North Penn Class Donates $1K To Equine Program For Those With Special Needs

An economics class of North Penn High School seniors has donated a check to the Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center, an organization that runs equine programs for children and adults with special needs.

The Junior Achievement Economics in Practice class celebrated their success on Thursday, June 4th with a pizza party, cupcakes and the check presentation. 

Ken McLarnon has been teaching the JA class for eighteen years, and expressed pride in his class’s effort.

“They are responsible for the product, production method, marketing, IPO and sales,” stated McLarnon.

“They learn to run a small business, and help a local non-profit in the process.”

The class of 25 students presented representatives of Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center with a check for $1000 to help fund equine programs that benefit children and adults with special needs in Bucks, Montgomery, Lehigh and Philadelphia counties.

Ivy Hill board member Grace Emmell-Leister, a retired teacher and former administrator at North Penn, congratulated the class and thanked them for the donation.

“Our riders and families thank you, our horses thank you and I thank you,” said Leister.

Nele Kanzer, an exchange student from Salzgitter, Germany, sold 21 cups and 9 bucket hats to win the top prize in sales. She was presented with a check for $100 and an Ivy Hill t-shirt by McLarnon and Leister.

“The students really came together to help raise money for Ivy Hill,” said McLarnon.

“It’s really great to see their enthusiasm grow as the sales went on.”

Founded in 1919, Junior Achievement is an after-school program where teens form student companies, sell stocks, produce a product and sell it in their communities. Volunteer advisers from the business community oversee the student companies. Students develop an understanding of economic principles that prepare them for college learning and future employment.

The mission of Ivy Hill Foundation is to utilize the equine experience in building pathways for personal growth, in strengthening supporting relationships and in broadening community involvement for individuals with special needs.

To sponsor a horse or a rider at Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center, make a donation, or for more information, visit their website, or contact development director Donna Carlson at dcarlson@ivyhillequestrian.org.