20/20 Vision Campaign Brochure

20/20 Vision Campaign

Empowering every ability through equine-based therapy EQUEST CENTER

FOR THER APEUTIC RIDING

20/20 Vision

Campaign leadership

Dear Friend of Equest,

Rachel Mraz Campaign Co-Chair

Maranda Campaign Co-Chair

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HE EQUEST CENTER IS A POWERFUL BEACON OF HOPE AND HEALING FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND ADULTS. WE OPENED WITH 16 RIDERS AND SEVEN acres in 1990. Now, more than 32 years later, we serve more than 185 students with physical, mental, and social/emotional disabilities each week on a farm that fills 35 acres. It is the only year-round therapeutic riding center in this area.

Therapeutic riding helps people become stronger, healthier, and more independent while having fun. Equest Center makes therapy enjoyable for people with many different needs, while building strength, capability, and purpose. We’re leveraging strengths to overcome weaknesses, and the riders don’t even realize it’s happening.

For that reason, demand for our services is growing. There’s always a waiting list. Our plans for the future include capital investments to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs. They include new programs and services that will expand the number of people we can serve, and a plan to improve our financial sustainability on both the revenue and expense side. A greatly improved facility dedicated to increasing the capacity to meet demand for services is our ultimate goal. Your support can make this vision a reality.

We invite you to partner with us as we create new, expanded opportunities through our 20/20 Vision campaign. THIS IS A CRUCIAL EFFORT ON BEHALF OF EQUEST CENTER FOR THERAPEUTIC RIDING AND ITS COMMITMENT TO THE MANY SPECIAL NEEDS INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO BENEFIT FROM OUR SERVICES. As you consider this request, we offer an invitation to visit the center and see therapeutic riding in action! We are very proud of what our program is accomplishing and would love to share it with you.

Thank you!

Rachel 2

Maranda 3

Campaign cabinet

About our campaign

Micki Ackerman Jeff Agar Chris & Shannon Andrus Robert Bondy Trish Castiglione Lori “Maranda” Cook Jordan Custer Dave DeGraw Dr. Denise Gribbin MD Matt Johnson Kevin Kuske Catherine Michael Rachel Mraz Sara Nelson Christina Rosloniec Kathy Ryan Beth Spica Ken & Michelle Trupke

Dear Friend of Equest,

Kathy Ryan Executive Director

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FIRST STEPPED THROUGH THE DOORS OF EQUEST CENTER ALMOST 26 YEARS AGO AS A PARENT OF A 4-YEAR OLD LITTLE BOY WITH AUTISM. Since that time, Equest Center has changed both of our lives!

As Executive Director, I am thrilled to be a part of the 20/20 Vision Capital effort. This will have a profound effect on many individuals of all ages with a wide range of physical, mental, social and emotional disabilities.

The renovation and expansion of this facility and services will make a real impact on the lives of the thousands of individuals who rely on the programs and services of Equest Center. Each week we welcome 185 riders of all ages to enjoy the benefits of The Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding, with a waiting list of over 50 disabled individuals hoping to participate in our programs.

A GREATLY IMPROVED FACILITY DEDICATED TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR

OUR SERVICES IS OUR ULTIMATE GOAL. We invite you to join hands with us

to make this vision a reality.

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HE FARM ENVIRONMENT IS RELAXING; AND THE FRESH AIR AND EXERCISE IS A refreshing change from conventional therapy facilities. The majority of special needs individuals have had much more than their share of doctor visits and stressful therapy sessions.

For them, Equest offers the opportunity to use their strengths, improve on their weaknesses, gain independence, and reach their personal and therapeutic goals in a fun, exciting environment. To put it simply: EQUEST PROVIDES

THERAPY DISGUISED AS FUN!

– Kathy Ryan, Executive Director

Empowering every ability through equine-based therapy FINANCIAL PROFILE:

Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding, Inc. is a non-profit organization that holds a 501(c)3 status. Income is generated by in-kind donations (4%), grants (9%), donations (25%), fundraising /special events (46%) and program fees (16%).

It is vital for us to raise needed funds because our policy is to turn NO students away due to lack of financial ability.

Creative services and printing for this brochure were donated by a non-rehabitable horse addict.

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PRIMARY DISABILITIES OF CLIENTS SERVED Other

Who we are

We improve quality of life through equine-based therapy to physically, mentally, and socially/emotionally challenged individuals. Our unique program integrates academic, social, and physical skills, using the horse as a catalyst.

