OUR STORY
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
As a young child, Melanie’s world was shattered when her father abandoned her family. At the time, Melanie’s mother recognized that her daughter's passion for horses could be a way to help heal her broken heart. She bought Melanie her first horse when she was eleven years old. That horse and its surroundings helped Melanie deal with a difficult childhood.
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As a young adult, when Melanie experienced the unexpected loss of her mother, horses once again helped her cope. During this process, Melanie recognized a call on her life -- to develop a place where children facing challenges and shattered lives could experience help in the presence of horses. SonRise is the product of that call, a special place where children find a loving and accepting community.
SonRise started in December of 2005 and opened its doors to the first children at Charles Wilhelm's training facility in Castro Valley on May 1, 2006 with two horses, three participants, and just a handful of volunteers. By God's grace, SonRise continues to serve our community today.
