MOUNT HOLLY, NC – It was announced earlier this month during the Speedway Children’s Charities’ annual grant reception that one of the grantees receiving a portion of the $957,323 granted would be Mt. Holly based nonprofit Shining Hope Farms—a nonprofit that provides equine assisted activities and therapies across their three locations in the western Piedmont region of North Carolina. Shining Hope Farms was one of 68 local nonprofits who received a grant from the charity.
Speedway Children’s Charities has been a regular supporter of Shining Hope Farms, providing them with a grant for the past nine years. The grant will provided funds for the their Therapy Services Program, where occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech and language pathology professionals use the equine for a treatment strategy called Hippotherapy which engages sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems to achieve functional outcomes. It is the only one of its kind in the Charlotte Metro area.
“SHF has been so very, very fortunate to be a SCC grant recipient this year. Receiving this grant award is like a rejuvenation for our organization after the staff and volunteers have worked so hard throughout the year to help their clients achieve their functional goals or overcome the challenges that they face,” said Milinda Kirkpatrick, Executive Director of Shining Hope Farms. “Being rewarded with this grant spurs us to continue on with the important work being accomplished every day.”
The grant generously awarded by Speedway Children’s Charities will help Shining Hope Farms to serve many children a week no matter what the family’s financial means are.
“The impact and significance of these funds to SHF is invaluable. It affords us the ability to provide high quality healthcare services without the high price tag for our patients,” says Milinda Kirkpatrick.
At the award ceremony, several of Shining Hope Farms’ clients were among the 250+ children who got to visit with Santa Claus and Lug Nut, the world’s fastest mascot. They were also treated to a complimentary trip through Speedway Christmas, the largest drive-through synchronized lights-to-music display in the country.
About Shining Hope Farms
Shining Hope Farms is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enable children and adults to reach their full potential through the use of equine assisted activities and therapies. 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 26 horses and 40+ 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, please visit our website at shininghopefarms.org or call 704-827-3788.
