The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association Announces the NARHA Gulf Coast Hurricane Assistance Fund Distribution
Equestrian News Release
DENVER, CO–It is with great pride and warm hearts that the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) announces the funding distributions made from the NARHA Gulf Coast Hurricane Assistance Fund. In an effort to mitigate the impact of last falls hurricane damage, the NARHA Board of Trustees voted to establish the NARHA Hurricane Katrina Assistance fund to assist NARHA Centers which were affected by Hurricane Katrina. As Hurricanes Rita and Wilma joined Katrina in ravaging the southern states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Alabama and Florida, the fund was renamed and expanded to include centers affected by those hurricanes.
NARHA’s 2005 Annual Meeting and Conference, originally scheduled to be held in New Orleans, LA, was held in Houston, TX and proceeds of the Annual Silent Auction held in conjunction with this conference were collected for the NARHA Gulf Coast Hurricane Assistance Fund. In addition, the fund was strengthened by donations collected prior to and during the conference, including a collection at a conference luncheon. This luncheon was particularly poignant because it included a presentation by New Orleans conference co-chairs, Anita Hartzell and Dr. Dennis French on emergency preparedness and lessons learned in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. They shared photos of uprooted trees, barns with no roofs and walls ripped apart by winds and stories of numerous displaced participants, instructors and volunteers. The attached photo is only one example of the devastation experienced by NARHA Centers in the affected areas.
From the applications received prior to December 29, 2005, distributions were made less than two weeks later on January 13, 2006. Distributions were made in the full amounts requested to seven NARHA centers meeting the requirements approved by the NARHA Board of Trustees. The following centers were awarded assistance according to the amounts requested on their applications totaling $52,031:
Flying Free Equitherapy, Inc. in Santa Fe, TX
Happy Trails Therapeutic Horsemanship Center, Inc. in Franklinton, LA
Pointe Celeste TRC in Belle Chasse, LA
New Heights Therapy Center, Inc. in Folsom, LA
Greater New Orleans TRC in New Orleans, LA
Gaits to Success Therapeutic Horsemanship Center, Inc. in Kiln, MS
Bit by Bit, Inc. in Pembroke Pines, FL
NARHA has received much positive feedback from these centers that will report on use of their grant funds by July 2006. Charles Benvenutti, Board Chairman of Gaits to Success, wrote “Please express our sincere appreciation to the NARHA Board of Trustees and the donors of the Gulf Coast Hurricane Assistance Fund for the generous grant awarded to our therapeutic riding center. Our center sustained a great deal of damage during Hurricane Katrina, necessitating that we postpone riding sessions until repairs could be made. We have been blessed with people who have helped us make the most of these repairs and the grant money will enable us to now pay some of the monthly bills that have piled up in the absence of normal income. With this much needed financial help, we expect to resume classes in February.”
Other letters from centers expressed similar thoughts. “New Heights has operated in St. Tammany Parish of Louisiana for over seven years, making a vital difference in the lives of our riders and their families. Your gift has come at a very crucial time of New Heights. Thank you for helping us make a difference through our therapeutic riding program,” wrote their director, Sue Cheveallier.
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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