The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association Congratulates Volunteer on Presidential Award
Equestrian News Release
DENVER, CO–The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) would like to congratulate Joanne Tortorici Luna who was recently awarded the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her volunteer work at NARHA Premier Accredited Center, Move a Child Higher (MACH1), in Pasadena, California. This award was created in 2003 by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation as a way to honor individuals, families and groups who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to volunteer service within a twelve month period. Each honoree receives an official President’s Volunteer Service Award pin, a personalized certificate of achievement, a note of congratulations from the President of the United States, and a letter from the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.
Tortorici Luna has volunteered for MACH1 in a variety of capacities included grooming, schooling the horses and sidewalking. She first became interested in MACH1 during a camping trip with her son in the Santa Ynez Valley. Tortorici Luna, who is an internationally known expert in disaster psychology, soon developed an interest in integrating her love of horses with her professional interests and became active as a volunteer. NARHA Executive Director, Sheila Kemper Dietrich, said “Volunteers are the cornerstone of our NARHA Centers and we are honored that a NARHA volunteer has been chosen to receive this distinctive award. Without efforts like hers, thousands of children and adults with special needs would not be able to experience the joy and freedom provided by therapeutic equine assisted activities.”
For more information about NARHA and volunteer opportunities, visit our website at http://www.narha.org. For more information regarding MACH1, please contact Joy Rittenhouse at joymach1@yahoo.com or (626) 798-1222.
About NARHA:
The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association was formed in 1969 to promote equine assisted activities for individuals with special needs. At over 700 member centers, a total of 36,000 children and adults find a sense of independence through involvement with horses. These member centers range from small, one-person programs to large operations with several certified instructors and licensed therapists. In addition to therapeutic equitation, a center may offer any number of equine assisted activities including hippotherapy, equine facilitated mental health, driving, vaulting, trail riding, competition, ground work, or stable management. Through a wide variety of educational resources, the association helps individuals start and maintain successful equine assisted activities programs for individuals with special needs. There are more than 24,000 volunteers, 2000 instructors, 5,700 therapy horses, and thousands of contributors from all over the world helping people at NARHA centers.
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