Equest’s “Gift of the Horse” gives you a chance to opt out of proverbial gift ideas and provide a gift that truly makes a difference this holiday season.
Rather than spending money on gift cards or Santa socks this holiday season, you can put your money where it can do some good by donating toward the impact a horse can have for someone with a disability.
Equest — a Dallas-area foundation that provides equine-facilitated activities, therapies, and counseling to children and adults with physical, cognitive, sensory, coping, and learning disabilities, as well as to veterans with adjustment challenges — is offering a true make-a-difference gift idea.
Through its “Gift of a Horse Donation,” donors can provide resources toward the care of therapy horses and help change the lives of the clients they serve.
With 45 therapy horses, 10 instructors, four therapists, two counselors, and 400 volunteers, Equest changes the lives of more than 1,200 clients a year. In 2016, the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization is celebrating 35 years of “humans, horses, hope.”
Using the healing power of the human-horse connection, Equest provides clients with physical and occupational therapy, equine-facilitated counseling and learning, therapeutic carriage driving, therapeutic horsemanship, and competition. Its fastest growing program, Hooves for Heroes, offers services to veterans, first responders, and their families.
By contributing at one of the donation levels below, you can make someone’s holiday season — and quality of life beyond.
$5,000 gives the Gift of Strength and provides for a therapy horse for a year.
$2,500 gives the Gift of Independence and covers one semester of program expenses for a client.
$1,000 gives the Gift of Wellness and provides a semester of counseling for a veteran or their family member.
$500 gives the Gift of Confidence and provides safety equipment for clients.
$250 gives the Gift of Education to the community through Equest’s “Mini Ambassador” program.
$100 gives the Gift of Improved Health and provides a therapist for an occupational therapy session.
$60 gives the Gift of Fun and provides therapeutic lesson tools.
$25 gives the Gift of Nourishment and feeds 10 therapy horses for a week.
If you choose the option to donate “In Memory of” or “In Honor of,” Equest we will send a notification to the rider to let them know a donation has been made on their behalf. For donations made in 2016 in honor of its 35th anniversary, Equest has received a challenge gift that will allow your donation to be matched dollar for dollar up to $100,000.
Find out more about the program at the Equest website.
