Ivy Hill Receives Widener Memorial Foundation, VNA Grant Awards

PERKASIE, PA - Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center, located at 1811 Mill Road in Hilltown Township, has received major grants awards this summer from the Widener Memorial Foundation in Aid of Handicapped Children and The VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn totaling over $48,000.

The Widener Memorial Foundation grant for $31,161 will fund the installation of an elevator to the facility’s second floor, as well as expand and complete the outdoor Sensory Trail that will be used in Ivy Hill’s equine-assisted activities and therapeutic programs. The elevator will provide access for children, families and visitors with mobility challenges to participate in all activities at the facility. A Sensory Trail Touch and Try activity station will feature sports inspired activities designed to help improve a rider's balance, eye/hand and bilateral coordination, tactile and defensiveness cognition.

Grace Emmell-Leister, Ivy Hill Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors member and author of the grant, spoke of the inclusion and accessibility that was essential for all participants in the program.

“We are delighted that the Widener Memorial Foundation funded the proposal for an elevator for access to the second-floor arts and music therapy sessions, and materials for the Sensory Trail at Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center,” said Emmell-Leister. “These interactions are essential in the sometimes isolated world of a special needs child.”

Ivy Hill Foundation President and CEO Chris Brockett echoed those sentiments.

“We are so grateful for this support from the Widener Memorial Foundation as it will allow us to expand the services we can offer to families with special needs children, our program participants and visitors to our facility,” said Brockett.

The VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn awarded Ivy Hill a $17,000 Behavioral Health Grant to create a collaborative partnership designed to achieve positive results with at-risk student populations from local school districts.

"The VNA Foundation values the important work done by Ivy Hill to partner within the community and improve the lives of so many,” said VNA Foundation Executive Director Joanne Kline.

The goal of the partnership between Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center and the Souderton Vantage Academy is to develop therapeutic and behavior management utilizing the equine experience, enabling students to seamlessly and successfully transition learned skills to their home schools, engage in the world around them, build confidence, restore trust and reduce emotional isolation.

“This is a great new opportunity to allow students to opportunity to build connections with these special animals as well as grow their self-esteem, confidence, and worth ethic,” said Ivy Hill Program Director Megan Hance. “We look forward to this partnership this school year.”

For the last 18 years, Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center has remained focused on its Mission to create therapeutic programs for individuals with cognitive, physical, emotional, behavioral and psychological needs utilizing the equine experience.

To support Ivy Hill’s programs, sponsor a horse or a rider, volunteer at Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center, or for more information, please visit www.ivyhillequestrian.org, or call 215-822-2515.