Our Mission

The purpose of H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue is to rescue, rehabilitate, and provide a safe haven for equines in need, to live out a healthy, happy, and peaceful life through public education, county and state alliances, adoptions, donations and caring volunteers. We are a certified 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization based in Berkeley County, SC  providing equine rescue assistance state-wide  since 2010.

Since our inception every horse that we have taken in has lived on our farm until such time the horse is rehabilitated and adopted to an approved family. We take pride in that every day we personally oversee care for each horse, as many as 24 at any given time. Our staff and board is comprised entirely of volunteers, nearly 300 to date. We believe firmly in giving from your heart and that, in doing so, one receives a spiritual reward that reaches the soul, something that is not possible with monetary compensation alone. 

While our focus is first and foremost on our rescues, we realize through our volunteers what an incredible impact the mission, our horses and the team have on each individual who walks through our gates. We welcome volunteers of all ages, those with and without experience. Our goal is to educate and impact our horse and citizen community.  In doing so we enlighten the majority about abuse throughout the state, but we also encourage a level of respect and adoration for one of God's most beautiful creations. This teaches our youth proper care, safe interaction and how they can impact the ever constant occurrence of abuse and neglect in society. We encourage interaction, responsible ownership, educated and prepared adopting and long term commitment.

Photo by Jess Schaer, Schaer Studios

#TEAMHOPE

Articles & Video

Area Nonprofit Gives Horses in Need Plenty of H.O.P.E.  
Holy City Sinner

Honey's Journey: We All Need a Little Hope  
Luxe Lifestyle Magazine, 3.1  (2019)  92-95

Everyday Heroes: Tracey Sawyer and Destiny Gurley

A Home for H.O.P.E.

Lowcountry Non-Profit Gives Neglected Horses New Giddy-Up

H.O.P.E. Acres Nurses Horses Back to Health

H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue Celebrates ASPCA Help A Horse Day

H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue: A Rescue Built From the Ground Up

H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue Keeps the Horses Cooled Down When Temperatures Rise

H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue Joins Petfinder

H.O.P.E. Leadership

H.O.P.E.'s Board Members are caring, selfless, diligent, focused, reliable and dedicated.  We take pride in our efforts knowing that our entire existence within the organization is to be the voice for our horses.  Since our inception, this team has been comprised entirely of volunteers from many walks of life: parents, executive administrators, customer service representatives and teacher. All of us bring both professional and life experiences together for the benefit of these majestic creatures. Our commitment is  based on the hope that we long to give, the future that we strive to change and the amazing spirits we are blessed to touch. We are fortunate to have help in our endeavors: our veterinarian, Dr. Justin Miller, owner of Charleston Equine Clinic   and our farrier, Kristi Rodgers. Collectively we are focused on each horse's past, present needs, its potential, its spirit and ultimately its future.

Tracey R. Sawyer

President
Board Member

​Co-Founder and President since 2010. Oversees all areas of business operation, participates in the daily care of the herd, coordinates veterinary and farrier care, and manages comprehensive rehabilitation plans for all intakes. Also supervises social media and on-line presence, coordinates fundraising events and relationships with community businesses, writes grants, and acts as a liaison between the public and the organization. Background in Business Administration, Accounting, Personnel, Customer Service and Management. Lifelong animal advocate.

Rebecca Strong

Adoption/Intake Coordinator
​Board Member

Adoption/Intake Coordinator, former Volunteer Coordinator. Volunteer with H.O.P.E. from 2012 to present. Serves as a liaison with the public as well as local and state entities for rescue operations and seizures and intakes. Fields inquiries from the public relating to horses in possible need of rescue, individuals wishing to surrender their horses, and individuals wishing to adopt a horse. Processes adoption applications and follows-up with adopters on the progress of each horse. Coordinates training of horses and acts as liaison between the rescue and off-site trainers. B.S. Biology, M.A. Secondary Education. 30-year veteran middle school teacher. Lifelong animal advocate.

