The Centre County United Way has added a local equine-assisted therapy center to its network of partner agencies collaborating to meet the needs of area residents.
Rising Hope Therapeutic Riding Center is now CCUW’s 25th current partner agency.
“We are excited to welcome Rising Hope to United Way,” Paula Williams, CCUW executive director, said in a statement. “The services they provide are having a life changing impact on our neighbors who have special needs and those who are military veterans. Rising Hope’s mission to promote the physical, cognitive, social and emotional well-being of the people they serve aligns perfectly with our mission.”
Co-founders Cindy Kocher and Yvonne McCaslin opened Rising Hope in 2016 out of a desire to share the healing nature of their horses with the Centre County community. Today they offer a variety of programs at the Rising Hope property on Reese Road in Boggs Township and through outreach events.
“Our programs are growing each year and we don’t want to turn anyone away,“ Kocher said. “With help from CCUW we can continue to offer program scholarships, take excellent care of the horses, and share the benefits of equine therapy with those in need.”
The nonprofit riding center is the first to be added to CCUW’s partner agency since 2016, when Centre Volunteers in Medicine and the State College Community land trust were approved.
CCUW leverages community philanthropic resources to serve as a partner and investor in programs managed by nonprofit health or human service organizations that provide essential services to Centre County residents, according to the organization’s website. Partners are selected through an application and vetting process.
“CCUW takes the application process very seriously because we respect the trust donors have in our organization,” CCUW Board Chair Craig Rose said. “They know each agency in our network is vetted and held to the highest standards of financial accountability, client service, program outcomes, and community impact. We are confident Rising Hope brings a much-needed therapeutic model to our community with proven outcomes that will benefit many in need.”
He added that every April, CCUW partner agencies undergo a review of their programs by trained volunteers, who determine the level of funding each receives.
Rising Hope will be eligible to receive a financial allocation during CCUW’s next funding cycle in April 2024.
CENTRE COUNTY UNITED WAY PARTNER AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS
• American Red Cross Mid-Central PA Chapter
Humanitarian program
• Boy Scouts of America – Bucktail and Juniata Councils
Programs for Centre County youth
• Catholic Charities Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Emergency financial assistance program
• Center for Alternatives in Community Justice
Mediation
Youth Aid Panel
Community Conferencing
• Centre County Library and Historical Museum
Growing Lifelong Learners
• Centre County Youth Service Bureau
Big Brothers Big Sisters program
Bellefonte Youth Center
Mountaintop Youth Center
• Centre Care Volunteers
Welcome bags, beauty shop, ceramics, gardens, entertainment
• Centre Helps
Hotline/emergency services
Basic needs case management
• Centre Safe
Volunteer program/hotline
Child Access Center
• Centre Volunteers in Medicine
Dental program
• Child Development and Family Council
Child care and education safety net
• Easter Seals Western and Central PA
Child Development Center
• Food Bank of State College
Entire program
• Friendship Community Library
Stable and expanded wireless internet for the community
• Housing Transitions
Continuum of housing services
• Interfaith Human Services
Financial care program
Free furniture and appliance recycling program
Vehicle repair program
• Mid-State Literacy Council
Adult literacy program
• Park Forest Preschool
Entire program
• Rising Hope Therapeutic Riding Center
Freedom Reins
Therapeutic Riding
• State College Community Land Trust
Attainable and sustainable home ownership services
• Strawberry Fields
Fairweather Lodge
Toddler Learning Center
• The Arc
Nittany Employment Services
Residential programs
Home and community services
• Tides
Entire program
• YMCA of Centre County
Backpack weekend food program
For more on CCUW partner agencies, visit ccunitedway.org/partner-agencies.
