About us

Dedicated to serving those who serve at home.

About

The Hero Kids Foundation's aim is to provide a multidisciplinary approach to promote and support Military & First Responders children, together with the whole family, utilizing animal-assisted therapies along with nature based activities. We strive on building hope, confidence, and self-worth.

Hero Kids Foundation is dedicated to serving those who serve at home & enriching families to connect, restore, and thrive.

Board of Directors

Our Team

John Raniowski

Founder & Director

Former Naval Chief Hospital Corpsman; Non-Profit Program Management Certified You do not realize what your service really means until you hear how it impacted your children and spouse. I want every parent to have that same opportunity I have had to Connect with my daughters, Restore our communications and relationship, and obtain the tools to Thrive in a new normalcy. None of this could have been done without the animals or nature based environment.

kim Painter

Treasurer

Certified public accountant and 20 years of supporting youth and community activities. "Working with Children has always been my passion and I feel like this organization is a great place to make a difference in the lives of children and their families.

John Janota

Director of the Board

A Former SEAL Command Master Chief and member of United States Marine Corps Special Operations Command. John has a Bachelor of Science from Gerogetown University in Psychology and is an avid outdoors-man.

barbara Shurtleff

Board Member

VP of Network and Security Solutions for SAIC. (Science Applications International Corporation.) She is currently pursing dual graduate degrees in Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and Management Information Systems (MIS) from University of Mary Washington to augment additional undergraduate degrees in computer science and computer information systems. Barb and her family live in Stafford, VA.

John Janota

Director of the Board

Program Directors

Barb Ford

Director of Equine Program

Barbara S. Ford, MA, LPC, NCC, CTRI is a Licensed Professional Counselor offering Solution Focused, Nature-based and Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy services in the Hampton Roads area. A 2014 Graduate from Regent University, Ms. Ford is also a Nationally Certified Counselor and Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor with the PATH, International organization.

Our Animals

Tank

12.1 hands
Welsh Cob pony
Black
22 years old
Tank is a 22 year old welsh cob. He has played mounted games,
polocrosse, show jumping, and was a cart pony when he was
younger. He really relies on his rider to show him what to do.
He is a big baby and loves to be near people especially when he
is away from home. At the moment he is being trained for
masters level Mounted Games. He was on the USA
international team at United States Pony Club Championships
in 2015, where he also competed in the senior division for
Mounted Games. He won first place and went on to compete at
Presidents Cup at the Olympic Trials in Maryland that October.
He won the cup and has been back two times since then taking
4 th in 2016 and 3 rd in 2017. Mounted Games Across America is
another organization that tank has done well in. In 2015 and
2016 he was the reserve champion for both Nationals and end
of the year awards. 2017 was a good year for him too,
becoming the Intermediate Champion at Nationals and reserve
Champion for end of the year awards.

Misty

13.3 hands
welsh, chestnut mix.
brown
19 years old
Misty has competed for the last two years in United State Pony Club, Games Discipline, Championships, placing in top three teams. Misty has qualified for Pony Clubs Grand Prix events of Prince Philip Cup and President's Cup. Misty is 2018 Individuals Mounted Games Champion in Canada and has competed in Canadian pairs and team competitions. Misty has also won Worlds Team U17 Competition 2015 and Worlds U17 Individuals 2015.

Tommy, Milk Dud and Jarod

What farm would be complete without a goat or two?! Tommy,
Milk Dud, and Jarod are the life of the farm. They are loved by
everyone from the horses to the visitors. They help provide
comfort and affection to visitors. Just like with many other
therapeutic animals research indicates that interaction with
goats can temporarily affect the release of various
neurotransmitters in the brain. In turn this relaxes people and
helps them to destress.