Dear Caring Reader,

     Imagine being a 10-year old child and you are recovering from a brain tumor.  You’re sick.  You’re scared.

     Your mother brings you to this place where you can ride horses.  You’re completely confused…you can’t ride a horse…you have no balance because of the tumor.  You’ll fall off!

     Friendly people meet you and show you around the barn.  Cool horses sticking their heads out the stalls.

     One horse is getting brushed and tacked up ready for a rider.  He’s big and brown and beautiful.  His name is Copper.  He seems so kind…he has a sweet look in his eye.

     You’re handed a helmet and you’re escorted to a special platform where there are other nice people waiting for you.  

     You turn and look and WOW!  That beautiful horse you met in the barn is being lead in for you to ride.  

     Your heart starts to beat with excitement.  You’re so nervous, but you can’t wait to get on.  The helpful volunteers help you get on him.

     What a feeling…a soft leather saddle and the strong energy of Copper underneath you.  You are so nervous…what if you fall off?  You have no balance.

     As Copper begins to move, the people who helped you get on hold onto both of your legs and help you stay on while you’re walking.  What an amazing feeling!  You’re horseback riding! 

     For the first time in a very long time you feel happy.  You feel free.  You have hope again. Everything is going to be ok now.

WE DESPERATELY NEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE OUR MISSION OF IMPROVING THE LIVES OF DISABLED PEOPLE

     I’m Susan Adams and I am the founder and Executive Director of ARCH.  What began as a dream 20 years ago is now a year-round facility that provides services for over 325 riders with disabilities a year.

     I am writing you today because I believe you are one of the rare people whose concern for others goes beyond emotion—that you are willing to help solve a problem that most people prefer to turn a blind eye toward.

     And frankly, ARCH urgently needs your help to keep the program running another 20 years.   The task is too large—and too important—without assistance from dedicated friends like you. 

     That’s why I’m asking you to become a member of ARCH today—with your tax- deductible contribution.

ARCH’S THERAPEUTIC INITIATIVE:  A LIFE CHANGING AGENDA

     Let me tell you exactly how ARCH works--And why we need

your financial support to continue our lifesaving work.

     We offer:  

   Weekly session--for children and adults who are able to

mount and sit astride a horse with or without assistance.  During

weekly sessions, ARCH’S nationally certified instructors work on

posture, balance, concentration, attention, speech and number, letter,

and color recognition.  

     Riders improve while having fun and learning

through the use of a horse.

     Grooming programs--for those who cannot sit

astride a horse safely but want to participate at our facility.  Through

stroking with brushes, the upper body becomes stronger and more

balanced.  

      Becoming a partner with the horse, many begin to speak, socialize, and even have psychological breakthroughs.

     School contracts--for Special Education classes.  Groups of students learn grooming and tacking, and are introduced to the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding.   

     A series of contracted dates results in greater focus and concentration, which carries over into the classroom and home.

     School curriculums--students spend one full school day a week at ARCH.  Through this unique curriculum students learn subjects through visual, auditory, and hands on techniques.   

     Students learn more easily and retain information longer.  The roll over into the classroom increased state testing up to 20% for the children who participated in our pilot program in 2004.

     “Cowboy poetry”—an inventive way to introduce life skills such as respect, trust, cooperation, teamwork, and social manners to improve life conditions.  These students become aware of their self worth, abilities, and potentials in life. 

     Horses for Heroes—for the injured and disabled war veterans who are trying to regain independence. 

WHAT YOUR MEMBERSHIP WILL ACCOMPLISH

     From the stroking of a brush to walking away from a wheelchair, ARCH is making life-changing differences for those less fortunate.

     And it’s because of generous people like you that:

·         A child with Cerebral Palsy will walk again

·         A child or adult will speak for the first time

·         A disabled Veteran will regain independence again

·         A child with Autism will learn to perform a sequence of tasks

TOGETHER WE CAN DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE A PERSON’S QUALITY OF LIFE

     Please join me, and the staff at ARCH in improving the quality of life for a person in need.  Make a generous, tax-deductible contribution to The Atlantic Riding Center for the Handicapped today.

     When you become a member, you join an organization with an over 20-year track record for helping disabled people.  

     There are several ways you can join:

     You can sponsor a rider for a year at $1610.00 and know in your heart you are responsible for a life changing experience for a child or injured adult.

     Or…

     For $500.00 or more, become a member of the Centurian Society…our highest participating group of individuals and businesses dedicating themselves to disabled people.

     Or…

     For $100.00 or more, become a member of the Centurian Club…being held in distinction for helping to change a life.

     To show our gratitude for your support, with a contribution of $500.00 or more, we will send you an official ARCH coffee mug.  Every time you us it, you will know you have helped change a life for the better.

      It is our way of saying thank you for caring about our riders.

     Please take the time today to fill out the convenient contribution form enclosed with this letter.

     With your support, we can bring more happy endings.  Without it, fewer disabled people will be able to transform their lives for the better.

Sincerely,

Susan Adams

Executive Director

P.S.  It is with your generous donation that a child may walk or talk again.  And remember…your gift is 100% tax deductible.

P.P.S.  Don’t forget, when you contribute $500.00 or more, you will receive the official ARCH mug with our logo on it.  It is our way of saying thank you for reaching out to those less fortunate than you 

Dear Friends of ARCH,

            Sarah was born with Downs Syndrome and first came to the Atlantic Riding Center for the Handicapped a few months before her third birthday.  She was barely able to sit.  

The lessons in the outside rink didn’t seem to be much in the way of exercise—with a volunteer to the left, another volunteer to the right and a third volunteer leading the horse.  But as soon as her thirty-minutes was up, she would pass-out in her car seat.

            At first, Sarah’s sign language abilities were reinforced through the lessons.  But then as she matured and became more vocal, it was her speech that was encouraged.  

Also as the years went on, Sarah no longer fell asleep immediately after her lessons.  She was getting stronger, more vocal.  Saturday morning lessons were a motivator—you could get Sarah to do anything during the week by reminding her or her weekend riding lesson.

            Sarah has now been riding for over eleven years.

            Currently in her lessons, she is learning the responsibility and independence that comes with riding a horse.  She has moved all the way from sign language in her early years to the point now where she has conversations with the four-legged volunteers.  She always whispers a few words of encouragement before her lesson and a few messages of thanks at the conclusion f each lesson into the ear of her patient steed.  

            Perhaps the ARCH’s slogan should be:

            “The ARCH—it’s the cure for what ails you”

                                                                                    Mr. & Mrs. Hendrixson

HELP US CONTINUE OUR MISSION OF IMPROVING THE LIVES OF DISABLED PEOPLE 

€       YES!  I want to become a member of the Atlantic Riding Center for the Handicapped and make a life-changing difference for a disabled person.

€        Also, send me my official ARCH coffee mug for my contribution of  $500.00 or more.

I Would Like To Sponsor a Rider for:

       One year with a donation of $1,160.00

       Six months with a donation of $780.00

       Three months with a donation of $390.00

CENTURIAN SOCIETY

       I would like to be a member of the Centurian Society with my donation of $500.00 or more

CENTURIAN CLUB

       I would like to be a member of the Centurian Club with my donation of $100.00 or more

Enclosed is my check for $_____________made payable to A.R.C.H.

€ Please bill my credit card:   € Visa   € Master Card   € Discover   € Amex

Card Number _____________________________ Expiration Date _________________

Signature ________________________________  Phone Number _________________

Name ___________________________________  

Address__________________________________

            __________________________________