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QUEST CENTER FOR THERAPEUTIC RIDING IS CELEBRATING OVER 32 YEARS OF BRINGING health, hope, and happiness to individuals with special needs – all through the power of Equine Therapy! We proudly celebrate each FIRST STEP taken, FIRST WORD spoken, FIRST FRIENDSHIP made and so many other “firsts” our clients have experienced through the years. Together, we have transformed the lives of THOUSANDS with physical, mental, and social/emotional disabilities, brought hope and joy to fantastic families and, in our own special way, made West Michigan a better place for people with special needs to live, grow and thrive!

EQUEST’S HISTORY Equest Center was founded in June 1990 with the first therapy classes serving 16 riders per week with a handful of horses on seven acres of land. Since that time, the facility has grown to serve 185+ clients per week with 34 horses on 34+ acres of land. Vital to the program’s success has been the contribution of an army of volunteers (600+) who have donated over 57,000 hours of service each year.

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Other disabilities

Emotional disabilities

EQUEST CENTER FOR THERAPEUTIC RIDING IS AN ESSENTIAL RESOURCE FOR WEST MICHIGAN. MISSION STATEMENT

Physical disabilities

15.90%

EQUEST IS UNIQUELY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER EQUINE THERAPY PROGRAMS 1. Equest Center serves more special needs individuals each week than any other equine therapy center in West Michigan and is one of two largest centers in all of Michigan.

2. Equest is an ADA Accessible Facility for all Disabilities. The barn boasts a welcome center, classroom, observation room and restrooms all designed according to ADA accessibility guidelines.

3. Equest instructors are certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.). Our staff includes licensed teachers and degreed professionals. Therapeutic Riding has been recognized as a beneficial mode of therapy by the American Physical and Occupational Therapy Associations.

4. Equest Center’s heated indoor arena and facilities allow us to provide YEAR-ROUND services. This consistency of programming is a critical piece for many individuals with disabilities.

5. Equest offers more specialized, unique programming options in conjunction with our therapeutic riding program that are specifically designed to meet the needs of our clients.

6. Equest serves those with an expansive range of disabilities including those with more severe physical and mobility challenges such as brain injury, paraplegic, quadriplegic and severely multiply impaired, among others.

Post Traumatic Syndrome Emotional / Behavior

2.30% 4.00%

Emotional disabilities

TOTAL

6.30%

Social disabilities

Mental disabilities Mentally/Leaming Impaired Down Syndrome ADD / ADHD Dementia Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Autism Spectrum Tourette Syndrome Hunters Syndrome Sensory Dysfunction

15.00% 4.00% 4.00% 2.50% 1.50% 1.30% 1.00% 1.00% 0.30%

TOTAL

30.60%

Physical disabilities

Mental disabilities

No two clients at Equest are the same.

Most have a primary disability coupled with secondary disabilities. Disabilities range from mild to severe. Our Equine therapy programs are designed to meet the individual needs of each rider.

Cerebral Palsy Brain/ Spinal Cord Injury Multiple Sclerosis Muscular Dystrophy Deaf/Hard of Hearing Arthritis Prader-Willi Syndrome Stroke Cancer Visually Impaired Amputees Muscular Atrophy Spina Bifida

14.00% 8.00% 2.70% 2.70% 2.50% 2.00% 2.00% 2.00% 1.50% 1.30% 1.20% 1.00% 1.00%

TOTAL

41.90%

Social disabilities Developmentally Delayed Eating Disorders

3.30% 2.00%

TOTAL

5.30%

SPECIALIZED, UNIQUE PROGRAMMING OPTIONS Equest offers more specialized, unique programming options in conjunction with our therapeutic riding program that are specifically designed to meet the needs of our clients.

Therapeutic Riding Program Summer Horsemanship Day Camps Horses for Heroes – For Veterans & Active Military Vocational & Job Training Team Building Senior Saturdays – Connecting with the Elderly Horses As Healers – For those affected by Cancer, Grief & Trauma Saddle Safari Sensory Discovery Trail Adaptive Carriage Driving Program Equine Assisted Mental Health Horses & Hands – Volunteer Programs Minis on a Mission – Equest horses traveling into schools, homes, hospice, and group homes 7

“Equest blazes the way for me and kids like me to achieve their dreams and reach their greatest potential. With YOUR help, more kids will be able to experience their future, not from just their wheelchairs looking up at others, but from atop a horse looking out over their future.”

Testimonials

– Johnny Agar

“Veterans are a different breed. We have thoughts that no one should ever experience. What you do saves lives. The joy and appreciation that I feel every time I experience the peace at Equest is truly lifesaving.”

– Vietnam veteran in our Horses for Heroes program.

“I came for the horses and stayed for the people.”

– Equest Volunteer

“You think your life is hard. Then you come here, and you get perspective on what ‘hard’ really means.

And then it’s just an honor to help.”

