chester county community foundation grant proposal summary sheet

I. CHESTER COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANT PROPOSAL
SUMMARY SHEET
Contact Information: Date: July 17, 2012
Organization Name: Thorncroft Therapeutic Horseback Riding Inc. Contact Name: Lauren Jendrasiak
Address: 190 Line Road
Contact Title: Development Associate
Malvern, PA 19355
Contact E-mail: lauren@thorncroft.org
Phone: 610-644-1963 Fax: 610-644-9342
Web Address: www.thorncroft.org Year Incorporated: 1983
Have you previously applied to The Community Foundation: Yes
(1) Year: 2005 Am’t Rec’d: $1,000 (2) Year: 2004 Am’t Rec’d: $1,000
(3) Year: 2003 Am’t Rec’d: $2,500
Field of Interest:
Health and Human Services
Organizational Information:
Geographic Area Served (If not all of Chester County, specify primary Chester County municipalities served):
Coatesville and surrounding areas of Chester County
Annual # of Clients & Description of Population Served:
Thorncroft serves 300 students per week from throughout the Delaware Valley. Approximately one-half of these
students have special needs, including autism, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, mental retardation as well as
numerous other physical and emotional challenges. In addition to individual and group lessons, we also have riding
programs for area organizations and schools such as Bournelyf, Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital, Chester County
Special Olympics, Devereux, Elwyn Institute, Timothy School, the Vanguard School and Royer Greaves School for
the Blind.
Mission Statement:
“Our Mission is to help build the physical, emotional and mental well-being of all people particularly those with
special needs, through establishing an atmosphere of cooperation, respect, and love in an equestrian environment. We
are committed to a mainstreaming approach for teaching horseback riding and to promoting the development of new
and independent therapeutic riding programs.”
Organization Description:
Thorncroft is an equestrian center located in Malvern, PA. We provide horseback riding instruction to 300 weekly
riders with and without special needs. Additionally we offer special programs, camps and events throughout the year.
Annual Budget: $1,279,850.00
62% of budget for program expenses 10 # of Full-Time Equivalent Paid Staff
23% of budget for administrative expenses 18 # of Board Volunteers
15% of budget for fundraising expenses 672* # of Active Non-Board Volunteers
100 % total 9,631 # of Volunteer Hours
*200 therapeutic lesson volunteers plus special event volunteers
Top 3-5 funding sources:
1. Therapeutic and regular lesson program
2. Special events (ie: Victory Gallop)
3. Charitable donations from foundations, individuals and private sources
Proposal Information:
Grant Amount Requested: $2,000
Description of Grant Purpose: Coatesville Veterans Association Program

II.
CHESTER COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
GRANT PROPOSAL NARRATIVE
Please provide the following information clearly and concisely.
Proposals of 1 or 2 pages are strongly encouraged.
1. Organization’s history, goals, key achievements and distinctiveness
Thorncroft’s 43 year history was founded on a singular, powerful concept: that horses have an amazing
ability to heal. In 1969 Saunders Dixon set out in pursuit of improving the lives of those with special
needs through a personal passion: horses. As a lifelong horseman, he was well acquainted with their
exceptional power although not in the conventional sense of strength and speed, but rather the power to
mend. With the help of a therapeutic horseback riding pioneer from the UK and a team of University of
Pennsylvania physicians, Thorncroft was born and the impossible became possible: no physical, mental
or emotional barrier was too great to ride horses.
Thorncroft’s goal has always been to enhance the quality of life for those with special needs through
therapeutic horseback riding. Mr. Dixon also created a mainstreamed environment in which to do this
therapy: a collaborative atmosphere where people with and without special needs can learn, work, ride
and heal together. This philosophy is well illustrated by our drill team, the Mainstreamers. The team is
comprised of riders of various ages, both with and without special needs. The team learns and practices
complicated routines to music, then performs at local venues such as the Devon Horse Show and Radnor
Hunt. The concept of mainstreaming also carries over into our staff. We believe that people with
disabilities who hold positions of leadership set excellent examples for others. Thorncroft celebrates
diversity not by emphasizing differences, but by uniting people under the common bond of horsemanship.
Thorncroft is a Premier Accredited Center Member of Professional Association of Therapeutic
Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.), the only international governing body for therapeutic riding
that is dedicated to promoting equine-assisted activities and therapies for individuals with special needs.
Thorncroft has maintained membership and accreditation with the most recognized and accomplished
entities in the field of therapeutic horseback riding. By adhering to strict up to the minute regulations and
practices, we can ensure that we are always at our best. Six Thorncroft instructors are PATH certified,
signifying their commitment to both excellence in riding instruction and safety.
2. Funding request: We recently concluded a capital campaign designed to carry Thorncroft into the
future via capital improvements and program expansion. One key project within the campaign was a
new indoor arena which will provide a private, quiet space for a recently added equine assisted mental
health program. The approach has been proven to be beneficial for those with mental and emotional
special needs: specifically those struggling with addiction. With the new arena complete, Thorncroft is
ready to expand the new mental health program. A highlight of the program will be services designed
specifically for veterans. We have six veterans from the Coatesville VA who participate in our current
program. We plan to expand services to include a collaborative venture with the Wounded Warrior
Project and PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International), of which
Thorncroft is a Premier Accredited Center Member. Equine therapy has been shown to address a variety
of mental health issues including PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) by incorporating horses
experientially for growth, healing and learning. PATH has generously donated funds for soldiers with
service connected injuries on or after September 11, 2001 for equine assisted activities and therapies all
over the US. While the funds are generous, they are limited and will only provide for up to ten sessions
per veteran. The project cost is $100 per one hour weekly session, equaling approximately $5,200 per
year. We hope that you will join us with a grant of $2,000 as we expand and extend our services to those
who are most deserving: our veterans.

