| News Release: For Immediate Release |
SHINING HOPE FARMS RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM GOLD BOND BUILDING PRODUCTS, LLC
MT. HOLLY, NC (December 20, 2022) – Shining Hope Farms is pleased to announce that it has received a $25,000 gift from local company Gold Bond Building Products, LLC to support its equine assisted activities and therapies programs.
“We are so humbled by this generous gift! This will help Shining Hope Farms serve our Gaston and surrounding county community in a greater capacity. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being a part of increasing our impact,” said Patrice Gibson, Development Director of Shining Hope Farms.
This funding will go a long way in helping to facilitate quality of life improvements for many clients with disabilities, mental health struggles, and Veterans, all of whom are served at Shining Hope Farms. Clients are served through one of their three programs—1) Therapy Services (clinical occupational, physical, and speech therapy, as well as counseling services), 2) Therapeutic Riding, and 3) Saddles & Salutes—an EAAT program for Veterans. For each program, participants have individual goals and objectives that they work towards in each session. However, both programs share a similar overall goal—which is to better the participant, and subsequently their family’s, quality of life.
The majority of clients that Shining Hope Farms serves pay either nothing out-of-pocket, or very affordable, reduced rates. Executive Director Milinda Kirkpatrick points out, “We designed our fee structure this way because we strive to make our program financially accessible and equitable. The majority of the clients we see are children with disabilities whose families are often already strapped by the high cost that comes with caring for a child with disabilities.” This is critical to many families, including families who have children with autism, which is one of the major diagnoses Shining Hope Farms sees. According to the CDC, medical costs for children with autism spectrum disorders alone are estimated to be six times higher than for children without ASDs.
Shining Hope Farms is looking forward to hopefully continuing a partnership with Gold Bond Building Products, LLC an affiliate company of National Gypsum Company, for years to come.
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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 to reach their full potential through the use of equine assisted activities and therapies. Programs provided include physical, occupational, and speech therapy utilizing equine movement as a treatment strategy called hippotherapy. Shining Hope Farms is the only facility offering this treatment strategy in the counties that they operate in. Equine assisted mental health counseling is also offered along with therapeutic riding for children and adults including Veterans. They are a Premier Accredited Center of PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International) as well as a member of the American Hippotherapy Association. Locations include sites in Charlotte, Mt. Holly, and Conover, NC. Between the three locations there are 30+ horses and 50 staff members consisting of occupational and physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, PATH Intl. certified riding instructors, and administrative staff, plus many wonderful volunteers. Shining Hope Farms is also a GuideStar Exchange Gold participant, a leading symbol of transparency and accountability among nonprofits. For more information, please visit the website at shininghopefarms.org or call 704-827-3788.
Media Contact:
Patrice Gibson, Development Director, (813) 597-9178, patricegibson@shininghopefarms.org