– Equest Volunteer

“A lot goes into Verek’s therapy here at the Center. It’s more than sitting on a horse. He’s working on using muscles that he’s not used to using.

Not only is this working his listener response skills, but he’s also working with imitation as well. During his session he is also working on social skills with the side walkers as well as with the horse. He’s learning how to care and respect the horses around him.

Verek is nonverbal. While riding, one of the expectations placed on him is to tap the “go button” to communicate that he would like the horse to move/walk. So he will be riding the horse, then his instructor, Kelly, will have the horse stop, and then she waits for him to tap the “go button” to continue. Once he taps the button, Kelly will say “walk” and the horse walks again. A few weeks ago, Verek was riding around and tapping his button as usual, but the next time horse stopped was different.... This time, Verek tapped the “go button” and out of his mouth came the word “WALK”!!! In that moment, everyone’s eyes welled up with tears of joy and jaws hit the ground, and of course everyone celebrated this victory with him!!! This was the miracle we were told might never happen; the miracle that we waited over eight years for and always knew he had in him. Verek found his voice here at the Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding, through the many hours of dedication from the volunteers and the staff. He found it through the confidence of not being judged by what he can’t do and by having people focus on what he can do. He found it by being allowed to be himself and to feel safe.”

“Loralei starting riding at Equest at age 2! She continues to ride at Equest and also now rides with our local 4-H Riding Program and is a member of her school Equestrian team! She wouldn’t be where she is today without Equest. It’s given her a lot of strength, a lot of confidence, and a lot of abilities.We saved her from having hip surgery because of riding every week.”

– Kaeta DeHoek, Loralei’s mom

“Cody’s job and interpersonal skills have grown tremendously over the past year. He has several paid part-time jobs and still volunteers at other organizations too.”

– Vocational Volunteer program Team, Barb and Cody

– Verek & Mom

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FINANCIAL DEMAND TO CARE FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES IS INCREASING. 5. WE NEVER TURN ANYONE AWAY DUE TO INABILITY TO PAY FOR OUR SERVICES. The reality is that many of our families experience unemployment, loss of insurance, benefits and rising health costs which can impact all aspects of treatment. The medical bills and extra costs for someone with special needs can be staggering. Scholarship dollars are essential.

INCREASED NEED FOR EFFICIENCY 6. IT IS CRITICAL THAT WE RUN AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE IN ALL AREAS OF OPERATIONS as every dollar saved can provides additional funding for our clients in need.

SERVING MORE PEOPLE 1. EQUINE THERAPY SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS are essential for so many of our clients. This campaign includes $1 million in scholarship funds. The earnings from the scholarship fund will provide at least $3,500 each month for scholarships. That increase in scholarship money will give more students the life-changing benefit of equine therapy.

2. Construction of a new ADA ACCESSIBLE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING to provide workspace, private meeting rooms for client consultations, large conference room for Veteran’s programming and continuing education for our Certified Instructors, complete kitchen facilities and ample room for our interns and volunteer crew. Our current administrative building is a double wide trailer that is in dire need of many in-depth repairs and suffering from being well-loved and well-used for over 32 years.

© Progressive AE

administrative offices

ADMINISTRATIV © Progressive AE

2. Requests continue to pour in for expanded therapy options to meet the needs created by community budget cuts. Individuals who are unable to sit astride a horse could benefit from other horse-related treatments if we made them available.

3. Our current building capacities are not sufficient to support this increase in demand for services.

4. Our facilities must be updated and maintained regularly and efficiently to provide a safe environment and experience for clients, staff and our horses (our equine therapists).

The first is a significant investment in CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS that will improve our efficiency and reduce operating costs. For example, we must finish updating our miles of wooden fences (that require painting and much repair) with low-maintenance, pre-coated flex fencing.

We need a dump trailer so we can stop paying other people to take away horse manure, and a hay storage barn so we can buy hay in-season at a lower cost and store it. These and other investments will help us reduce our dependence on expensive outsourced services, improve safety and make us more efficient.

3. Construction of new CARRIAGE AND HAY BARN to house and operate a new adaptive carriage driving program (and store our hay purchased in season).

This will serve students who cannot sit on a horse, or those who could benefit from additional skills that can be taught through driving instead of riding.

4. Construction of a RIDING PAVILION to cover our outdoor arena. This will offer us a second place for sheltered riding (in addition to our indoor arena), and provide more scheduling flexibility to serve additional riders throughout the year.

5. Special Equine Program tailored for the deaf and hard of hearing with needed equipment, programming and training.

6. Further enhance and expand our programs for veterans, seniors, as well as additional vocational and job training for our students to help prepare them for meaningful work and increased independence.

