Gulfshore’s message: Even smaller companies can add horsepower to charitable giving

Krista Landen understood in real-time the notion that one good deed leads to another.

Landen, the Marketing and IT Manager for Gulfshore Air Conditioning and Heating in Niceville, Florida, was on site for a major charity event for Grace Rides, which offers equine therapy to at-risk youth and veterans in the Florida panhandle.

The event was Grace Rides’ annual derby fundraiser, and it was held in May at the time of the Kentucky Derby, a time Landen called “super hot” in their neck of the state.

“While we were there, I was walking around the horse stables, seeing where their team meets and has a break room, the founder's office and their tack room,” Landen said. “And I literally nudged our owner, Steve (Reynolds), and said, ‘We have to do something here. They're only cooling these rooms with window units. We cannot let this happen.’

“Can you imagine in the blazing heat, 100 degrees where these people are in there mucking the stalls and then going and sitting in a break room that's 85? We knew we could do better for them. If we were going to come out and put air conditioning in a tent, we can totally get equipment that can actually make an impact on this organization long term.”

Gulfshore followed up, found scratch-and-dent equipment and installed the units.

Volunteers now have climate-cooled offices and break rooms.

“From Day 1, we’ve always done whatever we could to give back,” Landen said.

A wider focus

Gulfshore is a self-described small- to medium-sized company with 30 employees that expects to hit $6.3 million in revenue in 2024.

Reynolds founded Gulfshore in 1995 to provide dependable and honest work, but he also has a wider focus, to the point he and Gulfshore were honored with one of ServiceTitan’s Prometheus Awards for community and philanthropic service, and recognized by the company’s new #PowerTheNation initiative.

“We are really, really thankful for that award,” Landen said. “It gave us the opportunity to share our story so that we can influence other contractors to start getting involved.

“No time is better than now.”

And Gulfshore’s philosophy has always been that no good deed is too small.

“Whether it's just taking pizza to the tee-ball team you sponsor or donating a unit and installing it for someone in need in your community,” Landen said. “We do it because we can do it, not because I need to shout it from the rooftops.”

Grace Rides, founded in 2008 with a core of volunteers, works out of Oak Heaven Stables in Niceville. It provides horses and rides for therapeutic purposes to those in need. Community support allowed it to build a 9,000-foot barn in Defuniak Springs, the building Gulfshore helped cool.

Among the programs offered by Grace Rides are therapy rides for children with special needs, all free due to the generosity of the staff and supporters. Its mental health program partners with a local provider and facilitates six diagnosed youth working with horses once each week.

Horses for Heroes

Grace Rides’ Horses for Heroes program is an eight-week therapy program for veterans. Niceville is situated near Eglin Air Force Base, and is home to many retired veterans who are dealing with issues such as PTSD or post-retirement stress.

The program helps veterans “come out and face their fear of getting out of their house,” Elizabeth Scott, Barn Manager and Administrative Assistant, said on the Grace Rides website.

“I feel like the staff out here rescues staff and people,” said Air Force veteran Cindra Cowen.

The benefits of equine therapy are numerous, and Grace Rides provides programs free of charge. Bios on all the horses are available on the charity’s website.

“I’ve got one word to say for (the veterans program), and I would just say this: magical,” said Tommy Tucker, Grace Rides Veterans Outreach Specialist.

Grace Rides may become the most well-known of Gulfshore’s community focus, but it’s certainly not the only one. Gulfshore’s efforts have included filling stockings and holding a food drive for local children in need, donating HVAC units to needy families and a local animal shelter, and its Cozy for Christmas program, where technicians donate their time to diagnose units that may need attention.

“We’re not the largest company,” Landen said. “We just want to create the biggest impact locally.”