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Naples, FL – Naples Therapeutic Riding Center (NTRC), a non-profit organization providing therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-facilitated group services for children and adults with special needs and physical challenges, is pleased to announce the Women’s Giving Circle of Southwest Florida (Giving Circle), a fund of the Community Foundation of Collier County, has awarded NTRC a $20,000 grant. The grant will fund equine groups and therapeutic riding lessons for special needs and at-risk women and girls. This grant is aligned with the Giving Circle’s 2019 funding focus to support local health and mental wellness initiatives. “We are proud to hold funds such as the Women’s Giving Circle that provide grant distributions that enable much-needed support in our community,” said Eileen Connolly-Keesler, Community Foundation President & CEO. “This grant will allow the Naples Therapeutic Riding Center to continue to provide essential services for children and adults with special needs and physical challenges. We are grateful to the Women’s Giving Circle for supporting local health and mental wellness.” The grant will specifically fun the annual costs for weekly therapeutic riding lessons for 25 riders with special needs as well as an 8-week equine group program for 20 at risk children and teens. Therapeutic riding lessons help people with cognitive, physical and emotional disabilities. During lessons the horse’s movement mimics the movement of a human’s walk and provides physical, sensory, and neurological stimulation. Equine groups include equine-facilitated learning and psychotherapy services. These services are provided in collaboration with local non-profits serving the mental health needs of our most vulnerable populations. Partners include David Lawrence Center, Shelter for Abused Women & Children, Pace Center for Girls, Avow Hospice, Hazelden Betty Ford and others. During the 8-week sessions, participants work directly with horses while engaging in a group process to help overcome challenges in their lives. The goals are to foster trust, strengthen boundaries, increase communication skills, and build self-esteem and awareness. Missy Lamont, NTRC Executive Director, said, “We greatly appreciate the support and generosity of the Women’s Giving Circle of Southwest Florida and applaud their efforts on behalf of the disadvantaged women and girls we serve. Our partnership with them is built on the principle of community collaboration – organizations working together to improve the lives of our most vulnerable populations.”