The Tennessee Walking Horse Foundation is developing both short term and long-range programs to benefit all disciplines of the breed. Among these are Youth Programs, Scholarships, Clinics, Public Education, Animal Welfare, and Historical Preservation. The Foundation will fund these goals through both private tax deductible donations and grants which are available to 501(c)3 Charitable Organizations. Private donations are already being received and the Foundation began to search for an individual with a strong background in funding through grants to work with the board of directors in reaching these goals. The Foundation is proud to announce that well known educator Kasey C. Kesselring has accepted the position of Chairman of the Grant Committee.

Kasey has an incredible background in working with private schools and foundations to grow and improve their facilities and outreach. He earned his Masters of Education in Administration and Supervision from Middle Tennessee State University, and during this time he developed his passion for Tennessee Walking Horses.

Kasey served as the Assistant Director of Development for Alumni and Foundation Relations at St. James School. In 1993, he accepted the position of the Dean of Students at The Webb School, a boarding and day school in Bell Buckle, TN, and later served as Assistant Headmaster. During his tenure, a $6 million dollar capital campaign and several building projects were completed.

In 1999, Kasey was appointed the Headmaster of Montverde Academy, a boarding and day school in central Florida founded in 1912. He has completed $14 million in new construction. Presently the Academy is in the process of launching a new capital campaign to support the construction of a 22-acre athletic complex. With on going fundraising efforts coupled with grant and foundation support, the Academy has established an $8.5 million dollar endowment to support need based financial aid.

The equestrian program at the Academy has seen on going progress over the past seven years. A new state of the art equestrian facility was built in 2006 to serve students ages 7 through 12 in the school community to include instruction and showing in flat shod and performance horse divisions. The Academy is active in the Florida Walking and Racking Horse Association and hosts clinics and shows at its facility.

Through Kasey’s guidance, Montverde has become very active in the Walking Horse industry. In working closely with the Walking Horse Owners’ Association, Montverde sponsored the 2007 WHOA- Youth Challenge Program and is a current sponsor of the 2008 WHOA-TWHBEA Youth Challenge. The Montverde campus has also been the venue for the WHOA-TWHBEA Youth Camp in 2007-2008.

The vision of the Foundation board of directors is to establish a substantial endowment fund which will equitably provide for the Tennessee Walking Horse and the industry.

They welcome Kasey and look forward to working with him to achieve this goal.