Bentonville, AR – The twin themes of therapeutic help through the use of sports and horses, marked the latest round of grants from The Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation (NWACF) as checks of $10,000 were awarded to Rocky Creek Horses Help and $15,000 to Special Olympics Arkansas on November 1. These two grants, totaling $25,000, were recommended by a fund established by the Northwest Medical Auxiliary in the Community Foundation and later approved by NWACF board of directors.
The following grants made by the Northwest Medical Auxiliary Donor-Advised Fund were:
Rocky Creek Horses Help – $10,000 to support therapeutic horseback riding for mentally, emotionally and physically disabled children.
Special Olympics Arkansas – $15,000 to support the 2001 summer camp for Special Olympics Athletes.
Rocky Creek Horses Help is a therapeutic riding center established in 1992. According to Randy Bryant, the goal is offering medical therapy, education, and sport for mentally, emotionally, and physically disabled children.
"We serve the entire Northwest Arkansas Region. Last year, over 230 special needs children benefited from the program. No disabled child is turned away because of inability to pay. We are grateful to the Community Foundation and the Northwest Medical Auxiliary Fund for this grant because we will be able to help any child who needs this therapy," stressed Bryant.
Rocky Creek Horses Help is the only accredited North American Riding Association (NARHA) center in Arkansas. The paid staff includes one instructor, the only certified therapeutic riding instructor in Arkansas, maintenance help, and a volunteer coordinator. There are over 75 volunteers who work directly with the children, promote public awareness, and fund-raise.
Special Olympics were founded in 1968 by the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation. It has grown into the world's largest program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with mental retardation. According to Treva Chouinard, Northwest Arkansas Field Representative for Special Olympics, this grant will train more athletes from the Northwest Arkansas area in sports which they have not participated in prior to the camp.
"Special Olympics will be able to host a week-long Sports Camp, July 9-14, for athletes on the John Brown campus. This camp will not only offer these athletes opportunities for fellowship and social activities with their peers, but also the chance to train in six sports during the week," explained Chouinard.
Jean Indorf, Chair of the Auxiliary Grants Committee, explained why these two grants were recommended from the fund established by the Auxiliary.
"As a former hospital auxiliary, we are concerned with the health and well-being of all individuals living in this area. Both of these grant proposals address the needs of those who require additional help in reaching their full potential," said Indorf.
The Northwest Medical Auxiliary was formed in April 1952, months before the opening of the Springdale Memorial Hospital, which was later called Northwest Medical Center of Washington County. With the sale of Northwest Medical Center of Washington County in 1998, the Auxiliary now operates as a donor-advised fund within the Community Foundation. The group reviews grant applicants and organizations and recommends funding to a broader ranger of causes. Since the establishment of their donor-advised fund this past spring, the Auxiliary has recommended the funding of 8 grants totaling $74,000 to the NWACF Board of Directors.
The Auxiliary raises its money from sales at a gift shop inside the hospital and from its thrift shop at 400 Park Street. Volunteers run both operations. Last month, the Auxiliary presented a $190,000 check to the Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation that signaled a $ 3 million milestone for their philanthropic giving.
Northwest Arkansas Community Foundation (NWACF) was founded in 1998 as the Community Foundation of Bentonville/Bella Vista. In November 1999, its purpose was expanded to include all of Northwest Arkansas, and to serve as the lead public foundation operated in connection with CommunityCare Foundation, Inc.
