In The News
Sunny Creek Ranch is a featured non-profit in Community Impact Newspaper
November 2021
Community Impact Newspaper (The Woodlands/Conroe Area) featured an article highlighting Sunny Creek Ranch by reporter Ally Bolender, explaining the benefits of Horses for Heroes to our surrounding community.
Lake Conroe Area Republican Women meeting featuring Women Veteran Trailblazers
November 18, 2021
Sunny Creek Ranch board members were honored to be in attendance at the Lake Conroe Area Republican Women meeting featuring Female Veteran Trailblazers and the amazing organizations they represent. Board Member, Maureen Friedly USMC, spoke on behalf of Sunny Creek Ranch Horses for Heroes. The board couldn't be more proud of her, her service, and the honorable work she does supporting Veterans and their families at Sunny Creek Ranch. Special thank you to Brandie Lopez for organizing such a wonderful event.
Sunny Creek Ranch presented with $1,000 Grant Award from Petco Love
November 2021
The Helping Heroes Campaign recognizes and celebrates the life-changing impact that service, therapy, and working animals have on the lives of millions of people. Petco is dedicated to helping animals and people live their best lives together. The Sunny Creek Ranch team was presented a check at the Conroe 336 Loop Petco location.
Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea Windcrest Village hosts 9/11 Fundraiser for Sunny Creek Ranch
September 11, 2021
Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea Windcrest Village in Magnolia, Texas selected Sunny Creek Ranch as the recipient of their fundraiser in support of our local heroes honoring the remembrance of 9/11. Sunny Creek Ranch was extremely humbled to receive 33% of in store profits, which will benefit the heroes enrolled in Horses for Heroes at Sunny Creek Ranch.
Texas Twist & Shakes hosts "Cones & Cars" fundraiser for Sunny Creek Ranch
August 22, 2021
Texas Twist & Shakes organized a car show benefitting Sunny Creek Ranch in Montgomery, Texas. The event brought awareness to the mental health needs of our local veterans and their families. A DJ, fabulous cars, food, and ice cream highlighted the event.
Kendra Scott Market Street, The Woodlands Gives Back
July 28, 2021
Kendra Scott at Market Street in The Woodlands, Texas raised money for Horses for Heroes through a generous in-store and online fundraiser event. Funds raised support our local heroes in Sunny Creek Ranch's Horses for Heroes program, which helps our heroes learn coping skills and achieve breakthroughs to thrive in civilian life after service.
Sunny Creek Ranch is announced the winner of a $2000 grant from Johnson Development Corporation
July 2021
The Grant program by Johnson Development, is their "way of sharing passion for making your community a better place and making the dreams of your favorite charity come true." Sunny Creek Ranch received the most community votes, which made them the winner of the quarterly grant award.
Sunny Creek Ranch participates in Freedom Fest Montgomery
Sunny Creek Ranch participated in Freedom Fest Montgomery and won Best Theme 2021. In attendance from Sunny Creek Ranch were BOD members Jay & Shannon Novak and children, Linda Ward, and Mike Hopkins; BOA members Maureen Friedly and family; Mental Health Professional Robert Knapick, Ph.D.; Veteran Outreach Coordinator Kody Wall.
Sunny Creek Ranch Distinguished with Military Services Provider Designation by Eagala
April 23, 2021
Sunny Creek Ranch renewed their certification as an "Eagala Military Services Provider" in conjunction with their current Eagala certifications. Eagala's Military Services Designation raises the bar for equine-assisted psychotherapy for veterans and their families. Eagala Military Services Providers are specially credentialed with a deep understanding of military culture and life.
What makes this distinction special and sets Sunny Creek Horses for Heroes program apart from the rest? Quality, Clinical Competence, Understanding of Military Culture, Proven Experience, Credibility, Confidentiality, & Ethical Standards.
To find out what makes this distinction so important, visit www.eagala.org/military
Sunny Creek Ranch becomes a member of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce
March 8, 2021
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce (MACC) is a not-for-profit, voluntary organization of business and professional men and women joined together for the purpose of promoting civic and economic progress of our community. MACC is the trusted resource for business professionals to help their business succeed. We do this by offering opportunities to get businesses noticed and grow, quality programming for business best practices, innovation, trends, and economic outlooks that provide our business leaders with the tools they need to make decisions.
VFW Post 4709 Recognizes our Founder, Shannon Novak, and Board Member, Linda Ward
August 12, 2020
Sunny Creek Ranch's founder, Shannon Novak, and Board Member, Linda Ward, were presented with awards “For Meritorious and Distinguished Service in Furthering the Aims and Ideals of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States” presented by VFW Post 4709 Commander Floyd Stewart and Chaplain Foy Day.
Sunny Creek Ranch Horses For Heroes teams up with Combined Arms as a Partner Organization
February 11, 2020
Sunny Creek Ranch “Horses For Heroes” is proud to announce that we are a new member organization with Combined Arms.
Combined Arms is a one-stop resource for veterans in transition. Through a combined effort with 56+ member organizations, they offer holistic support in a customized and efficient way.