CWD Real Estate | 250 Monroe Entry and Lobby Improvements | Concept Design | 7

THROUGH ALL THESE EFFORTS, WE WILL DOUBLE THE CAPACITY OF RIDERS WE ARE ABLE TO SERVE.

riding pavilion

SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE FUTURE

© Progressive AE

A WAITING LIST.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS

Includes Intellectual Property of Progressive AE. Reproduction strictly prohibited.

1. Individuals with physical, mental, and social/emotional challenges continue to be referred to and depend on Equest. We are the only year-round therapeutic riding center in our area. THERE IS ALWAYS

OUR SOLUTIONS TO THESE CHANGING AND GROWING NEEDS INVOLVE THREE COMPONENTS.

Includes Intellectual Property of Progressive AE. Reproduction strictly prohibited.

INCREASED DEMAND FOR SERVICES.

Our solutions

RIDING

CWD Real Estate | 250 Monroe Entry and Lobby Improvements | Concept Design | 707

7. Finally, we are focused on sustainability. Every incoming and outgoing dollar counts. We want to build our capacity for fundraising to engage more people in our work.

EQUEST CENTER FOR THERAPEUTIC RIDING IS

Includes Intellectual Property of Progressive AE. Reproduction strictly prohibited.

The challenge

COMPLETELY DEBT FREE! 100% OF FUNDS RAISED WILL GO TOWARD SCHOLARSHIPS, PROGRAMMING, AND CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

hay barn

HAY BA

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CWD Real Estate | 250 Monroe Entry and Lobby Improvements | Concept Design | 70790018 | August 10, 2

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The numbers Capacity building $250,000

Programming components $1,035,000

• Staff capacity needs • professional development

• Serving additional riders to meet service demand

• New programming and equipment needed to meet specific needs in our community

Construction component $2,528,900

$3.8M

Farm utility equipment $35,800 Facitily updates and improvements $106,000

• Administrtative building • Hay and carriage barn • Riding pavilion We’re living in extraordinary times and costs are fluctuating on a daily basis. This campaign represents our best estimate of what we’ve found our costs to be.

20/20 VISION CAMPAIGN

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COST

CONSTRUCTION COMPONENTS

$ 2,528,900.00

Administration building, furniture, Fixtures, Equipment Pavilion over outdoor arena, footing New Carriage & Hay Barn

$ $ $

1,515,800.00 397,000.00 616,100.00

FACILITIES UPDATES AND IMPROVEMENTS

$

106,000.00

Facilities Updates and Improvements RAMM fencing (remaining pastures + outdoor arena) Parking lot lighting Drainage/footing in outdoor arena, pasture entrances and aisleways

$ $ $ $

35,000.00 30,000.00 11,000.00 30,000.00

FARM UTILITY EQUIPMENT

$

35,800.00

Utility Vehicle Lawn mower Dump trailer Flatbed trailer

$ $ $ $

13,000.00 9,800.00 8,000.00 5,000.00

PROGRAMMING COMPONENTS

$ 1,035,000.00

Therapeutic Riding Program Support Veterans Programming (Horses for Heroes/Equest Warriors) Carriage Driving Program Vocational and Job Training Purchase of 3 Draft horses for program Equipment for New Deaf/ Hard of Hearing program

$ $ $ $ $ $

775,000.00 100,000.00 75,000.00 50,000.00 30,000.00 5,000.00

CAPACITY BUILDING

$

250,000.00

TOTAL CAMPAIGN

$ 3,813,900.00

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How you can help

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QUEST CENTER’S THERAPEUTIC SUCCESSES HAVE caused the demand for services to grow! To meet those demands we are seeking $3.8 million in community philanthropy to renovate and expand Equest Center’s facility and services.

THIS PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDES IMPROVEMENTS, ENHANCEMENTS AND PROGRAMMING SUPPORT, WILL BOTH IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE FOR CURRENT PARTICIPANTS AND EXPAND CAPACITY TO MEET

Your charitable gift is tax deductible to the full extent of the state and federal law. Please check with your tax advisor to determine how your gift might affect your personal tax situation.

Each week, 185 riders enjoy the benefits of the Equest Center, with a waiting list of over 50 hoping to participate in our programs. A greatly improved facility to meet demand for services is our ultimate goal. Your support can make this vision a reality.

SERVICE DEMAND.

YOU CAN HELP US BY SUPPORTING THIS CAMPAIGN THROUGH:

A one-time cash gift

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A multiple year pledge commitment paid over a threeto-five-year period

An estate gift A gift of appreciated assets (i.e., stock)

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EQUEST CENTER

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FOR THERAPEUTIC RIDING 3777 Rector NE, Rockford, MI 49341 616-866-3066 · equestcenter.org