High Hopes Program Needs Warm Riding Gear

Editor’s Note: It’s the holiday season and for many, that means something more than finding the perfect gift or going to parties. For social service groups or charities, it’s the time when they reach out for that extra bit of help. Over the next several weeks Patch will profile some of the charitable groups working in your towns and tell you what they need.

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc

http://www.highhopestr.org

WHO THEY ARE:

High Hopes helps improves the lives of people with cognitive, physical and emotional disabilities through therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities and therapies.

WHAT THEY NEED:

Warm clothing for participants, such as coats, gloves and hats. Gift certificates for tack and feed stores. Grocery gift cards that we can give to participant's families that are having financial difficulties. Grocery gift cards that High Hopes can use to provide holiday treats to volunteers and participants (i.e. hot chocolate, baked goods - items that will help make the season special for people who might not be able to provide these items at home).

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

High Hopes has a critical need for volunteers throughout the year to assist in our program services, facility management and to provide office and special event help. The holiday season is particularly challenging in maintaining our level of volunteer commitment and additional help is especially required.

THIS YEAR’S BIG WISH:

Scholarship Funding is our greatest need. Over the past five years we have seen a significant (51 percent) increase in the amount of requests from our families for financial assistance and we provide scholarship support to over 53 percent of our participants. We are committed to offering our services to all who might benefit, regardless of financial circumstances and we keep our fees affordable by underwriting 73 percent of the actual costs to deliver our services. Our support comes primarily from individual contributions and we receive no state or federal funding. Fees enabling one child to participate in our program on a weekly basis are as follows: winter and summer semesters (6 weeks) $240; spring and fall semester (12 weeks) $480. Because of the dramatic rise in scholarship requests coupled with a decrease in contributed dollars, High Hopes scholarship reserves are rapidly decreasing and thus funding in this area is vital to our sustainability.

CONTACT:

Development Director Sara Qua

860-434-1974

High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc

36 Town Woods Road, Old Lyme, 06371

squa@highhopestr.org

*Source: Connecticut Council for Philanthropy's Holiday Wishlist.