TIANVICA STARTS 5TH SEASON AND RECEIVES 3 GRANTS

TIANVICA STARTS 5TH SEASON AND RECEIVES 3 GRANTS

Bartow, FL, August 15, 2010:  TiAnViCa Riding Academy, Inc, a 501(c)3 non-profit therapeutic riding center for disabled children, adults, veterans and at-risk teens is starting its 5^th season at its location at the stables at the Florida Sheriffs Youth Villa.

TiAnViCa is expanding their program and has openings for riders. TiAnViCa also relies heavily on volunteers. For more information contact Roger Meadows at info@tianvica.org or call (863) 581-7861.

TIANVICA RECIEVES 3 GRANTS

The Bartow Kiwanis Club and Florida Kiwanis Foundation provided an $8,000 grant in May to TiAnViCa Riding Academy in Bartow to install a lift that will allow their certified instructors to safely and securely transfer clients from wheelchair to horseback. TiAnViCa Riding Academy provides recreational therapeutic riding for individuals with disabilities. 

Therapeutic horseback riding enables children and adults with disabilities to experience independence during their lessons for perhaps the only part of their day.   Because TiAnViCa emphasizes ability rather than disability, each rider is encouraged to reach their full potential. TiAnViCa combines instruction in traditional horsemanship skills with concepts of physical therapy to improve the strength, balance, and self-esteem for children and adults with physical, mental and emotional disabilities.

In addition, TiAnViCa offers two equine facilitated learning programs that uses horses to teach life and education skills. This program is geared towards at-risk youth but can be customized to adults, youth or children with special needs. TiAnViCa received a grant for almost $2,000 from Heartland for Children to expand their program this year.

TiAnViCa also offers Horses for Heroes. This program honors veterans who have been disabled in service to their country and provides therapeutic riding sessions at no charge. TiAnViCa recieived a $30,000 grant from the George W. Jenkins Fund within the Community Foundation of Greater Lakeland to provide this program free of charge to our wounded warriors.  

The Bartow Kiwanis Club presented the check for the lift at its May 28 club meeting to TiAnViCa co-founders Roger and Sara Meadows along with TiAnViCa clients and volunteers. 

Meadows shared the history of TiAnViCa Riding Academy its future plans for expansion.  TiAnViCa was an idea Roger and Sara had over 7 years ago after experiencing how being on horseback changed the life of a little boy, Micah, who has Cerebral Palsy and a brain injury.  “When we saw his mom in tears, and the smiling and laughing from Micah as he rode for the first time, Sara and I knew we had to find a way to help other children with disabilities,” Meadows said.  Starting with just two children, the program quickly grew to 15 clients receiving therapy twice a week.  With more and more clients and volunteers wanting to be involved, TiAnViCa relocated in 2009 to Bartow at the Sheriff’s Youth Villa.  TiAnViCa now works with over 20 individuals with disabilities a week in our therapeutic riding program; 12 girls a week from the youth villa who learn not only how to ride a horse but about responsibility, teamwork and respect; and 16 children a week from the Florida Baptists Children Home in our Equine Facilitated Learning Program.

Future goals for TiAnViCa Riding Academy include expansion to 40 children in the therapeutic riding program.  “This lift will help us serve those we may have not been able to transfer to horseback and help us achieve this. Ultimately, we want to make TiAnViCa a full time program, running 6 days a week and serve as many of the 10,000 plus children in Polk County under age 20 with disabilities as we possibly can,” Meadows said.  “A lift may just be a physical piece of equipment but for TiAnViCa it represents the commitment the Bartow Kiwanis has to helping the community and those in need,” he said. In addition to the grant, Bartow Lowes has provided all the material to build a new mounting ramp and frame for the lift. TiAnViCa has also received support from numerous individuals and companies including, Disney, Mosaic, and Lane Construction.

PICTURED (L to R)   Brian Knowles - Kiwanis Div. 15 Lt. Gov., Charlie Braihland - TiAnViCa Volunteer, Client Megan Crisler (seated), Donna Orr - TiAnViCa Instructor/Incoming President, Sara Meadows – TiAnViCa Co-founder, John Bohde – Bartow Kiwanis President, Tim Hart, Kiwanis Div. 15 Trustee, Roger Meadows - TiAnViCa Co-founder. 

How To Help

TiAnViCa relies on the community for support. TiAnViCa has never turned down a participant due to finances and hope they never have to. For more information on how to give to TiAnViCa or to volunteer call Roger at (863) 581-7861 or info@tianvica.org

TiAnViCa also holds multiple fundraisers throughout the year. Huntington Learning Center with the Shoppes of Christina (6655 S. Florida Av) will be hosting a fundraising event on Saturday, August 21^st from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm with Max 98.3 broadcasting live. They will also be having an open house on October 21^st at the barn and their annual Cowboy Up For Kids Kentucky Derby Party in May.