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Email: "Centaur Stride receives grant from CRCF to help with awareness and events"
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Area not-for-profits need to be even more creative in order to balance their budgets. Closing is not an option for Centaur Stride. “We are so fortunate to have the support of the local community,” said Claudia Monroe, President of the Board of Directors, and volunteer physical therapist. “Centaur Stride was a grassroots start-up program for therapeutic horseback riding and this is our 17th year. So many people were instrumental in making that possible and we are very grateful. We continue to look to our community for support as it is still a struggle.” Monroe noted they have new board members and are really working at a sustainability plan so they can remain and grow to their potential. Karlyn Monroe, business and marketing entrepreneur and new board member last year, identified primary areas of focus and launched their Web site last June, www.centaurstride.org, with funds from the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and Fessenden, Laumer, and DeAngelo Athletic Fund. Claudia Monroe said that has been very instrumental in getting the word out that they even exist. The present Board of Directors includes: Claudia Monroe, Connie Wojcinski, Ann Marie Day, Rody Schoener-Zarutskie, Karlyn Monroe, Claire Tomassini and Willowe Neckers. “Web sites require frequent updating and we didn’t have any money for that. The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation recently awarded us a field of interest grant to make our updates. These updates are also vital to our sustainability plan. We were able to link directly to their web site so that donors can contribute to either of our two endowment funds,” said Monroe. “We have been blessed to be the beneficiaries of the Lyle and Gladys Peterson ‘Centaur Stride Therapeutic Horseback Riding for the Handicapped Fund’ and the Doug and Lamae McCullor ‘Animals for the Disabled Fund’.” Monroe added that they have also updated their list of events and fundraisers. They have participated in the Bon Ton Community Day for the past few years and are so grateful for the opportunity. The BonTon gives $5 to area not-for-profits for each coupon they sell for the Community Day. This year’s Community Day is set for this Saturday, Feb. 27. Patrons receive a $10 coupon for one item, and several discount coupons for other items. Monroe noted they have lauched their first ever on-line fundraising event. “This required a lot of work and updates to our Web site,” she said. “Our riders each have their own page (only those participating in the event). They have written testimonials about their experiences at Centaur Stride and posted a photo. Everyone at Centaur Stride (staff, volunteers, parents, and riders) can see and feel the joy it brings, but others have no idea. If you read some of those testimonials, you can feel it and really want to be a part of it!” The online fundraiser is connected to Centaur Stride’s ‘Healing with Horses’ Walk-a-thon, on March 14 at the Chautauqua Mall from 2-3 p.m. The Web site allows for registration to participate in the walk-a-thon and/or the ability to sponsor one of the riders. Monroe noted the on-line donations are very safe and secure. Guidestar is a major not-for-profit organization that discloses information about not-for-profits, including Internal Revenue Reporting. First Giving is their secure fundraising Website. Centaur Stride’s fundraiser can be accessed through www.firstgiving.com/centaurstride. To sponsor a particular rider, type his/her name in the web address immediately following ‘centaurstride’. (ex: www.firstgiving.com/centaurstridematt). Participants include: Matt, Bailee, Jonah, Derek, Kaylee, Chyrssie Rose, Chrissy, Joe, Elisha, Elyse, Allyson, Rose, Megan, Kendall, Sofia, Spencer, Shanda, and Abby. Anyone else who would like to help Centaur Stride raise funds should contact Claudia at: claudiamonroe@CentaurStride.org. Please visit their Web site for a full overview of our programs and calendar of events. Centaur Strides needs the full support of the community to reach its potential to help others in the community. “It is such a great place — horses provide healing and teaching in so many ways,” Monroe said.

 

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