Mandy Hornsby

Secretary
​Board Member

Mandy has been a volunteer with H.O.P.E. since September 2016. From 2018 to spring 2020 she coordinated medical records with her daughter Amber Bowden. She has always loved horses, and has enjoyed expanding her horse knowledge since volunteering with H.O.P.E. 

Kimberly Lewis

Fundraising Coordinator
​​Board Member

Kimberly was born and raised a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan on a 40-acre farm in Knapp Wisconsin. 
In Ft. Lauderdale she worked for The American Cancer Society, which introduced her to the world of non-profits and has been one of the most rewarding jobs of her life. In November 2018 she happened to see a news story on H.O.P.E. Acres. "I was so excited! I had been looking for a way to get back to my 'farm girl' roots and a horse rescue seemed like a fantastic place to start!  I can wholeheartedly say that H.O.P.E. Acres is what my heart was looking for." 

Kimberly served as the event chair for our first 5k fundraiser, The H.O.P.E. Lope 5k, in February 2020. 

Kurt Abel

Facility Coordinator
​Auxiliary Board Member

Kurt grew up in Ohio and settled in the Lowcountry after serving in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years. He grew up with animal family members and has always had a soft spot for animals and those in need. Kurt and his wife, Tracey currently share their home with 3 horses, 2 dogs, 1 cat, 2 pigs and a goat. 

Kurt began volunteering with H.O.P.E. in 2012 and has since become a very integral part of our organization.  From transport to facility repairs you will find Kurt taking part in nearly all aspects of the rescue.  He currently serves as an auxiliary board member as our Facility Coordinator. Kurt's favorite thing about H.O.P.E. is "Being part of the beautiful journey from rescue to adoption". 

Amber Bowden

Medical Records Coordinator
​Auxiliary Board Member

Amber has been with H.O.P.E. since September 2016. She enjoys observing the horses' natural behavior, and is interested in learning more about barefoot trimming and equine veterinary care. She assists with medical treatments on the farm and observes vet and farrier appointments.

Tori Burroughs

Community Relations Coordinator
​Auxiliary Board Member

Tori has been a volunteer with H.O.P.E. since 2015. She currently manages the website and assists with grant writing, fundraising, and some graphic design projects.

Lauren Daniels

Volunteer Coordinator​
Auxiliary Board Member

Lauren began volunteering with HOPE in 2014, after she and her husband relocated to SC. Lauren instantly fell in love with the horses and community of volunteers at HOPE. In 2017 she met one of the rescues that she could not let go and adopted her gelding Cobre from HOPE. Cobré joined the clan of two dogs and three cats in the Daniels family.  Additionally she fosters cats/kittens for local shelters and is a Capture/Transporter for the Center for Bird of Prey. Outside of animal rescue, she works in Human Resources, holding Masters degrees in Human Resource Management and Human Resource Development. During her career she has worked for nonprofits including Humane Society of Missouri and MERS/Missouri Goodwill Industries. Both in her career and as HOPE’s volunteer coordinator she enjoys helping people connect to the work that they do and allow people to develop new skills and interests.  

Michael Johnson

Fundraising Co-Coordinator
​Auxiliary Board Member

Michael is a graduate of Washington State University (go Cougs!). He became involved with animal welfare in 2011 when he and his wife started volunteering with the Seattle Humane Society. A few years later he became a full time employee as a facilities tech, off-site adoption advisor and animal transporter. In 2016, he and his wife relocated to Summerville and immediately started volunteering and working at the local animal shelters in the area. He has been a part of the H.O.P.E. team since 2018, and was a major contributor to the success of The H.O.P.E. Lope 5k.

Jessica Thornbury

Social Media Coordinator​

Jessica is the Founder & Owner of Grips Social Media and has been working as the Social Media Manager at H.O.P.E Acers Rescue since February 2020. She grew up in Darien, CT, and has been an avid equestrian her entire life. Jessica's first horse, Poco, was with her from when she was 11 months old until she was 16. A while after his passing, she started getting more involved with animal rescues, and after moving to Charleston, she wanted to find a horse rescue to work with and meet new people. Her favorite part of working with HOPE is seeing all the transformations, watching the horses find their forever homes, and interacting with all of H.O.P.E's followers.