 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
 |
William Salas |
|
|
|
|
|||||
 |
||||||
|
||||||
|
Animals As Natural Therapy 721 Van Wyck Rd. Bellingham, WA 98226 (360) 671-3509 Sonja Wingard, Program Director wingard6@attbi.com
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
Founded in 1999, Animals As Natural Therapy strengthens our community by developing healthy, resilient individuals through animal-assisted education and personal growth.
Animals As Natural Therapy offers a farm-based experiential education program focused on youth with special challenges. A variety of animals offer "therapy": chicks, rabbits, chickens, cats, dogs, goat, llama and horses. Simple interactions such as petting a rabbit or riding a horse, with the assistance of trained counselors, help troubled youth choose positive courses of action. Working in collaboration with Catholic Community Services and Sea Mar, Animals As Natural Therapy's successful program has produced some impressive results. An 11 year old suicidal youth decides to live; angry girls in recovery treat each other with respect; a scared child develops courage; an introverted speech-impaired child develops confidence; a hyperactive child learns to respect boundaries. A collaborating psychiatric residential facility, parents, schools, and therapists attest to the development of increased levels of communication, respect, resiliency, and trust in these youth during their weeks at the farm and afterwards. As a young, fast-growing charity, Animals As Natural Therapy currently operates solely with volunteers but with the growing popularity of this successful program, is no longer possible. Fifty volunteers regularly give their time and talents; another 100 come for single events, donating nearly 3000 hours per year. There is a great deal of community enthusiasm for this program. This organization's challenge is to develop a sound base of financial support. It needs a half-time paid Executive Director, Program Director and paid instructors. Wisely, Animals As Natural Therapy wants to develop a foundation or endowed fund that will supplement grants and small donations and ensure the continuation of this important work. Won't you help secure a promising future for this remarkable program and their special clients? |
||||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
||||||
See this charity's details, powered by: |
||||||
|
||||||
| © 2002 Whatcom Community Foundation. All rights reserved. | ||||||
|
||||||
