RISING HOPE THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER

Our mission is to serve our community by providing recreational and therapeutic riding contributing positively to the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional well-being of individuals through equine assisted activities. Research since the 1970s proves that quality therapy using the horse as a tool increases quality of life for people with low tone, Autism, Down's Syndrome, Brain Injury, PTSD and other diagnoses.

People four years old and up of low to middle income benefit from our program at this time. Goals for 2019 were based on past growth, individuals served, utilization of horses and financial increase. Rising Hope's goals for 2019 were to complete our Outdoor Arena using the generous grant funds from the JB Griffin Memorial Foundation. This arena will allow us to reach another goal of adding Group Therapy Sessions for participants with like needs. Stage ll of our Outdoor Arena Project includes replacing our manure spreader, updating our tack and
completing indoor arena repairs. This project will give the horses a safe place to be outside to exercise. Horses need mental and physical rest after working for their allotted lessons. The good health of the horses is paramount to our programs.

Rising Hope has a wonderful volunteer team of 40 active volunteers serving in various capacities. In 2020 over 900 documented hours were clocked by our volunteers. The Board of Directors consists of five dedicated professionals, as well as, the volunteer Development Committee. The Committee meets each month to plan and discuss fundraising efforts. These include Marianna's Hoagie and Pizza sales, Chicken BBQ dinners, Grange Fair table, Tractor Supply tabling, Bingo events, Veteran awareness with Veteran Expo events, and Paint-n-Sip fundraisers.
Our program also has a presence in community outreach events such as the Centre Region Down's syndrome Society Buddy Walk, Juniper Village, Elementary School's class for students on the Autism spectrum, and the State College Spikes Baseball game. Our Board members have distributed sponsor packets to invite business owners and individuals to sponsor our horses on a monthly basis. Quality care for our horses is priority for our board, staff, and volunteers.

Rising Hope has an Executive Director, Marketing Manager, Grant Writer, Development Committee, Board, and volunteers who are committed to serving our participants with excellence. The presence of our organization is growing through presentations, social media, and community fundraisers. This presence has connected our staff with additional volunteers and prospective instructors for the program.

Our financial needs are a challenge which we handle through our Development Committee, grant proposals, and community fundraising as listed in the "strategies" essay above.
Volunteer and in-kind labor has been instrumental in getting Rising Hope established and thriving. Persistence underwrites our passion to see healing in those we serve.

Rising Hope was officially founded in November of 2015. As we begin our first semester of 2021 in the spring, we see what was formerly a vision become a reality. We now have a facility available to care for our horse population and provide lessons to community members with special needs, emotional needs and physical disabilities. Nearly 30 participants benefit from quality therapy improving their daily living. Volunteers and staff have been experiencing social and emotional healing as they interact with the horses and participants. The horses are the catalysts to connect hearts and hooves impacting not only participants, but their families and Rising Hope staff as well.

People from our community are extending their support by volunteering for one event or on a weekly basis. These people may also offer in-kind services such as driveway grading and gravel or preparing food for a fundraising event.

The vision of two women becoming an active center for healing. Much progress has been achieved within a short period of time with character and excellence.