When you support our Scholarship Fund, you’re helping underwrite professionally facilitated programs that improve physical, intellectual and social wellbeing. Hear from veteran Ken Wadzinski on the life-changing therapy he has found here at Quantum and donate to help others like Ken!
Meet Ken.
Some two decades ago, Ken’s world was turned upside down by an IED blast while serving in the U.S. Marines during the Iraq War. Suddenly, his 30 years of service was shattered, and he returned home a disabled veteran beset with severe PTSD and neurological issues.
Ken was lost. He tried his hand at police work in Hawaii, but resigned after two years and returned to the Tampa Bay area. It was there, during a V.A. checkup in 2016, that his life changed entirely by accident. He bumped into a woman carrying a stack of papers and the one that fell to the ground was a flyer for Quantum Leap Farm. “When I went to pick it up, I saw this paper that talked about Quantum Leap, and I looked it over and asked her, ‘How can I do this?’ ” Ken recalled. “She told me to have a seat in her office and came back in a few minutes with my name on the application.”
And that’s how he went from lost to found. Today, Ken has new support systems and a new outlook on life – thanks to the staff and equines of Quantum Leap Farm. “I feel like I have a new family,” he said. “This feels like home to me.”
Initially, the doctor who signed off on the application would not clear Ken to ride horses – a major disappointment since he had once owned them and was fully experienced. “No riding? – I was almost in tears over that,” he said. But Jenna Miller, QLF’s program director, soon put Ken to work grooming them and working with them on a lead line. Then, within the same year came a significant change: Ken was cleared for riding, and he’s been happily in the saddle ever since.
“I’ve been coming here every two weeks for the past eight years and it’s amazing,” he said. “One of the things I love is to see the youngsters who come here and how much they progress from riding – it’s like wow.”
Miller has noticed a distinct change for the better in Ken’s progress, too. “When he’s riding, he really opens up and shares the experiences he had in combat, which is very helpful,” she said. “The calmness of riding the horses allows him to tap into his feelings.” Ken has also made an impact at the farm, helping to stage 5K and 10K fun runs to benefit QLF – initially a way of completing his capstone project to graduate from St. Petersburg College. It’s been a long road from the desert combat zone that forever changed his life. But thanks to Quantum Leap Farm, Ken is exactly where he needs to be.
Over 95% of Quantum Leap’s income is dependent on the generosity of donors. We hope that you will consider a gift to Quantum Leap Farm this holiday season. Ken, along with so many others, would not be able to participate in these equine-assisted therapies without your support. Thank you for making these opportunities possible, it truly makes such an impact in the lives of our participants
When you choose to give to our Scholarship Fund you AND a scholarship recipient will receive
a Quantum Leap Farm – 2025 Calendar.
For more information about giving to Quantum, please contact our Deputy Director: Emily Westfall | Emily@QuantumLeapFarm.org | 813-920-9250 ext. 206
Every charitable organization or sponsor that is required to register under Section 496.405, F.S., or that is exempt under Section 496.406(1)(d), F.S., must conspicuously display the following statement on every solicitation, confirmation, receipt, or reminder of a contribution: “A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.” The statement must include a toll-free number and website for the division that can be used to obtain the registration information. The toll-free numberis 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352), and the website is FDACS.gov.
