2008 News
May 12, 2008
Bucks AAA Awards Grant to Special Equestrians for Baby Boomer Volunteers
Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Bucks County is pleased to announce the award of a $1,000 grant to Special Equestrians of Bucks County. The grant will support an initiative to recruit volunteers from the Baby Boomer generation.
The population of Baby Boomers continues to grow. Between the years 2000 and 2010, Bucks County will experience a 63 percent increase in the number of persons between the ages of 55 and 64 years of age.
This past fall, RSVP partnered with Coming of Age, Greater Philadelphia’s initiative to promote 50+ civic engagement, lifelong learning and community leadership, to host an educational conference for RSVP volunteer recruitment sites. The program highlighted what Boomers are looking for and the importance of creating meaningful volunteer opportunities to meet their preferences.
As a follow up to the conference, RSVP of Bucks County invited attendees to submit applications for a grant that would inspire volunteerism.
Bucks County Commissioner Chairman Jim Cawley stated that the RSVP Program, as part of the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging, is making a difference. “In the past year, over 700 RSVP volunteers have provided over 116,000 hours of service through 125 volunteer stations,” he noted. “The grant awarded to Special Equestrians continues to build the strength of volunteerism in Bucks County.”
Dick Goldberg, director of Coming of Age, highlighted the importance of volunteerism among Baby Boomers. “There is a dual need - one is to inspire people over age 50 to think about their futures, particularly with respect to how they will connect and contribute. The second is to work with organizations to develop compelling opportunities for service. Many Boomers in their younger years were a catalyst for social change, and as they enter a new phase of life, they are seeking substantive ways to make a difference-- which makes them a great resource for organizations like Special Equestrians.”
Special Equestrians is dedicated to improving the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals with disabilities through a therapeutic horseback riding program. The grant will be used to create a new corps of mentor volunteers to teach and supervise other volunteers. The mentor volunteers will organize the bank of volunteers, and help to better incorporate their skills in helping Special Equestrians.
Anne Reynolds, program director of Special Equestrians in Bucks County, states that “therapeutic riding programs enhance the physical, mental and emotional health of adults and children living with disabilities. Our programs require more than 50 volunteers each week. We are grateful for the grant and look forward to this new Baby Boomer volunteer recruitment.”
The educational conference and grant were funded by the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging.
If you are interested in volunteer opportunities with Special Equestrians or any of RSVP’s 125 programs, please call 215-348-0510, ext. 1247 or email jmkozak@co.bucks.pa.us.
The Bucks County RSVP provides opportunities for adults age 55 and over to engage in services that address educational, public safety, environmental, health/nutrition, economic development and other human needs to achieve direct and demonstrable results. RSVP is part of the National Senior Service Corps and is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. In Bucks County, RSVP is sponsored by the Area Agency on Aging and the Bucks County Board of County Commissioners.
Special Equestrians is a non-profit therapeutic riding program for children and adults with physical, mental and emotional disabilities who live in Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia, and surrounding counties. Founded in 1982, the organization has grown to include nine horses, over 160 active volunteers and 18 staff members. Located on 40 preserved acres in Bucks County, Special Equestrians is a member of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. Clients collectively face over 60 physical and cognitive challenges— and many face multiple disabilities. They range in age from four to 54 and come from all ethnic and socio-economic communities. For more information see their website, www.specialequestrians.org.