SMART Receives $15,000 Matching Grant & Is Seeking Donations

SARASOTA, Fla. - Feb. 25, 2019 - PRLog -- Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, Inc. (SMART) is pleased to announce they have received a matching grant for $15,000 from the Bill & Maryann Vinall Fund of Manatee Community Foundation. They had been trying for nearly a year to secure funding for lighting for their covered arena, and these funds will be directed to that purpose.

"Having a lighted arena has been high on our wish list for some time," said Brandi Ezell, executive director of SMART. "We saw such a huge impact on our horses, students, instructors and volunteers when the covered arena was finished last August. It has been so wonderful to have shade and to be able to have classes even in rainy weather. Our next challenge was finding funds for lights. We have had to cancel or cut short our evening classes because of it getting dark so early."

SMART needs $30,000 for the lighting project but didn't have much luck with funding until recently. "We are so grateful to the Bill and Maryann Vinall Fund of Manatee Community Foundation for challenging our SMART family and friends with a $15,000 matching grant!"

The matching grant complements SMART's Giving Tuesday campaign, from November, which raised $6,200 for this project. They are actively seeking people who want to make a difference in the lives of their SMART riders. Those interested in giving may do so via Facebook (facebook.com/smartriders (http://www.facebook.com/smartriders)), the secure donor portal on their website at smartriders.org (http://www.smartriders.org/), or by calling their office at 941-322-2000.

About SMART

Established in 1987, Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy (SMART) is a non-profit organization that provides horseback riding, carriage driving and equine-assisted activities for individuals with disabilities. Located in eastern Manatee County, SMART is a mostly volunteer organization that serves over 650 individuals with disabilities each year, including people with a variety of challenges such as autism, attention deficit disorder, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome, as well as individuals with terminal illness, emotional or mental health conditions, and hearing, speech or vision impairments. Among the activities offered are therapeutic horseback riding and driving, a literacy program, and programs for veterans, at-risk youth and teens, and victims of human trafficking. Volunteers age 14 and over are welcome to join the organization at any time after completing an orientation and training program.

SARASOTA MANATEE ASSOCIATION for RIDING THERAPY, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 Organization.

All Contributions are Tax Deductible.         CH4398          65-0043354

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352)

WITHIN THE STATE OR BY VISITING www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com

REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.