• Rotary Year: 2022-2023
  • Application Date: 6/22/2022
  • Club Name: Smith Mountain Lake
  • Project Name: Healing Strides Fence Project
  • Project Total Expenditures: $9,003.70
  • Grant Amount Requested: $4,000.00
  • Describe the Project, its location and its objectives: Healing Strides of VA Mission Statement: To promote wellness for people with personal challenges who can benefit from Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies in a safe and Supported Environment.
    Located on a beautiful 22 acre parcel in Virginia’s Roanoke Valley, Healing Strides of Virginia sits between the Blue Ridge Mountains in the east and the Appalachian Plateau to the west. Healing Strides was established in 1991, and since then, they have been dedicated to providing equine assisted activities and therapies in a safe and supportive environment.
    They serve both children and adults in the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas. With a variety of services ranging from Para Equestrian Dressage to Veterans Programs to Hippotherapy, their services and resources have few limitations. The largest populations in their programs are veterans, children in the foster care system, at-risk youth, and adults with PTSD. They specialize in the needs of people with multiple diagnoses.
    Healing Strides of Virginia (HSVA) is the only PATH International Premier Accredited Center
    for Therapeutic Horsemanship in the Roanoke Valley. It is a non-profit 501(c)3 horsemanship center with a herd of more than 20 horses. They have a large, enclosed arena and an outdoor arena. They also have a new mental health barn that will include another covered arena. HSVA is the only Premier Accredited Center (PAC) with the Professional Association of Therapeutic Riding International (PATH) in the Roanoke Valley. They are an Equine Assisted Activities and Therapy Program (EAAT) which includes Therapeutic Riding, Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), Equine Assisted Psychotherapy EAP, Hippotherapy and several other programs related to equine therapies. HSVA also provides able-bodied instruction in English and Western disciplines, and are proud to host the Ferrum College Equestrian Team. HSVA is also a U.S. Pony Club Center — the 2nd in the U.S. with an integrated programs.

    HSVA offers Mental Health, Education and Coaching with Licensed Mental Health professionals, licensed teachers and certified Life Coaches . They work with trauma, PTS(D), brain injury, autism, behavioral health, Veterans, parenting, marriage, professional development and team building to name a few areas.

    Healing Strides of VA is a Premier Accredited Center with PATH Int'l, one of 7 Centers of Excellence as designated by the United Stated Equestrian Federation. They are a recruiting and training center for Instructors/coaches and athletes alike.
    HSVA recently purchased pastureland across the street to utilize for several purposes. Fencing this property is the first step in ensuring the safe use of the land for their horses.
    The fencing is one phase in our overall Pastureland Development for Healthy Horse’s Capital Campaign. The opportunity to purchase the land was important. The pastureland allows Healing Strides to rotate it’s herd from it’s current pasture to the new land. In addition to the pasture, the land provides space for parking for staff and events when they have horse shows and training clinics. They are also planning on creating a gallop track around the pasture that will help to develop skills for our horses and riding participants. They would also like to open the track for individuals to walk and maybe even sponsor events.
  • This is the Club’s: Primary Project Application
  • Expected Start Date: 9/1/2022
  • Expected End Date: 5/1/2023
  • Expected Number of Beneficiaries: 300
  • Describe how the project will benefit the community and/or improve the lives of the less fortunate: To promote wellness for people with personal challenges who can benefit from equine assisted activities and therapies in a safe and supportive environment.
    Healing Strides has an unique way of helping individuals to overcome challenges they may face regardless of their physical, emotional or cognitive disabilities. Horses are amazing animals and they are an important part of the team. Their role as a motivator is critical to overcoming some of the biggest hurdles an individual may face in their treatment plan. Horses are considered one of the most successful tools for treatment.
    Programs include therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, mentoring, volunteer training, summer camps and veterans' programs for PTSD and amputees. Instructors are fully certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International.
    Healing Strides works with multiple universities, such as Virginia Tech and Jefferson College, to help numerous patients. As the largest serving Therapeutic Horsemanship organization in Virginia, they are able to reach thousands of people every year.
    In 2018 alone, Healing Strides provided approximately 5,000 lessons, averaging 175 participants a week and over 12,000 volunteer hours. It’s no wonder Healing Strides is one of only 7 accredited Centers of Excellence in the country.
  • Estimated Total Project Volunteer Hours: 50
  • Describe the Rotarian hands-on activities in the project (i.e. non-financial participation): Possibly helping to dig post holes. Rotarian volunteers are mainly needed to paint/stain the rather large fence once it is completed.
  • Describe the publicity plan to inform the general public that this is a Rotary sponsored project: Publicity:
    To publicize this exciting project, the Rotary Club of Smith Mountain Lake plans to invite the local newspapers, once the project is complete, to do a feature story. We may schedule a meeting to be held at “Healing Strides of Virginia” for all members to help celebrate the good work that “Healing Strides” and the Rotary Club of Smith Mountain Lake does for the community.
    There will also be a story featured in The Healing Strides of Va. newsletter, as well as a plague honoring the Rotary Club of Smith Mountain Lake.
  • Cooperating Organizations – Please list each cooperating organization, if any: None
  • Letter(s) of Participation: Healing_Strides_District_Grant_Letter_of_Participation_22_23.pdf
  • Project Expenditure Budget – list detail uses of funds for the project, or use the Budget Upload: See Budget Upload
  • Project Funding Budget – list detail sources of funds for the project, or use the Budget Upload: See Budget Upload
  • Budget Upload:Healing_Strides_District_Grant_Budget_2022_2023.xls
  • Primary Contact Name: Jeanette Handy
  • Primary Contact Rotary Position: President Elect
  • Primary Contact Email: handylakegirl@gmail.com
  • Primary Contact Phone: 5404934914
  • Financial Contact Name: Randy Sink
  • Financial Contact Rotary Position: President
  • Financial Contact Address: 
    57 Clubhouse Towers Dr.
    Moneta, VA 24121
    United States View on Map
  • Financial Contact Email: randy@sinkrealtygroup.com
  • Financial Contact Phone: 7035178899
  • District Grant Project Authorization LetterHealing_Strides_District_Grant_Project_Authorization_Letter_22_23.pdf
  • Grant Number: 2022-15
  • Grant Award: $4,000.00