Sunny... Named "Horse Hero of the Week" by Hope in the Saddle, Nutrena Feed and Tractor Supply Company
May 28, 2020
Sunny, the namesake of Sunny Creek Ranch, was named a "Horse Hero" by "Hope in the Saddle" for the contributions and work she does in their Horses For Heroes Program for veterans and their family members. Visit https://hopeinthesaddle.com/tag/veterans and https://www.facebook.com/HopeInTheSaddle/posts/1465509066980895 to see more about Sunny's award!
Sunny Creek Ranch Distinguished with Military Services Provider Designation by Eagala
March 21, 2020
The Horses For Heroes team achieved an outstanding accomplishment that has taken years of dedication, hard work, and proven commitment to veterans and their families. Always Eagala Certified, and now in addition, they have been recognized as an Eagala Military Services Provider, the only program of its kind in the Houston area.
To find out what makes this distinction so important, visit www.eagala.org/military
Sunny Creek Ranch "Horses For Heroes" Receives Grant from Disabled Veterans National Foundation
Press Release September 6, 2019
Sunny Creek Ranch Equine Services: “Horses For Heroes” Receives Grant Award from Disabled Veterans National Foundation
Montgomery, Texas – September 6, 2019 – Sunny Creek Ranch Equine Services: “Horses For Heroes” Program is honored to announce it has received a grant from the Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) for $8,000 which will fund equine assisted psychotherapy sessions for Disabled Veterans.
Shannon Novak, Eagala Certified E.S., Founder & Director of Sunny Creek Ranch “Horses For Heroes” Program, said, “We are so grateful to the Disabled Veterans National Foundation for the generous grant awarded to Sunny Creek Ranch “Horses For Heroes” Program. The DVNF Grant Award enables us to expand our services to provide even more confidential equine assisted psychotherapy sessions for Veterans and their family members on our private ranch in Montgomery, Texas. “Horses For Heroes” is operated BY Veterans and their families, FOR Veterans and their families. We truly understand the unique challenges military families face. Our sessions provide solutions that meet Veterans squarely on their own terms, and provide them with powerful breakthroughs and life-changing insights. We are not defined by our scars, but by what we do when our wounds close. Our mission is to get our Disabled Veterans all the way home through the horse-human connection. Without the support of DVNF, this would not be possible.”
Joseph VanFonda (USMC Sgt.Maj. Ret.), CEO of the Disabled Veterans National Foundation said, “We are proud to support Horses For Heroes, as they continue to make a positive impact in veterans’ lives. We would like to congratulate and thank them for their commitment to assisting the men and women who served in defense of our country.”
The DVNF Grant Award enables the “Horses For Heroes” Professional Team to conduct equine assisted psychotherapy sessions, certified by Eagala (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association), free of charge for Disabled Veterans, their caregivers and families.
VFW Post 4709 Hosts Annual Fundraiser for Sunny Creek Ranch
September 21, 2019 Conroe, Texas
Live and Silent Auctions, BBQ plates sponsored by Congressman Kevin Brady, Live music donated by Cannon Brand, and a packed event hall all made for a successful fundraising event benefiting Sunny Creek Ranch Horses for Heroes.
Sam Malone interviews Jay & Shannon Novak LIVE on air for Veterans Day Segment
November 2019 and 2020 Houston, Texas
The alarm clock has been going off at 4am for the past 25 years, and for Sam Malone, it’s music to his ears. Malone has spent the last 18 years in Houston waking up America’s 4th largest city with #1 ratings, compelling content and great interviews. Sam moved into talk radio in Houston in 2005. He has interviewed high-profile guests from Sir Paul McCartney to Sen. John McCain, played dueling pianos with Barry Manilow, met his wife thanks to John Bon Jovi, and attended both Presidential Inaugurations for George W. Bush. He’s truly an anomaly: comfortable interviewing everyone from musicians to politicians! Sam has also been a contributor on FOX News, MSNBC and Larry King Live. Now, Sam has returned to do what he loves, radio. Now, you will find him on AM 1070, The Answer!
MCTXSheriff Celebrates 2nd Anniversary of V.E.T.S. Program
May 1, 2019 Conroe, Texas
Sunny Creek Ranch is awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by Sergeant Kimberley Anderson, Inmate Programs Coordinator. and Lieutenant Stephanie Logan, Special Activities Coordinator, for their partnership with the Justice Involved Veterans at the V.E.T.S. program at the Montgomery County Jail.
PetCo "Helping Hero" Grant Awarded to Sunny Creek Ranch Horses For Heroes
April, 2019
As one of the nation's largest funders of animal welfare causes, we are proud to support non-profit animal organizations that care for animals in need, fight pet cancer, and celebrate our Helping Hero therapy and working animals. We hold a responsibility to invest donor dollars in organizations that work to achieve our shared, lifesaving goals. As such we seek to support organizations that continually endeavor to achieve a high standard of doing more, and are determined to efficiently save as many lives as possible with our investment.
