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Grant to EquiCenter will support non-profit’s capital expansion and renovation project
Grant to EquiCenter will support non-profit’s capital expansion and renovation project
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Honeoye Falls-based EquiCenter has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Golisano Foundation to support facility expansion and renovation including the addition of an ADA-compliant restroom to accommodate participants with disabilities.
This past year, EquiCenter’s Board of Directors and executive leadership adopted a new five-year strategic plan focused on sustainability and growth.
With the support of foundations like Golisano Foundation and a significant donation from the owners of Heron Hill Winery, a multi-phase plan for facility growth and expansion was set into motion to meet current needs of the community.
Phase one of the plan includes the addition of a maintenance building as well as the renovation and expansion of both the North and South barns.
The new maintenance facility allows conversion of the storage facilities within the North Barn to classrooms enabling EquiCenter to provide year-round programming to school groups from across the region. The South Barn expansion will allow for the addition of an ADA-compliant restroom, the creation of functional office space for equine staff and a meeting and rest area for the organization’s 300-plus volunteers.
“We are grateful to the Golisano Foundation for this generous grant,” said Ryan Elizabeth Shear, EquiCenter’s chief development officer. “This capital gift will help us to better serve all our participants by installing a truly accessible bathroom, carefully designed to ensure the dignity of both youth and adult participants with disabilities.”
Since its inception, EquiCenter’s therapeutic equestrian programs have expanded to include therapeutic horticulture, natural horsemanship with mustangs for veterans as well as cancer survivors and patients, culinary arts, beekeeping and maple syrup production.
The organization operates all the programs on-site at its 200-acre facility with a herd of nearly 30 horses, an indoor and outdoor arena and a three-acre organic practice farm.
Added Ann Costello, the Golisano Foundation’s executive director, “We are pleased to provide support for this important expansion and renovation project and applaud EquiCenter’s focus and vision that have created so many meaningful and life-changing opportunities for people of all abilities.”
[email protected] / (585) 653-4021
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