For Immediate Release
Date: August 15, 2018
Contact:
Milinda Kirkpatrick
Shining Hope Farms, Executive Director
704-608-6449
shininghopefarms@gmail.com
Coca-Cola Consolidated Surprises Shining Hope Farms with $50,000 Gift and Commercial to Air Nationally During the World Equestrian Games
Charlotte, NC (August 15, 2018) – Coca-Cola Consolidated spent last week out at Shining Hope Farms filming a video to air at the World Equestrian Games next month at the Tryon International Equestrian Center. When Shining Hope Farms received the call from Coca-Cola Consolidated, the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States, and headquartered in Charlotte, that this was their plan, the nonprofit was delighted. The staff was also touched by Coke’s offer to host a picnic for the nonprofit and its participants with disabilities and their families. What they were not expecting, were the surprises that awaited them at the picnic.
As a main sponsor for the World Equestrian Games, Coca-Cola Consolidated wanted to give back to a non-profit in their community. At the picnic, they announced that the video they produced at Shining Hope Farms, would not only be airing at the games, but that it would become a national ad, airing during coverage of the games.
This was followed by a gift of $50,000 made to Shining Hope Farms, the largest single monetary donation made in the nonprofit’s history.
“Coca-Cola Consolidated is honored to support Shining Hope Farms through our “Big Hearts, mini cans” program, said Christi McGee, Vice President of Communities. “Our cans may be mini, but our appreciation for this inspiring work is enormous.”
The funds will be a big help for the nonprofit whose mission is to enable children and adults with disabilities to achieve functional goals through the use of equine assisted activities and Hippotherapy. It will allow them to serve their 175 weekly participants (mainly children), no matter what the family’s financial means are. “We are exceedingly grateful to the good people at Coca-Cola Consolidated for recognizing the valuable, life-changing services that are provided at Shining Hope Farms through their generous gift to the nonprofit. What a blessing, indeed!!” says, Milinda Kirkpatrick, Executive Director of Shining Hope Farms.
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About Shining Hope Farms
Shining Hope Farms is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to enable children and adults with disabilities to achieve functional goals through the use of equine assisted activities and Hippotherapy. Hippotherapy is a treatment strategy utilizing equine movement as part of an integrated intervention to achieve functional outcomes offered as part of Shining Hope Farms’ Therapy Services Program, which includes physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy treatment. Shining Hope Farms is the only facility offering this treatment strategy in the counties that they operate in. They are a Premier Accredited Center of PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International) as well as the American Hippotherapy Association, and currently operate sites in Gaston, Mecklenburg, and Catawba Counties. There are 24 horses, 2 miniature ponies, and 37 staff members consisting of occupational and physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, PATH Intl. certified riding instructors, and administrative staff, plus many wonderful volunteers which make a well-rounded program. Shining Hope Farms is also a GuideStar Exchange Gold participant, a leading symbol of transparency and accountability among nonprofits. For more information, visit shininghopefarms.org.
About Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated
Coke Consolidated is the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Our Purpose is to honor God, serve others, pursue excellence and grow profitably. For more than 116 years, we have been deeply committed to the consumers, customers, and communities we serve and passionate about the broad portfolio of beverages and services we offer. We make, sell, and deliver beverages of The Coca-Cola Company and other partner companies in more than 300 brands and flavors to 65 million consumers in territories spanning 14 states and the District of Columbia.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Coke Consolidated is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol COKE. More information about the company is available at www.cokeconsolidated.com. Follow Coke Consolidated on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Images courtesy of Coca-Cola Consolidated and NOWSAY
