Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch holiday fundraiser continues to grow with help from its friends
THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Dec. 21, 2017 – As an in-demand Realtor, Gloria Mechaley’s work load doesn’t leave a lot of spare time, but in early December she was among the volunteers at Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch’s Christmas in The Woods II.
Photo by Gerri Francis, courtesy of Memories for Keeps.
With a mission of “Partnering horses with people to transform lives and help them reach their highest ability” Inspiration Ranch’s vision is “To provide a Christ-centered oasis for children and adults with special challenges seeking excellence in equine activities and therapies while we inspire similar ministries to grow the arena of hope.”
“It’s a wonderful cause that helps special needs children. It’s right in our community, and I think it’s one of the best causes that we have in The Woodlands area because it affects so many families,” Mechaley said. “When you hear a family speak about the benefits their child receives through the program, it really brings the whole story to life.”
This is the second year for the Christmas in the Woods fundraiser. As word of the ranch’s programs and benefits spread, the event grew substantially in 2017, according to Sheila Greaver, vice president of development and communications at Panther Creek’s Inspiration Ranch.
“The purpose of this event is to raise funds to bless our families directly,” Greaver said. “Because of the generosity of our benefactors and a matching gift from Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, we far exceeded last year’s donations and were able to give every single family two complimentary rides in the month of December, directly benefitting 67 kids a week.”
The Christmas in the Woods fundraiser provides many ways to support the program, from donating funds to feed a horse for a week or purchase a ride for a child, to giving products and/or services to fill the event’s raffle stockings. And the program is always looking for volunteers to provide anything from administrative support to ranch chores.
“Although Inspiration Ranch’s major fundraiser is its annual gala, Christmas in the Woods is a nice holiday event that provides an extra opportunity for those people who want to support the ranch and what it’s doing for children,” Mechaley said.
For more information, to volunteer or to donate funds or products to Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch, call them at 281-719-9322 or visit pciranch.org.
About RE/MAX The Woodlands & Spring:
Each office is independently owned and operated. RE/MAX The Woodlands & Spring is one of the most successful real estate companies in Houston and ranks among the most productive real estate brokerages in the U.S., based on home sales data in the prestigious 2017 REAL Trends 500 survey. RE/MAX The Woodlands & Spring is located at 6620 Woodlands Parkway, The Woodlands, Texas 77382, and is a proud sponsor of many worthy organizations, including Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Susan G. Komen and the Texas Sentinels Foundation.
About Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch
Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch 501(c)(3) is a Premiere Accredited Center through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.). Inspiration Ranch breaks down barriers and celebrates the inclusion of individuals with physical, emotional, and social disabilities. We offer exceptional equine assisted therapy and activities in a loving Christian environment to children and young adults. Therapeutic Riding serves people with, but not limited to: Autism, Attention Deficit Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delay, Downs Syndrome, Hearing and Vision Impairment, Learning Disabilities, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, and Speech Delay. Approximately 56-60 riders per week are registered for the Spring Session (January – May) requiring over 100 committed volunteers weekly. Inspiration Ranch currently has 14 therapy horses. Classes are led by PATH Intl. Certified Equine Instructors who collaborate with mental health, learning professionals, and community volunteers. The entire equine therapeutic program operates on a 15-acre tract of land off Glen Loch Drive just south of The Woodlands in Spring. Inspiration Ranch is one of only 866 accredited riding centers in the United States.