Saddle Up for Smiles: #RideForTheCause Roundup!
March is filled with meaningful opportunities to give back, learn, and connect, and we hope you'll join us for an incredible line-up of events. Photo by Tori Repole
Catch up on our February events, and make plans to join us for exciting activities in March!
JustWorld is gearing up for an exciting lineup of events focused on community impact, education, and collaboration. From hands-on initiatives to insightful discussions, this month is packed with opportunities to make a difference, and we hope to see you there!
Monday, March 10 –– We kick off the month with a project visit to Pahokee Elementary School, where students will be introduced to the joy of reading through books and storytelling. Adding to the excitement, Matrix the Horse will make a special appearance, with Olympian and JustWorld Ambassador Juan Andres Rodriguez delivering a mounted demonstration that brings the magic of horsemanship to life.
Tuesday, March 11 –– The JustWorld community will come together for the StoryBook Treasures Book Packing Event, preparing reading materials for the students of Pahokee and Pioneer Park Elementary School.
Saturday, March 15 –– Indulge in delicious homemade treats while supporting a great cause at JustWorld’s Bake Sale, located at the Palm Beach International Academy airstream on Pony Island (Wellington International).
Tuesday, March 18 –– Join us for an insightful Lunch & Learn Discussion with Anne Caroline Valtin, Executive Director of the Great Charity Challenge, as she shares her expertise on “How to Develop an Idea, Market It, and Fundraise.” Gain valuable strategies and firsthand insights on turning ideas into impactful, successful initiatives.
Equine 74's "Clear the Jump" sponsorship raised $2,600 for JustWorld International during the $200,000 Florida Coast Equipment Grand Prix CSI4*, held on February 22 at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. Photo by Andrew Ryback Photography
WEC Ocala Recap
If you missed our press release on JustWorld’s new partnership with WEC Ocala and the Clear the Jump February fundraiser with Equine 74.
Opportunity Alert: We are currently seeking sponsors for a second Clear the Jump with WEC Ocala on Feb. 22! Reach out to Lucy Barnes for more information about how to help the children JustWorld serves while also showcasing your business during the League of Nations week in Ocala!
Reed Kessler’s Journey of Growth, Ambition and Philanthropy
From Olympic show jumper to national security professional, Reed Kessler’s journey has been defined by ambition, resilience, and a commitment to making a difference. On February 7, Reed returned to Belle Herbe Farm, where her JustWorld story began, to share how philanthropy shaped her perspective—and ultimately, her career path. Photo by Mike Souza/So Chill Media.
Within the walls of Belle Herbe Farm, headquarters for JustWorld International in Wellington, Florida, Reed Kessler’s evolution has unfolded in distinct chapters.
First, she was the curious 13-year-old introduced to JustWorld by a peer. Then, she became a dedicated Ambassador, spending 15 years giving back and exploring the nuances of privilege, responsibility, and service. And by 18, she made history as the youngest show jumper to compete in the Olympic Games.
On February 7, Reed returned to Belle Herbe after earning a master’s degree from Columbia University and embarking on a career in national security. She’s currently Associate Director of Policy at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute in Washington, D.C.
During a moderated discussion, Reed offered her first interview since stepping away from equestrian sport in 2018. She reflected on the shift that led to her departure and how JustWorld provided the foundation for her career pivot from elite athlete to national security professional.
A Foundation in Philanthropy
More than a decade before Reed made Olympic history, her passion for horses converged with philanthropy at JustWorld International.
“A lot of Ambassadors—what we have in common is the community,” Reed said. “I became interested in JustWorld and eventually became an Ambassador because of Natalie Johnson, who I rode with at Heritage Farm. She spoke so highly of the program, and as soon as I got to learn a little more about it, I wanted to join myself. I think that’s what’s so unique about the Ambassador program—it sells itself. Once you meet people, see the work they’re doing, and realize how they manage to do that alongside a really demanding riding career, people naturally want to join and be part of it.”
