet, chill demeanor.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not at the Ranch?
When I’m not at the ranch I enjoy spending time with family and friends, hiking all the beautiful trails here in Colorado, paddle boarding in the summer, sewing, yoga and working out.
February 2025: Lori Brunn
What inspired you to work at the ranch?
The short answer is that as a horse lover and retired Speech-Language Pathologist it’s the perfect program to fulfill two of my passions (being with horses and working with the special needs population).
I moved to Colorado about a year ago to help take care of my first grandchild when their maternity leave ended so I was looking for a place to volunteer on my off days. I grew up with backyard horses as my parents raised and showed Morgan horses, loved trail riding through my youth and then started up again in my adulthood with a trail horse and 2 police horses. Professionally, I specialized in incorporating Sensory Integration techniques in Speech and Language therapy with children in a multidisciplinary early intervention setting. The collaboration among OT, PT and Speech therapists was transformative for our clients and I see the same spirit with the ranch staff. Being away from my professional practice as well as horses for the past 10 years has left a void in my life. When I first toured Affinity Ranch I just felt at home. It is the perfect place for me- it’s an environment I enjoy, I’m around people I relate to, and I get to care for the animals and people I love and understand.
How has your volunteer time impacted your life?
Greatly for the better! Life changes, throws curve balls, and requires us to adjust and adapt. You throw aging in there and you discover the best thing you can do for yourself is to find your particular “recipe" that keeps you positive, purposeful, and passionate. Affinity Ranch is an important part of my perfect “recipe”.
Who is my favorite ranch animal?
Dora :) She just makes me happy. She reminds me of my first pony, Chico, when I was a kid (my parents made me sell cookies door to door til I earned $50 then they would kick in the other $50 to get him-lol). In my eyes, she’s just adorable.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not at the Ranch?
I love the outdoors, I love to travel, I love being with family, and I love church.
Being new to Colorado, I am finding lots of places to hike, explore and ski (ya’all are so lucky!). I travel a bit as my family is sort of all over the map now-I hop on a plane about once a month to visit (Connecticut, California, Texas) and just got back from 2 weeks in Switzerland which was wonderful. Other than that I am enjoying being involved in church and meeting new people.
January 2025: Gary Martinez
What inspired you to work at the ranch?
Being around the horses brings back such great memories from when I was growing up. My grandfather was a rancher and just being back around the horses after so many years has been fantastic.
How has your volunteer time impacted your life?
It’s the clients. Being around the smiles and helping them just gives me a joy that I can’t match anywhere! Just knowing that we’re giving them something that they wouldn’t be able to enjoy without us helping. Finally, it’s being with everybody here that has the same interests as me. Seeing everybody so single minded and purposeful with this community, there’s nothing better!
Who is your favorite animal at the Ranch?
I'd say Dora only because she has such a great disposition. She is also so good with the clients. Of course all the cats are sweet and certainly help keep things in order! And of course the rascally wabbits are very special as well.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not at the Ranch?
Outside of the ranch I spend a lot of time on my bicycles. I support the BikeMS effort here in Colorado. We're working and riding hard to find a cure and rid the world of thus terrible disease. This year I spent about 5,000 miles in distance and 225,000 feet of climbing. Goal is to push a little farther next year.
December 2024: Karen Clark
What inspired you to work at the ranch?
I just wanted to be around horses and then I enjoyed being around the clients and people. It is very rewarding.
How has your volunteer time impacted your life?
It feels good to have a purpose and feel like you're making a difference. All of the people here are like friends and family.
Who is your favorite animal at the Ranch?
At the moment it's Ronnie but my very first one was Preacher.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not at the Ranch?
Spending time with my horse, Otter, our little 1-year-old Austrailian Shepherd, and my husband.
November 2024: Jim Clifford
What inspired you to work at the ranch?
My wife brought me to the ranch.
How has your volunteer time impacted your life?
It gives me a good sense of purpose working with the riders and the Horses
Who is your favorite animal at the Ranch?
My favorite horses are Dusty and Ron.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not at the Ranch?
I like playing golf and watching sports
October 2024: Lois Green
What inspired you to work at the ranch?
My husband works at the ranch and he loved all the people, loved all the horses, loved all the clients, and I have recently retired and recently moved to Colorado so he said I should come and try it out, so here I am.
How has your volunteer time impacted your life?
Volunteering has given me something with a little more purpose, a little more meaningful and it just gives me joy coming to work with these clients and people and and the horses. I'm getting to know the horses, but that's a scary part for me.
Who is your favorite animal at the Ranch?
I would have to say my favorite animal right now is pumpkin the cute little skinny orange kitty because I like cats.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not at the Ranch?
I enjoy playing tennis and Pickleball and going for walks and exploring Colorado since we are new to the area.
September 2024: Judy Snoich
What inspired you to work at the ranch?
Once I retired, I knew I wanted to find a way to give back to the community. My lifelong love of horses and desire to help others brought me to Affinity.
How has your volunteer time impacted your life?
It brings me joy every time I volunteer. Everyone at the ranch is so welcoming and helpful. I love seeing smiles on the clients faces, hearing their laughter when they trot, and helping them feel safe during their ride. I'm fulfilling a lifelong desire to learn horsemanship from a wonderfully knowledgeable staff and volunteers, and I've made some amazing new friends.
Who is your favorite animal at the Ranch?
I'd have to say my favorite is Friday. This is a horse who has been through so much, but is the gentlest and sweetest horse I work with. Friday takes great care of the clients and is always sweet to the horse leaders.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not at the Ranch?
I love to bake and cook for my family and I enjoy gardening.
August 2024: Phil Auteri
What inspired you to work at the ranch?
Phil started volunteering at Praying Hands Ranch in September of 1998. He wanted to work with the horses and kids. He wanted to feel appreciated in what he was doing.
How has your volunteer time impacted your life?
He feels good about what he does. And has always wanted to help people and finds it satisfying.
Who is your favorite animal at the Ranch?
Friday the horse.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not at the Ranch?
Watching football, relaxing, making, collecting and repairing clocks, counted cross stitch.