Magical Meadows announced the hiring of a new executive director to lead the nonprofit organization into a new era of growth and sustainability.
Michael Kuhn will join the therapeutic horseback riding center as its executive director on July 1 and will work directly with the existing staff and board of directors to begin developing new fundraising, programming and capital improvement efforts, according to a provided news release.
“We are excited to bring Michael into our Magical Meadows family,” said Tammy Stackhouse, founder of Magical Meadows. “Michael brings the same passion and dedication to our mission and families as we have shared with them over the past 17 years. We believe his expertise in the ever-challenging nonprofit world will help Magical Meadows fulfill our dreams and help us build a place of opportunity for this amazing community of families who have become dear to my heart.”
These changes come as Magical Meadows pursues a new vision of expanding and improving its physical infrastructure to add additional services and programs related to recreation and various therapies. Kuhn will be working with the current staff, board of directors and key stakeholders to establish a new strategic plan that will ensure the success and sustainability of these efforts.
Kuhn, a Leesburg native and Warsaw Community High School graduate, is returning to work in the community after spending the past eight years working in Fort Wayne. He brings a variety of professional experiences from his time in the TV news and nonprofit industries. Most recently, Kuhn served as the development director at Camp Red Cedar, an inclusive summer camp and horseback riding facility where he led all fundraising, communications and strategic planning initiatives. Prior to his time there, he worked at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Fort Wayne and helped rebuild the homeownership program while doubling the number of families served. These roles in the nonprofit world came after Kuhn spent over three years working as a TV news reporter at WANE 15. He now hopes to use all of the experiences and skills he gained through these careers to help usher Magical Meadows into the future.
“Over the past 17 years, Tammy, Carl and everyone at Magical Meadows have built an amazing organization that profoundly impacts the lives of so many individuals with disabilities, veterans and first-responders in our community,” Kuhn said. “I consider it a true honor and privilege to get to walk alongside them to actualize their vision of serving even more people in new and innovative ways. Doing so in my hometown makes this opportunity even more special for me and my family.”
Carl Adams, who has served as the board president and executive director for 14 years, will stay in his role as board president, but will transition to being the director of operations when Kuhn starts next month. In addition to helping with the executive director transition, Adams will also assist Stackhouse and the riding instructors with day-to-day operations and stewarding relationships with past, current and future supporters and participant families.
“The last 14 years of leading the Magical Meadows have been so rewarding,” Adams said. “I have witnessed multiple lives changed, goals achieved and challenges overcome. I have had the honor of seeing children say their first words and take their first steps. There comes a time when you know it’s time to let go of the reins and allow the next individual to saddle up and ride, and I believe Michael is a great fit. I am excited beyond words as the Magical Meadows begins this new chapter of meeting the challenges of growing the vision and expanding our forever home for our incredible individuals.”
Magical Meadows was founded by Stackhouse in 2007 out of a love for horses and a belief that getting away from the noise and busyness of our everyday lives to connect with the natural world has the power to heal. Magical Meadows exists to provide a natural space for those with physical, cognitive or emotional challenges, along with their families, to experience the healing power of horses, the release states. Magical Meadows is located on the northeast side of Warsaw between Chapman and Tippecanoe lakes. Learn more at https://www.themagicalmeadows.org/