chelsea.croissant.photography

03/27/2026

The H.E.L.P. Center Horse Calendar Contest is coming back and we need your input before we launch!

For the past few years, this fundraiser has helped raise money for the H.E.L.P. Center, and it’s something we truly want to continue long-term. This year we’re making some changes to keep it sustainable, organized, and focused on raising as much money as possible for the nonprofit.

Here’s the updated vision:

📷 The featured calendar images will be professionally photographed H.E.L.P. Center horses.

🐎 Community members will still enter their horses as a fun way to help raise funds, get votes, and receive honorable mentions in the calendar.

🎁 Top fundraisers could win prizes or sponsor rewards, and we’re even considering mini contests throughout the fundraiser to keep things fun and engaging.

Before we move forward, we need your feedback:

1️⃣ Would you enter your horse to help raise funds for the HELP Center?

2️⃣ Would you prefer:

• a higher donation that includes a calendar, or
• a lower entry fee with the option to purchase a calendar later?

3️⃣ What would make this easier or more fun for you to participate in?

4️⃣ Do you know of any local businesses that would like to become a sponsor or donate prizes for top fundraisers or mini contest winners?

Our goal is simple: raise the most money possible for the H.E.L.P. Center while making this a fun and community-driven fundraiser that can continue every year.

Drop your thoughts in the comments or send a message and feel free to tag businesses or people who might want to be involved!

10/20/2025

It’s been a while since I’ve shared here, but I finally wrapped up something close to my heart.

The 2026 H.E.L.P. fundraising calendar is finished!

Every year, sales from this calendar keep the H.E.L.P. Center of Austin fundraising photo contest going. All calendar contest proceeds go straight to the therapeutic riding center that helps riders of all ages and abilities find confidence and healing on horseback.

If you’ve ever loved one of the horses featured in the calendar this year or the heart behind this nonprofit organization, this is a simple way to support it.

📸 Grab your calendar here:

Custom Photo Calendars for Sale 2026 H.E.L.P. Fundraising Calendar

06/12/2025

🎉 You Did It — Calendar Contest Success! 🎉

We’re overjoyed to share that our Fundraising Calendar Photo Contest raised an incredible $3,852 through your generous donations, entries, votes, and business sponsorships!

Here’s a quick look at the numbers:

📸 132 photo entries
🗳️ 32 votes
🐾 12 Reserve-a-Spot purchases
💛 $3,552 raised from Reserve-a-Spots alone!
🙌 $3,852 total raised to support the animals we love

But what does that really mean? Let’s break it down:

With monthly costs like:

🐎 $50 for hoof care
🩺 $50 for vet care
🌾 $100 for feed

Your support is helping cover over 25 months of animal care! That’s more than two full years of care for one animal—or a whole month care for nearly four animals. 🤯❤️

These aren’t just numbers—they’re full bellies, healthy hooves, and happy, cared-for animals—because of YOU.

And now the countdown is on…

📅 Calendar production is underway, and we can’t wait to get these community driven calendars into your hands.

Want to be the first to know when sales open?

👉 Sign up for the H.E.L.P. Center email newsletter to stay in the loop and secure your calendar early for holiday gifts, stocking stuffers, or a little daily joy on your own wall!

Scroll down to bottom of page to sign up today: https://www.helpcenterofaustin.org

06/02/2025

🎉✨ WE DID IT! ✨🎉

The 2025 H.E.L.P. Center of Austin Fundraising Calendar Contest has officially wrapped up and we are thrilled to announce that together, we raised $3,582 for the H.E.L.P. Center of Austin!

Every single vote, share, entry, and sponsorship made an impact — and we are so deeply grateful.

A HUGE round of applause goes to our top fundraiser, the stunning Stella Luna BF and her amazing owner Kirsten Lotter! Your dedication and heart helped lead the charge — thank you for being such a powerful part of this mission.

Whether you entered, voted, sponsored, or cheered us on from the sidelines, YOU were part of something special. These funds go directly to the care of the H.E.L.P. horses, so they can continue doing the life-changing work they do — connecting with people in need of hope, healing, and heart.

💬 Drop a comment below to help us celebrate this milestone!

📸 And stay tuned — the 2026 calendar will be available for purchase later this year!

From the bottom of our hearts… thank you.

05/31/2025

🚨 FINAL 24 HOURS 🚨

We’re in the homestretch, friends — and we need your help more than ever.

Every year, the H.E.L.P. Center of Austin uses horses to bring healing, confidence, and connection to kids and adults facing serious physical, emotional, and developmental challenges.

But those incredible horses? They can’t do this work without care, feed, shelter, and vet and farrier services.

That’s what this fundraiser is for.
Not frills. Not fluff. Just the basic necessities to keep these horses healthy so they can keep changing lives.

We've had more support this year than ever before — more entries, more sponsors — but we’re still short of our $10,000 goal.

If the H.E.L.P. Center has touched your life…
If you believe in the power of horses to heal…
If you’ve ever wanted to give back to something real and meaningful…

Now is the moment.

🗳 Vote (every dollar is a donation)
📢 Share this post
❤️ Donate what you can

Let’s finish strong — for the horses and for the future of this program.

👇👇👇
https://www.gogophotocontest.com/helpcenterofaustin-2025

05/29/2025

🐴 48 Hours Left — Help Us Keep Healing!

At the H.E.L.P. Center of Austin, horses do more than carry riders — they carry hope.

