A $10,000 grant
Horses and Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center (HHTLC) in New Ringgold was a recent recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Ronald McDonald House Charities Inc. (RMHC) of Philadelphia.
The grant was given to support enhancements to the center's outdoor arena, including lighting for the arena, enhanced safety and extended evening therapy sessions.Harvey Smith, Executive Director, HHTLC, and other representatives accepted the grant from Joe Pany, local McDonald's owner/operator and RMHC Vice President, during the center's 20th anniversary celebration held over the weekend.Founded in 1993, HHTLC is a non-profit organization staffed entirely by volunteers. It is located at Helping Horse Farm in the farming valley between Tamaqua and New Ringgold.Harvey and Elaine Smith, owners of the farm and facilitators of the riding program, are qualified therapeutic riding instructors. In addition to teaching the lessons, the Smiths also care for the program's horses and maintain the facility.The Smiths have been involved with therapeutic horseback riding since 1985. For several years prior to founding HHTLC, they operated the eastern branch of the Schuylkill County Therapeutic Riding Program. Harvey is also a licensed occupational therapist. For more information about the center, visit their Facebook page or website at
www.horsesandhorizons.org.RMHC of the Philadelphia Region Inc. grants hundreds of thousands of dollars per year to support local non-profit programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children.In addition, RMHC supports four scholarship programs for high school seniors; the Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey and Delaware Ronald McDonald Houses; the St. Christopher's Foundation for Children Ronald McDonald Care Mobile; and 13 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms in area hospitals.The charity receives its support from McDonald's Corporation, McDonald's owner/operators, corporate donors and McDonald's customers. For more information go to