During her 15 years as a JustWorld Ambassador, Reed Kessler visited JustWorld projects like the People’s Improvement Organization in Cambodia and Asociación Compartir in Honduras, strengthening her dedication to philanthropy and global impact.
Reed traveled to Asociación Compartir, JustWorld’s partner project in Honduras, deepening her connection to JustWorld and reinforcing her commitment to philanthropy.
“A lot of us who do horse sport live a pretty privileged life,” Reed said. “That was probably the first time that I saw real poverty, and that was a really impactful moment being there with Natalie and seeing the different projects like the mobile library and school.”
The Education on Wheels mobile library at Asociación Compartir brings books, cultural programs, clean water, and nutritious snacks to children in remote regions of Honduras where economic and geographic challenges make school attendance difficult. Deeply moved by its impact, Reed supported the initiative for years, donating her prize money from show jumping.
“My riding career became something that wasn’t only just about myself and winning, but it also became something that I could do good through,” Reed said. “Those project visits, especially to Honduras and then much later to Cambodia, were really impactful moments in my life.”
Beyond the opportunity to give back, being a JustWorld Ambassador—and the exposure to different cultures—broadened Reed’s horizons.
“It’s no secret that show jumping is a sport with a lot of money in it,” Reed said. “It’s a privilege to wake up every day, ride horses, compete, and travel the world. It’s easy to get caught in a cycle—at my peak, I was competing 48 weeks a year and always on the road. You start to live in a little bit of a bubble that isn’t reality. It was very meaningful, and I’m grateful that, at a young age, I got to go to the projects and have my horizons broadened a little bit.
“By having events [at Belle Herbe Farm] and being tied to the projects, it helped me keep perspective,” Reed added. “Even though I spent all my life in the sport and in this environment, I knew what was outside. I knew what real life was. I think that makes you more grateful for what you have. It makes you more determined that, in the time that you aren’t [at the shows], you want to do something more impactful. It ultimately shaped the person I would become and the change I would make in my career. I’m not sure I would’ve been able to do that if I hadn’t had years of access to JustWorld to play with that idea in my mind.”
A Shift in Perspective
Reed Kessler and Cylana, the exceptional mare who carried her to the 2012 London Olympic Games. Photo by Erin Gilmore Photography.
On July 14, 2018, just five days after her 24th birthday, Reed competed in her final FEI competition. While her decision to leave jumping came as a shock to many, for Reed, it felt almost inevitable.
That February, after the Longines Masters of Hong Kong, Reed stopped in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to visit the People’s Improvement Organization (PIO), one of JustWorld’s four global projects, alongside initiatives in Guatemala, Honduras, and the United States.
“I’m very drawn to the project in Cambodia because of where I was in my life at that time,” Reed said. “I was approaching the end of my athletic career, and while I’m very grateful for the things I got to do when I rode, I was deeply unhappy at the end of my riding career. It was no longer fulfilling to me. I wasn’t intellectually curious, and I just wasn’t happy.”
Seeing the extent of PIO’s impact—providing education and opportunity to over 1,000 students daily and an alternative for many students who would otherwise scavenge at the municipal garbage dump to help support their families—the moment became a turning point for Reed.
“I just remember going to see the school—[it was] about 900 children just on the edge of the garbage dump—and being really blown away by how happy and grateful the students were to be there, as well as the teachers,” Reed said. “[I really had] to take a hard look at myself [and realize] that I wasn’t happy in my own life—that I wanted to do something more impactful.
“I was so grateful that, throughout my years of riding,” Reed added, “JustWorld allowed me to toy with that idea and be intellectually curious.”
The Courage to Be Imperfect
As a former JustWorld Ambassador, Reed Kessler left a lasting impression on the students at the People’s Improvement Organization in Cambodia.
