Non-Profit Fund Raising LetterNote: The following fundraising letter, written by Elisa Wood, netted this small charity seven times its usual return on a direct mail solicitation. Cape Cod Therapeutic Riding Center Sept. 22, 2000 Dear Friend of Children and Horses, Like many young girls, Heidi wanted to learn to ride a horse. So she was thrilled the first time she sat astride the large, gentle animal. But Heidi has cerebral palsy, so learning was difficult for her. Just getting the horse to walk seemed an impossible task. Then one day, after a lot of work, the phrase so familiar to riders everywhere sprang from the four-year-old. "Walk on!" she commanded. Those were Heidi's first words. "When I think of it, I could cry," says her mother. "At that time, we didn't know if she would ever be able to talk." Stories like Heidi's are not uncommon in the world of therapeutic riding, where disabled children improve motor coordination, muscle strength, verbal abilities...and gain something more...something impossible to replicate in other therapeutic settings... a sense of self-worth and confidence that comes when a large animal responds to them with gentleness and understanding. The benefits of therapeutic riding are well-documented. Why then, aren't there more programs available for these children? Therapeutic riding is very costly. While certified instructors, physical therapists, and others donate hundreds of hours to the Cape Cod Therapeutic Riding Center, we operate at a deficit because it is expensive to maintain therapeutic horses. The cost of feed is on the rise and we need to raise $26,000 this year so that our organization can keep serving Cape Cod children. Many of you kindly contributed to our campaign earlier this year...and we wholeheartedly thank you for getting us through the winter. But we are still far from our goal. Would you help us today with a donation of $250, $125, $50 or $25? Your kind contribution will help defray costs for vet bills, hay, grain, shelter, shoes and other horse expenses. And it will mean a lot to Heidi, who is now 11. Today, Heidi walks, talks, runs and laughs like other children. And she is a Special Olympics blue ribbon winner. Part of the credit for Heidi's recent progress goes to Shawnee, a remarkable black and white mare who seems to have adopted Heidi as one of her own. "I'm amazed at what the horse brings out in the child and the child brings out in the horse," says Heidi's mother. "There is something in the relationship we will never understand." Shawnee does much for Heidi, but Heidi also does a great deal for Shawnee. She has given Shawnee purpose. Like many horses in our program, Shawnee is an older horse whose fate would be uncertain without meaningful work. Once a dressage horse and later a champion barrel racer, 33-year-old Shawnee loves to serve. Her owner offered her to the program because she feared Shawnee would fall into dispirit and illness if her life lacked challenge. Some older horses face even worse fates when their professional careers end. Your donation will allow Shawnee and our other horses to continue their important work...and learn some new, valuable skills. We're pleased to let you know that we are broadening our range of service to include "hippotherapy." (Hippo is the Greek word for horse.) Certified hippotherapists use the predictable movement of the horse to treat particular physical problems. The horse replaces a ball or other inanimate equipment often used in therapy, and offers more sophisticated treatment because of its varied motions. Equally important, children love this form of therapy because it's with an equine friend. Our horses, Shawnee, Pete, Lacy, Max, Woody, Goliath, Sebastian, Onyx, Sabrina, Mikey and Jake are all ready and eager to learn this new task. All they ask in return is that we keep them healthy, fed and sheltered. Will you help with a donation today? We thank you! Sincerely, P.S. Our volunteer-driven program has helped hundreds of children with autism, cerebral palsy, downs syndrome and other disabilities learn to walk, talk and ride. But horse-care costs have risen dramatically and we will have to cut back on enrollment unless kind donors like you help. Will you send your tax-deductible donation today to the Cape Cod Therapeutic Riding Center? Please note on your check that your contribution is for our "Sponsor-a-Horse Campaign." Our deepest gratitude! |