Give the Gift of Hope on Giving Tuesday with Gleneayre Equestrian Program

Lumberton, New Jersey – Nov. 29, 2020 – The holiday season is traditionally a time for reflection on all of the positive things that happen during the course of the year, as well as the strength of important bonds between family and friends. This year, many have been challenged to find meaning and direction within the struggles that have been presented as part of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. However, through all of the very personal struggles, the strength of community and family have prevailed and the mission of programs like the Gleneayre Equestrian Program (GEP), have become more important than ever. This year, on Giving Tuesday, a holiday designed to encourage the support of non-profit organizations, GEP would like to encourage their beloved community to donate what they can in support of one of their essential programs.

Established in 1998 by Bob and Ellen Healey, the Gleneayre Equestrian Program’s (GEP) mission has centered around “bringing horses and people together for the betterment of each other’s lives.” As with many other non-profits, 2020 has been a difficult year to not only continue their mission, but also to connect with their current donors and participants. In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, GEP is hoping to reconnect with their current supporters and welcome new friends to the benefits of their unique program.

The GEP is centered on three main programs:

1.) The Working Student Program: Each student, ages 10-19, is assigned a horse to ride and care for all through the year in a safe space to learn, develop, and practice life skills, self-confidence, and responsibility. The program includes school support, vocational training, camaraderie with peers, and supervision by caring adults as students learn to ride and work with horses. Riding opportunities include participating in horse shows, in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association programs, and in clinics with noted professional trainers. Families pay a nominal annual tuition fee.

2.) The Equine Facilitated Learning Program: Group sessions of unmounted activities with horses are tailored to help promote planning, problem-solving, communication, cooperation, and other life skills. The trusting nature of the horse-human connection encourages participants to lower their defenses and their habitual reactivity and become more receptive to new ideas and positive relationships with others.

3.) The Mental Health Program: Conducted by a licensed mental health professional, Equine Facilitated Mental Health sessions are experiential in nature and held for individuals and groups. Participants learn about themselves and others by participating in activities with the horses, and then processing (or discussing) feelings, behaviors, and patterns.

GEP serves a wide range of individuals, including veterans, juvenile first-offenders and those who are in need of additional support. Due to social distancing regulations and the on-going impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, GEP had to cancel many many of their most important fundraisers, making the public generosity on Giving Tuesday even more crucial.

If you would like to make a more long lasting gift to the GEP, please consider supporting one of their special program horses. GEP takes great pride in the fact that all horses in their programs have a forever home and are able to live out the remainder of their lives with comfort and love. Despite cancellations and program suspensions that were caused by 2020 events, the Gleneayre horses still need care. The program encourages friends and supporters to consider sponsoring one of their special horses in order to support the unique connection between horses and humans. A charitable contribution of $750 will sponsor a horse for 6 months, $1,500 will sponsor a horse for 1 year.

For more information regarding this opportunity, please click here.

To learn more about GEP’s important mission and current happenings, click here.