The drive, ambition, and competitive nature that propelled Reed to the Olympics didn’t fade when she left the sport—it simply shifted direction. Over the next five years, she pursued a dual-degree program at Columbia University in New York City, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights & Middle Eastern Studies in 2022 and a Master of International Affairs in International Security Policy, Conflict Resolution, and Russia & Post-Soviet States Studies in May 2023.
“Something people ask me a lot [is], ‘How could you step away from that and end up doing something else? Don’t you miss it?’” Reed said. “Sometimes I miss the horses, but you’d be surprised how directly applicable that skill set is—setting goals, working toward something, pushing yourself, and getting out of your comfort zone. It’s something you can find in other places as well, whether in foreign policy or even just as an undergraduate. I went to Columbia, and I was so hungry to do well in school—treating it almost like it was a sport.”
For Reed, transitioning into academia was a liberating experience—one where she could fail, learn, and grow. In the classroom, there were no world rankings, no podium finishes, and no expectations—only the freedom to explore new ideas, challenge herself intellectually, and redefine her identity beyond the weight of past achievements.
“It was hugely liberating to go back and start a fresh page,” Reed said. “Nobody’s watching. I can try new things, be good at them, be bad at them. It was such a blessing to have so much success in the sport at a really young age, but at the same time, I was 18 years old, in my early 20s. That is naturally a very difficult time in a young person’s life as they find themselves, and doing that in a very public setting can be unpleasant at times. It was almost like being a late bloomer—that even though I was 24 at that point, I got to have that moment that I carved out at Columbia.”
In September 2023, with a graduate degree and experience from internships at the United Nations and the U.S. State Department, Reed landed the position of Associate Director of Policy at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in Washington, D.C.
“I would say no two weeks or days are ever the same,” Reed said. “We do a lot of work based in convening, so we put on the biggest defense conference in the U.S., The Reagan National Defense Forum, which just happened in December. It’s a pretty cool place to work because you’re constantly pulling together the greatest minds across the national security and foreign policy space to work on difficult problems across the political spectrum.”
Life Experience
After the moderated discussion, Reed Kessler sat with attendees to continue the conversation. Photo by Mike Souza/So Chill Media.
In a Virginia pasture, far from the fast pace of Washington, D.C., Reed’s Olympic partner, Cylana, enjoys her retirement alongside Reed’s former competition horses. The 23-year-old Belgian Warmblood represents a defining chapter of Reed’s journey—the rise to Olympic success, the difficult choices of her professional riding career, and the lessons that shaped her path forward.
“Life is very short, and riding is a huge gift, and you should do that if you wake up and it genuinely excites you—intellectually, emotionally, and what have you,” Reed said. “But wherever you are in your career, if you reach a point where you really don’t feel happy and fulfilled—it doesn’t matter if that’s at 18, 25, 35, 50, or 70. At any time, you can change your life, try something new, and branch out, and I think that’s really cool.”
As the evening wound down, the conversation opened to the audience. Some had spent years in the sport before stepping away to pursue new paths, while others were navigating career shifts, looking for insight and direction. Reed left the audience with one final reflection—a piece of advice she would’ve given to her younger self.
“I think to live a little bit more the way I do now, which is to be less glued to what the result is going to be,” Reed said. “I don’t mean to sound hippy-dippy, but I really try to live my life like, ‘Life is an experience. Who knows how long I will be in this moment, in this job, in this relationship?’ I will show up every day, build a life that makes me happy, try to learn, work hard, be a good person, and show up for my friends and all of that. But if I fail and had a bad week at work, I showed up, I did my best, and that’s what it is. To love and lose and be like, ‘That wasn’t supposed to last forever. That was beautiful while it lasted.’”
A “Mini” Trip To Pioneer Park Elementary School
Students at Pioneer Park Elementary School share a special moment with Jets, the miniature pony of JustWorld Ambassador Hailey Hak. Photo by Mike Souza/So Chill Media.
Last March, the students at Pioneer Park Elementary School in Belle Glade, Florida, found a new friend in Matrix, Maria Newman’s gray gelding, who they got to see, touch, and learn about during JustWorld International’s inaugural visit with StoryBook Treasures. During this year’s visit on February 10, the excitement was just as high—but with a new star taking center stage.
