High school sweethearts, Ginny and Lee Schroeder, have been married for 50 years. They have a love for each other, an adorable banter and a shared passion for the work they do at NTRC. This dynamic duo has volunteered 1,000 hours in the last two years and were named 2019 Volunteers of the Year.
When Ginny retired, she knew she needed something to do.
Although she knew nothing about horses, she stopped by NTRC to check it out. She watched a lesson and visited with parents and staff. The rest is
history. She said, “I was blown away. I was so impressed with the staff’s dedication. I figured, where else can you see smiles and get hugs like that?”
When Lee, a law enforcement officer, retired not long after, he wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Growing up, he owned horses and worked at a barn. He volunteered with the Special Olympics, and was a School Resource Officer. NTRC was a perfect fit.
Ginny and Lee now commute from Fort Myers four days a week bringing smiles and sharing laughs with each other and NTRC participants. Lee brings his experience and a lot of love for children and horses (especially Red) to his role as a leader in riding lessons. Ginny prefers sidewalking and favors Majesty for his patience.
Ginny shared, “Children who couldn’t walk are walking and who couldn’t talk are talking. It’s amazing to see the progress. I have fun every time I volunteer and we get exercise too!” Lee agrees, “This is the best use of my time. It’s very rewarding.”
