SPOTLIGHT: Big Red Barn Retreat

Name of organization: Big Red Barn Retreat

Year established locally: 2014

Top local executives:  Sutton Shaw, Volunteer Executive Director; Lamont Christian, Director of Warrior PATHH program
8024 Winnsboro Road, Blythewood, SC 29016
Phone: 803-716-9097
Website: www.thebigredbarnretreat.org

Corporate giving contacts
Sutton Shaw
8024 Winnsboro Road
Blythewood, SC, 29016
Phone: 803-767-7193
E-mail: Sutton Shaw

Average number of volunteers in 2020: 300

Total operating budget 2020-21: $639,376 in 2020; 2021 estimated at $850,000

Percent of revenue dedicated to program services: 97.3% (Angel Award Winner in 2019)

Geographic area or specific population served: We serve veterans, active-duty service members and first responders primarily in South Carolina; however, our Warrior PATHH program accepts applicants from across the U.S.

Greatest need  
Financial support as we hope to expand our flagship program, Warrior PATHH and our Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Program. 

2021 top achievements:

Officially Launched the Warrior PATHH program in South Carolina, one of only 10 to operate in the United States. Since that launch, we are on track to complete a total of 12 Warrior PATHH classes in 2021.  Between Warrior PATHH and our non-traditional services we offer, we have served over 1,200 veterans, active duty, and first responders in 2021 and logged over 3,000 volunteer hours. Warrior PATHH and our services, which include equine assisted psychotherapy, yoga, tai chi, transcendental meditation training, art and music therapy, gardening, and peer-to-peer mentoring, are provided at NO COST to participants thanks to the generosity of our donors, grants and corporate partners. 

2022 Goals:

Our hope is to expand our Warrior PATHH classes from 12 per year to 24 per year. In addition, it is our goal to expand our Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning program to host four to six group sessions annually, and provide eight private sessions weekly. 

2022 fundraising events:

• Fall Jam at the Ballpark, Oct. 9 at Segra Park
• All South Federal Credit Union Solders & Vets Charity Golf Tournament, Oct. 21
• 2021 Veterans Day Memorial Giving: Online at Facebook
• 2021 End of Year Giving: Online
• 2022 Central Carolina Foundation Midlands Gives: May 3, 2022
• October 2022: Fall Jam at the Ballpark

2022 corporate giving opportunities:

There are corporate naming opportunities where organizations can have a permanent presence that is woven into the very fabric at the Big Red Barn Retreat by naming areas of the facility, such as the covered arena, bedrooms in the log cabin where Warrior PATHH participants reside for seven days during their initiation, the outdoor pavilion, and the labyrinth.    
In addition, there are corporate opportunities to sponsor a Warrior PATHH class which would involve funding the class from initiation through the 18-month followup, and providing volunteers to help serve meals to Warrior PATHH participants during the class.