While many students asked about Matrix, they quickly found a new favorite in Jets, JustWorld Ambassador Hailey Hak’s miniature horse, who joined the visit for a day of philanthropy, fun, and learning. As Jets jumped over JustWorld obstacles, a chorus of students cheered him on, chanting, “Jump, Jets, Jump!” After his star performance, students eagerly lined up to pet and hug their new equine friend before heading back to the classrooms to read their new books, courtesy of StoryBook Treasures founder Denise Corbo.
“We had an absolutely magical time during our second visit to Pioneer Park Elementary, thanks to our incredible partners at JustWorld International,” Corbo said. “For many of the students, this was their first time seeing a mini-horse, and they were beyond excited to meet Jets and learn about caring for horses through a captivating presentation and live horse-jumping demonstration. To make the experience even more memorable, the JWI ambassadors read a StoryBook Treasures book to all 50 first-grade students, and each child received their very own kit filled with a book about ponies and treasures, ensuring they’ll remember this special day and the support of JWI forever.”
After their time with Jets, Pioneer Park students headed back to the classroom to read alongside JustWorld Ambassadors. Photo by Mike Souza/So Chill Media.
The return to Pioneer Park marked JustWorld’s first project visit of the year, setting the tone for an incredible year ahead with our Ambassadors, donors, and community. The morning began at Belle Herbe Farm, where Ambassadors gathered for breakfast and coffee generously sponsored by Carmela, a local gourmet toast and coffee bar. Then, they commuted to Pioneer Park, where they taught students about horses and read in the classroom.
Cora Greenstreet, a 10-year-old who became an Ambassador last July, enjoyed her first project visit, reading to students and connecting with her peers and friends.
“It was a really good experience,” said Cora, “and I loved meeting all the kids and having them meet the pony.”
The opportunities continue with a visit to Pahokee Elementary School on Monday, March 10th, followed by the StoryBook Book Packing event on March 11.
Fit for a Cause Fundraiser Raises Hundreds for JustWorld
Limitless Performance’s Fit for a Cause fundraiser brought fitness and philanthropy together in support of JustWorld International. Photo by Mike Souza/So Chill Media
On March 3, Limitless Performance offered a Fit for a Cause fundraiser in support of JustWorld International, bringing together fitness, community, and philanthropy for an unforgettable evening at Belle Herbe Farm in Wellington, FL.
Led by Mike Barthelemy, owner of Limitless Performance and a personal trainer to Olympic equestrians, the session raised hundreds of dollars for children in need while guiding participants through a dynamic workout designed to enhance strength, form, and overall performance.
"I love giving back, and if I look back at where I started in the equestrian industry and where I am now, I feel like the community has given so much to me and helped me reach certain heights of success," Mike said. "Doing this with JustWorld felt just right because I can give back my time, knowledge, and expertise to people who may need motivation and upliftment.
“Anytime I get asked to do anything to give back,” Mike added, “it hits close to my heart, and that's why I decided to do this with JustWorld.”
Joining Mike were Limitless Performance trainers Phil Louis and Kimberly Nilson, who were proud to help raise over $700 in direct support of JustWorld’s programs in Guatemala, Honduras, Cambodia, and the United States.
“I’m a very big advocate for helping people in need,” Phil said. “That’s amazing that that amount was raised. This is the first time this is taking place, so by next year, maybe we’ll double or triple [the amount]. This was a great start.”
Trainer Phil Louis leads JustWorld Ambassadors through a dynamic workout demonstration. Photo by Mike Souza/So Chill Media.
Designed to be inclusive and welcoming, the event catered to all ages and fitness levels, fostering an encouraging atmosphere where attendees pushed their limits while supporting a meaningful cause.
For Kimberly, contributing to the cause was deeply personal. A fellow equestrian, she suffered a spinal injury at 15, a pivotal experience that shaped her passion for exercise science.