A. Specific Chester County needs and issues addressed
In 2011, the Coatesville VA served 18,861 veterans. Of that number, 1,037 were veterans of the
Iraq and Afghanistan wars. With so many veterans residing in Chester County and eligible for
WWP, we feel that this is an underserved population which could benefit from our services. A
grant from the Chester County Community Foundation will provide financial aid for Chester
County veterans so that they may experience the unique healing benefits that interaction with a
horse can provide.
B. Organizational impact (for general operating proposals) or project impact (for project
proposals)
Just like the Wounded Warrior Project, the mission of this new program is to honor and empower
veterans, with a vision of fostering successful and well-adjusted service men. Now that we have
the appropriate space in which to work, the expansion of the veterans program will allow us to
provide specific therapeutic services to address mental and emotional issues. This distinctive
program will strengthen our overall program by expanding our services and populations served.
C. Overall strategies to implement the organization’s mission (or project)
Currently six veterans from the Coatesville VA participate in our weekly riding program. The
goal is to expand the program by enrolling 20 more veterans and creating lesson plans tailored to
address the specific needs of veterans such as post-traumatic stress disorder, which is becoming
increasingly prevalent in returning veterans. Equine assisted therapy has been shown to be a
powerful tool in treating the condition.
D. Why it is important to fund this now
The official launch of the new program is September. As previously mentioned, the WWP will
provide funding for a maximum of ten sessions per veteran. Our program is structured on a
weekly basis, meaning that participants ride on the same day and time each week, allowing
veterans to ride for only ten weeks. We anticipate great success for the program, and thereby the
need for funding beyond ten sessions. It is of utmost importance to keep building on the rider’s
experiences week after week to achieve optimal results. While we have a Scholarship Fund,
additional funding will be essential to accommodate new veterans joining the program.
3. Timetable, with anticipated outcomes and their relevance to the nonprofit’s mission
As previously mentioned, the program is current and ongoing, with an official launch and expansion in
September. The current participants have enjoyed great personal success and achievements through the
program: we anticipate the same results for new veterans. We are dedicated to carrying out our daily
mission of improving the lives of those with special needs by building physical, mental and emotional
well-being. Conditions suffered by veterans encompass all three of these areas, from long term combat
related injuries to post traumatic stress disorder. We cannot think of anyone more deserving of our
services than those who have selflessly served our country.
4. How impact and results will be demonstrated
All veterans participating in the new program will be asked to complete an entrance and progress
questionnaire in which they will note physical, mental and emotional conditions before, during and after
their participation in equine assisted therapy. We plan to compile a comprehensive report in hopes of
encouraging more veterans to seek equine assisted therapy as an effective form of treatment.