Hope, Healing, and Hoofprints Ministry Receives Acts of Excellence Award from the South Dakota Hall of Fame
FLORENCE, S.D.—On May 3, 2023, the South Dakota Hall of Fame recognized Jo Vitek, President of Hope, Healing, and Hoofprints (Triple H) at Joy Ranch in Florence, South Dakota for her work in helping children in South Dakota heal from sexual abuse through equine experiences. Laurie Becvar, CEO of the SD Hall of Fame and Board Directors Gerry Likness and Mike Cartney presented the organization with a 2023 Act of Excellence award at Joy Ranch. Special tribute was also paid to Joy Nelson, founder and owner of Joy Ranch.
Photo (left to right): SD Hall of Fame CEO Laurie Becvar, SD Hall of Fame Board Director Gerry Likness, President of Hope, Healing and Hoofprints Ministry Jo Vitek being presented an Acts of Excellence Award by SD Hall of Fame Board Director Mike Cartney, Triple H Board Director Julianne Endres, Communications Director of the Watertown Community Foundation Kristen Henderson, and seated on the horse Brandy (not pictured) is Joy Nelson, owner and founder of Joy Ranch.
Jo Vitek started Hope, Healing, and Hoofprints (Triple H) Ministry in March of 2016 with a mission to foster a spiritual connection with the Holy Spirit through horsemanship. At the time, she had no idea how much the organization would bring about collaborative efforts between government officials and their grassroots ministry to help the children of South Dakota who are hurt and harmed by sexual abuse.
In April of that same year, Triple H received its first referral—a female child who was just five years old. During 2017, they provided individualized equine experiences and initiated summer group sessions which helped this child, and many other children, to realize they were not alone on their healing journey. After that year, six summer group sessions were offered every other Sunday evening at Joy Ranch. In 2018, the sessions doubled.
Today, every Sunday night people gather at the Joy Ranch Arena to attend sessions led by volunteers who are survivors of child sexual abuse themselves–striving and thriving by helping others who have had experience with the traumatic abuse.
Now, when South Dakota law enforcement across 13 counties in the northern part of the state investigate an incident of child sexual abuse, Hope, Healing, and Hoofprints Ministry is a resource offered to give the gift of hope and healing to the young victims.
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An exhibit of Hope, Healing, and Hoofprints (Triple H) Ministry will be on display at the SD Hall of Fame’s Visitor and Education Center in Chamberlain early this spring (and throughout the year), along with the other 2023 Act of Excellence recipients.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Laurie Becvar, Ed.D., M.A.
CEO, South Dakota Hall of Fame
lbecvar@sdhalloffame.org
The South Dakota Hall of Fame is a 501c3 organization designed to Honor, Inspire, and Educate. The Hall’s mission is to Champion a Culture of Excellence and the SD Hall of Fame lives out its mission through its programming, including the Acts of Excellence Program. This year, 14 organizations/individuals have been chosen for their Acts of Excellence.