"The spinal injury took me out of riding, and ever since then, that was the reason why I got into exercise science—why I was going to go pre-med and then decided to take a left turn and become a coach," Kimberly said. "The equestrian sport has one of the highest rates of spinal injuries, and that’s a passion of mine. Being a coach and being able to individualize that—working with young riders, older people who have been injured, and those getting back into the game—that's our job. Our job is to look at you, see you as an individual and a person, and be able to connect with you and help you."
Several participants entered the session with previous injuries, including Angela Baugh, a fitness enthusiast who has explored everything from CrossFit to Pilates and weightlifting. She left the event with valuable insights to refine her approach and adapt her training.
“The CrossFit, with certain things––just because I’ve had a lot of surgeries––I have to modify, and I think the way [Mike] does things is really beneficial to me,” Angela said. “I learned a lot of good modifications where I can still keep fit and keep up but not injure myself, so I really appreciate that.”
Coach Kimberly Nilson brought invaluable insight to the Fit for a Cause fundraiser, enriching the experience for all participants. Photo by Mike Souza/So Chill Media.
Alongside fitness enthusiasts like Angela Baugh, 9-year-old JustWorld Ambassador Gabi Caideo eagerly shared her excitement for the workout and the meaningful cause.
“I really like this idea––to donate to kids who don't have much money and to give them a better education,” said Gabi. “I really also like this workout. They had good teachers who helped me improve, and they have good strategies that I will definitely try every day. I feel really good. In a month, maybe [by] doing this exercise, maybe I could be really flexible.”
Gabi and other children joined adults like Maria Newman, the mother of JustWorld founder Jessica Newman and a devoted supporter of the organization.
“I think it was absolutely wonderful; [the trainers] were great,” Maria said. “They are stimulating and fun at the same time, so it's not boring, and they give us, you know, time to recover. [The workout] makes me realize how much I should work out like this almost every day. It was fun, but very effective.”
Beyond the workout, Maria highlighted the profound impact of the funds raised.
“When enough people [come together], it makes a big difference,” Maria added. “For me––$50, I know what it does, how much of a long way it goes in Cambodia or in Guatemala. I mean, you can support a child for almost a month for $50, so we supported quite a few children tonight.”
The inaugural Fit for a Cause fundraiser with Limitless Performance was a success, setting the stage for future events." Photo by Mike Souza/So Chill Media.
Not only did Maria have a great time at the workout, but Limitless Performance gained a new fan in her.
“Everybody did a great job tonight,” Phil said. “I was able to keep them energized and walk them through the workouts, and now [Maria] signed up. The goal is to make sure everybody, every day––it’s a lifestyle for them. Seeing that and how excited she was––the thing about fitness is it's very diverse. You have the youth, you have the middle age, and you have the seniors. And it's never too late, actually, to start your fitness journey. As long as you are dedicated, you stay consistent––the sky’s the limit. It’s very rewarding, and that’s what keeps me going. Helping everybody get to their fitness goals––that’s what it’s all about.”
For Mike, this is only the beginning of a promising partnership between Limitless Performance and JustWorld International, blending elite training with social good.
"I think this event was just the beginning of something amazing that we're trying to do here," Mike said. "To work with the kids and the adults and for people to feel excited to do this—I’m happy everybody showed up, and the outcome is just amazing. It’s just a matter of creating more awareness in the equestrian world to show everybody the way because a lot of people do want to do this—they do want to get in shape and work on their health and fitness—but they don't know how to start. We have a couple of people here who want to start but don’t know how, and this is the start of something that could change their lives. I’ve seen it many times."
A heartfelt thank you to Mike Barthelemy, Kimberly Nilson, Phil Louis, and the JustWorld community for their dedication to fitness and philanthropy.
Are you interested in partnering with JustWorld to help children while also putting your business in front of the international equestrian community? Reach out to Lucy Barnes for details about the best fit for your needs
