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Naples, FL – Naples Therapeutic Riding Center (NTRC), a not for 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 that Swinging With Purpose™, Inc. has awarded the center a $12,000 grant to help fund the annual costs to provide group services to women and children. The funded program provides tailored equine-facilitated learning and psychotherapy services to participants from PACE Center for Girls and the Shelter for Abused Women and Children. At-risk children and teens will attend 8-week sessions. They will work directly with horses while engaging in a group process to help overcome challenges presented in their lives. The goals are to foster trust, strengthen boundaries, increase communication skills, and build self-esteem and awareness. The children from PACE Center for Girls learn to address their feelings and improve behavior by being guided through a series of specially designed equine-assisted activities. These activities deepen the student’s awareness of personal issues, core feelings, and areas of bodily tension that inhibit their ability to reach their full potential. Equine-assisted activities promote human development in an experiential format. This is a style of learning that occurs when a person is interacting with the environment, including the people, animals, and situations involved. The women and children from the Shelter for Abused Women and Children work with NTRC’s certified equine specialists and therapy horses to address psychotherapy goals set forth by their licensed mental health professional. The focus of this program is to create a safe place for the client and therapist to engage in activities with a horse, and use the horse to help process feelings, thoughts and reactions. Therapists can observe the participant’s motives, reactions, and abilities through the activities. This allows the therapist and patient to interact on a deeper level and address issues that might otherwise go unnoticed in traditional psychotherapy. Missy Lamont, NTRC Executive Director, said, “Our partnership with Swinging with Purpose is built from the principle of community collaboration, organizations working together to improve the lives of our most vulnerable populations. We offer our heartfelt gratitude for their generosity.” Abut Swinging with a Purpose Swinging With Purpose™, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization that provides support to grassroots organizations serving the needs of women, girls, and children in our community. Through various golf venues, Swinging With Purpose invites golfing communities throughout Southwest Florida to support carefully selected organizations. Swinging With Purpose grants address homelessness, poverty, alternative educational systems for high-risk teen girls, human trafficking, domestic violence, child physical and sexual abuse, teen pregnancies and provide safe havens for this vulnerable population. About Naples Therapeutic Riding Center Established in 1997, Naples Therapeutic Riding Center (NTRC) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization with a mission to improve the lives of children and adults with special needs through therapeutic riding and equine-related group programs. With a dedicated staff, a herd of 12-14 horses and the assistance of 350 volunteers, NTRC provides unique equine-assisted therapies to more than 700 participants each year. Through fundraising efforts, the organization is able to provide this vital therapy to those who need the services most, regardless of income level. Services are provided in partnership with local organizations and through physician referrals for individuals living with special needs and a range of emotional, learning and developmental disabilities. NTRC is the only Center in Collier County accredited at the “premier” level by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International. For more information on programs or volunteer opportunities, visit NaplesTherapeuticRidingCenter.org or call 239-596-2988. ####