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Keller, TX July 1, 2011 - Rocky Top Therapy Center has been awarded a grant in the amount of $289,622 for its Horses for Heroes program from the Texas Veteran's Commission (TVC) Fund for Veteran's Assistance (FVA). The Fund for Veteran's Assistance provides grants to organizations serving veterans and their families. Doug Newton, President of Rocky Top Therapy Center says, "We are extremely please to be among 21 organizations to recieve over 5.4 million dollars in grants from the Texas Veterans Commission Fund and to be able to offer these services to our military families."
Rocky Top's Horses for Heroes program serves veterans and their families through Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other psychological injuries and adjustment issues, as well as equine therapeutic services for physical injuries.
Brooke Knox, Director and Administrator of Rocky Top's Horses for Heroes program says, "What makes this program so unique is that it is strictly confidential and at no cost to the veteran or their family member for these services due to the funding from TVC." We encourage any current service member or military veteran who would like more information about the Horses for Heroes program and how it may benefit them or a family member, or for eligibility for this funding, to contact Brooke Knox at bknox@rockytoptherapy.org or (817) 379-5717.
Keller, TX October 14, 2010 – Before dawn on Saturday morning, October 9th, the Historic Stockyards in Ft. Worth came alive with over 200 cowboys, cowgirls, horses, wagons, and longhorn steers that set out for a true Texas trail drive along the Trinity River following the historic Chisholm Trail. Rocky Top Therapy Center’s annual Great Trail Drive saw volunteers registering riders, assigning horses, and serving up a champagne breakfast. As the riders arrived back at the Stockyards, they were treated to a chuck wagon lunch.
Music and entertainment began early in the morning and continued throughout the day, with entertainers David Moore, Pose'n Oak Band, Happy Trails Cowboy Church Band, and Dan Roberts and the Clear Fork Band.
Over 600 guests donning attire from cowboy boots and jeans to sequins and pearls poured through the doors of the River Ranch in the evening eager to kick up their heels and have a good time. A special guest appearance by Country Music Legend Charley Pride had everyone on their feet at the “Denim & Pearls” Dinner Dance at the River Ranch in the Fort Worth Stockyards. With lights dimmed, the audience was captivated by a 20th Anniversary Video Tribute filmed and produced by OurGreatCity.com. With proceeds in excess of $150,000, this was the most successful fundraising event in the history of Rocky Top Therapy Center, and will help fund hippotherpy, therapeutic riding and psychotherapy services for children, adults, veterans and their families with physical, mental, or emotional challenges or disabilities.
April 21, 2010 - ROCKY TOP CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF SERVICE
Rocky Top Therapy Center celebrated its 20th anniversary at a special volunteer recognition and appreciation banquet recently. Founded in 1990, the center serves special needs children and individuals, providing equine assisted physical and psychological therapy, serving upwards of 1,800 special needs individuals, utilizing upwards of 50 specially trained therapy horses and more than 250 dedicated volunteers.
In 1990, finding themselves with much more than an empty nest … try an empty ranch … Doug and Vivian Newton, founders of Rocky Top Ranch and Rocky Top Therapy Center, recognized a need and came up with a plan to provide therapeutic riding for special needs individuals. Using their 60 acre ranch, located in the heart of Keller, their vision was to utilize their horses to provide therapy to physically disabled individuals. Rocky Top Therapy Center was among the first therapeutic riding centers to be designated as a “Premier Therapeutic Riding Center” through NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association). Twenty years later, Rocky Top remains one of fewer than 250 Premier Therapeutic Riding Centers in the country.
No longer offering just physical therapy, today Rocky Top programs include Therapy Services, which provides therapeutic riding and hippotherapy; and Education and Counseling Services, which includes its Right Trail™ program for at-risk youth, private equine assisted psychotherapy clients, and Horses for Heroes for returning military veterans and families. The Cowboy Challenge Course and special needs field trips round out the services offered at Rocky Top.
Distinguished guests at the 20th Anniversary celebration included State Representative Vicki Truitt, who presented a special resolution, along with a certificate of Official Recognition by Governor Rick Perry and a flag which had been flown over the Capital of Texas, commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Rocky Top Therapy Center.
In addition to the anniversary celebration, Rocky Top was recognized as a member of “The President’s Volunteer Service Award” program, sponsored by the President’s Council of Service and Civic Participation, which recognizes Americans who have made a commitment to volunteering and have answered President George W. Bush’s “call to service.” 65 Rocky Top volunteers received personalized certificates of achievement, signed letters of congratulations and an official President’s Award pin. Janet Venner, a truly dedicated volunteer, received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” for completing more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service. Janet has volunteered at Rocky Top for over 13 years and was also recognized as a recipient of this year’s Shining Star recognition by The Arts League of Tarrant County.
Rocky Top is grateful to the many volunteers, staff, riders, donors and event sponsors who make it possible to achieve its mission “to provide services that will improve the quality of life for individuals who have disabilities or are disadvantaged, and to provide those services to all who may benefit regardless of their financial ability.” Rocky Top is truly a special place for special people.
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