For over 40 years, we’ve witnessed how a gentle nudge from a horse can spark a child’s first words, how grooming can calm anxious minds, and how riding can build strength and confidence in those who need it most.

One parent shared:

“Since we have started at H.E.L.P., my son’s core strength and expressive language have improved… Grooming the horses has also encouraged my son to be more aware of others and it has increased his compassion for others. His confidence has blossomed too.”

— The Hodde Family 

Another family told us: 

“Raphael has shown a significant improvement in his ability to focus and sustain attention… The calming effect of the interactions with the horses and the therapeutic environment has increased emotional self-regulation, especially after classes.”

— Danilo and Luciana Teles 

These stories are just a glimpse into the transformative power of our programs. 

But none of this is possible without our herd — and our herd depends on you!

With only 48 hours left in our fundraiser, we’re still short of our $10,000 goal. Every dollar raised goes directly to the care of our horses — covering essentials like feed, veterinary care, and shelter.

Here’s how you can help:

• 🗳️ Vote in our calendar contest
• 📢 Share this post with your network
• 💖 Make a donation every dollar counts

Together, we can ensure that the H.E.L.P. Center continues to be a place of healing and growth for those who need it most.

📅 Donate now: https://www.gogophotocontest.com/helpcenterofaustin-2025

05/26/2025

✨ Sponsor Spotlight ✨

Please help us give a huge THANK YOU to returning sponsor Equipuncture Integrative Veterinary Services and Dr. Ginger Reed! 🐎💛

We’re so grateful to have their support again this year in our 2026 H.E.L.P. Center of Austin Calendar Fundraiser! As a mobile equine veterinary practice serving Central Texas, Equipuncture Integrative Veterinary Services provides top-tier acupuncture, chiropractic, laser therapy, and nutrition consultations — all grounded in a whole-body, individualized approach to equine care.

Dr. Reed combines the best of traditional veterinary medicine with complementary therapies to help horses thrive — and that’s exactly the kind of care our own therapy herd benefits from, thanks to sponsors like her.

We are honored to partner with a business that not only serves the equine community with compassion and expertise, but also believes in making a lasting impact.

Thank you, Dr. Reed and Equipuncture, for your continued support of the H.E.L.P. Center horses and the work we do. 🐴💫

📅 Sponsorships are open until May 31st if your business wants to join in and make a difference too!

05/24/2025

🚨 URGENT: We need your help. 7 days left. $10,000 goal. And we are nowhere close.

We’ve poured our hearts into this fundraiser to care for the incredible horses at the H.E.L.P. Center — the same horses who make healing possible for so many kids, teens, and adults walking through hard things.

But right now, with just ONE WEEK to go, we are far behind our goal.

I’m going to be honest — it doesn’t feel great to ask for help like this. But these horses deserve it. And the people they serve deserve it too.

So here it is:

👉 If you’ve voted before — can you vote again?
👉 If you haven’t shared your horse’s entry — now is the time.
👉 If you’ve been meaning to give — we would be so grateful if today was the day.
👉 $5-$10 makes a real difference. Every dollar counts.

This community has shown up in big ways before. Let’s do it again. Let’s finish strong. Let’s show up for the H.E.L.P. Center of Austin horses who show up for so many others.

🐴💛 Vote, donate, and share at the link in the comments or here at https://www.gogophotocontest.com/helpcenterofaustin-2025

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Fundraiser for H.E.L.P.

05/21/2025

🌟 Sponsor Spotlight: Teaching Aids for EAS 🌟

We are thrilled to welcome Teaching Aids for EAS as a proud sponsor of the 2026 H.E.L.P. Center of Austin Calendar Fundraiser!

This incredible small business started with one rider’s need and has grown into a global resource for equine-assisted services professionals. With over 80 adaptive tools, flashcards, games, visual supports, and professional mentorship options, Teaching Aids for EAS is truly changing the way we connect with and empower diverse riders and clients in the arena.

Thank you to Chrissy and the entire Teaching Aids for EAS community for supporting the work we do at the H.E.L.P. Center of Austin.

Your contribution directly helps provide care for our herd and therapeutic opportunities for the individuals we serve.

👉 There’s still time to become a calendar sponsor!

We’re accepting sponsorships through May 31st, and it’s a great opportunity to:

✅ Support a nonprofit making a real impact
✅ Highlight your small business or service
✅ Reach a community that loves horses, healing, and heart

📬 DM Chelsea Croissant or visit https://www.gogophotocontest.com/helpcenterofaustin-2025/calendarday to claim your spot before it’s gone!

💛 Let’s keep building something meaningful together.

05/21/2025

✨ We need your vote — and it only costs $1! ✨

The 2026 H.E.L.P. Center of Austin Fundraising Calendar Contest is underway, and every dollar you donate helps decide which incredible horses will be featured… while supporting the real stars of the show — the H.E.L.P. horses who make everything possible.

H.E.L.P. is a local nonprofit providing therapeutic horseback riding to individuals with disabilities, and they rely on this fundraiser to feed and care for the horses that make it all possible.

🐴 32 beautiful horse entries
🎯 $10,000 goal by May 31st
💛 $1 = 1 vote = 1 step closer to helping someone thrive

📲 Vote now: https://www.gogophotocontest.com/helpcenterofaustin-2025
✅ Share this post
🙌 Tag your friends who love horses or giving back

Let’s show up for the horses that show up for so many.