Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton Elks present donation to Hooves with H.E.A.R.T.

Elks Lodges donate $4,100 to nonprofit that helps children with special needs.

By Liz Ramos
| 5:00 p.m. October 4, 2021

Elks Bob Erwin, Darrin Simone and Dan Tabor support Hooves with H.E.A.R.T. President Danielle Curtis and rider Frankie Pizzurro with their donations.

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Mason Kramer of Hooves with Horse Education and Riding Therapy guided a pony, Willow, out of the barn at the nonprofit's East County ranch.

Kramer commanded Willow to stand still and the pony quickly complied.

Darrin Simone, the vice president of the Elks Southwest District and a member of the Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks, wasn't surprised Kramer was in total control. In August, Simone and Elks State President Suzi Simonelli visited the nonprofit and Kramer's riding talent gave them the idea to give a grant to Hooves with HEART, which is dedicated to providing support to individuals with special needs through equine-assisted activities and riding therapies.

Elks Darrin Simone, Dan Tabor and Bob Erwin donate to Hooves with H.E.A.R.T. to support riders like Mason Kramer (front).

“It just pulled on our heartstrings,” Simone said of the first visit to the nonprofit. “Everybody left here with their hearts so warm after watching all (the riders). There was just a wonderful feeling.”

Simone, along with Bob Erwin, who is the exalted ruler of the Bradenton Elks, and Dan Tabor, who is a past Elks state president, presented their donations to Danielle Curtis, the president of Hooves with HEART Sept. 24.

The Bradenton Elks Lodge provided a $4,100 donation. The nonprofit received a $500 donation from the Southwest District as well as $100 from Simone and his wife, Deborah Simone.

“This is my 22nd year of being an Elk and whenever we have anything to do with children, it just touches your heart and you want to do as much as you can,” Erwin said. “There’s no better feeling. There’s such a need, and most of us don’t notice how large the need is.”

Danielle Curtis, the president of Hooves with HEART, said the donations from the Elks are critical because the nonprofit doesn’t charge its riders, so without donations, the nonprofit wouldn’t be able to continue its programs and take care of the animals.

“In society right now, everything seems so negative, so to know that our community is being positive and recognizing the specialness of those children and the volunteers means that we’re not alone,” Curtis said. “It means we’re able to have that support.”