(Scottsdale, AZ) Kerul Kassel has been named the new president of the Parelli Foundation Board of Directors, replacing Lori Northrup who led the board for the past five and a half years.
“It is an honor to step into this role,” said Kassel. “Lori has set the bar very high and provided incredible leadership, unwavering vision, peerless acumen and profound dedication that helped this foundation grow into the successful organization that it is today. We can’t thank her enough for all that she has done and accomplished. I look forward to continuing to expand the Foundation’s mission of creating a better world for horses and humans.”
Previously, Kassel was a volunteer and a board member at the Foundation. Outgoing president Lori Northrup praised the selection of Kassel as the next president. “Kerul has outstanding leadership skills. She embraces natural horsemanship and the goals of the Parelli Foundation. I am confident she is the right person to lead us into the future. I would also like to thank everyone I’ve worked with during my tenure as President; we could not have made the strides we did without the tireless efforts of our staff and volunteers.”
Kassel brings extensive business and nonprofit leadership skills to her new role. She holds a doctorate in Human and Organizational Systems to help organizations and their leaders focus on (environmental and social) sustainability. She serves on the faculty at Fielding Graduate University, in the School of Leadership Studies programs and is the author of a book on applying systems thinking to business management, titled "The Thinking Executive's Guide to Sustainability.”
In addition to consulting, writing and research, she has expertise in coaching, working with change agents, executives, managers and business owners as a recognized expert in productivity and performance, and has multiple industry certifications.
Kassel took the opportunity of being named the new president to highlight the Foundation’s accomplishments in 2016, including:
- Establishment and planning of Festival Magnifico 2017, which is well on its way to becoming a premier natural horsemanship event.
- Rehoming 4 Life Challenge and Adoption which now has 10 horses from seven rescues around the country assigned to nine Licensed Parelli Professionals. These horses will have more than a year of development in preparation for the Challenge and Adoption at Festival Magnifico.
- The Road to the Summit event which has changed to featuring and developing 3-year-old horses.
- The Future of Horsemanship Scholarship now has four incredible youth students; coming from California, Wisconsin, Texas and Canada. A 5th application is now being considered.
- More than 24 therapeutic horsemanship centers have been assisted by the Parelli Foundation this year, and the list of Parelli Friendly Therapeutic Centers has grown from 10 to 40. The full listing can be found on the Foundation’s website: www.ParelliFoundation.org
- The Summit Gala in September 2016 was an exciting event; raising over $75,000 and bringing the Summit weekend total to more than $100,000. These funds allow the Foundation to accomplish the kind of work outlined above.
About the Parelli Foundation:
The Parelli Foundation is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization for the natural horsemanship community that focuses on education for youth horsemanship, therapeutic horsemanship, horse welfare and scholarships for the talented and for career minded individuals. It follows the principles of Parelli Natural Horsemanship (PNH) but operates independently of PNH.
The Parelli Foundation (previously named the Parelli Education Institute) earned the “Gold Level” designation from GuideStar, USA, Inc.; an information service specializing in reporting on U.S. nonprofit companies. Out of 1.5 million nonprofits, less than 5,000 have achieved Gold Level status. Donors to the Parelli Foundation can be assured their investments are being used wisely and appropriately, with contributions tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. To learn more, go to: www.ParelliFoundation.org