Therapeutic Horsemanship of West Michigan (THWM) Funding Page

FUNDRAISING

We are constantly involved in raising money for operating expenses. We stage events, participate with other groups in fundraising venues, sell chocolates, pizzas, and subs, hold Vegas Nites, and many other things. If you are interested in knowing about our latest ventures, visit the Events/Activities page for a listing, or call 616.837.6112 to find out how you can help. We always need people to help sell, post flyers in their communities, etc. Even if you don't buy a lot of whatever we're selling for a fundraiser, you can contribute greatly by helping us spread the word, get people to turn out, or deliver flyers and product.

Year-end tax contribution deadline must be received for deposit prior to December 31, in order to qualify for tax credit. In order to claim non-cash donations, you need to declare dollar value so we can acknowledge it! Without your support, we could not be able to maintain our therapy horse herd and facility. THANK-YOU!

***WE DESPERATELY NEED*** DIRECT CONTRIBUTIONS!
You can make a contribution to THWM at any time, for any purpose, by sending your check to THWM, P.O. Box 248, Nunica, MI 49448. If you want your donation used for a specific purpose, please note it with your check. You will receive a receipt for your tax-deductible donation.

Or, go to our Home Page and click on the PayPal Donate Link.

Program Products Now Available!

THWM Logo T-shirts in adult and children s sizes. Choose from hunter green w/tan print or natural w/green print. Most sizes on hand. $10 each (sizes 2X and above $12).

Do It in the Mud T-shirts in a variety of colors in most adult sizes. Choose from lime, red, navy, magenta, purple or orange. $12 each.

Accidental Hero Silhouette Edition book by Loralee Lillibridge, dedicated to our program - $5 each.

Dancing on Ivory CD of piano pieces composed and performed by Sarah Hroncich, THWM Instructor - $10 each.

Ask our instructors about stock on hand and special orders. These are great gift ideas and a wonderful way to promote our program!

ADOPT-A-PONY! Your tax-deductible adoption of a THWM therapy horse will be deeply appreciated! Adoptions are monthly $50, half-year $250, and annual $500. Adopters receive a sponsor certificate, photo of their adoptee, a subscription to our newsletter, a a tax-deductible donation receipt, and our gratitude for your BIG heart! Please share in caring for these animals during this season, in gratitude for what they give to us all year long.

GIFTING OPPORTUNITIES:

The REAL COST per rider to be a part of our program is over $225 each for a six-week class, so we are always looking for ways to keep our rider fees reasonable. Each of our program participants is asked to become involved with fundraising efforts for THWM by participating in at least two fundraisers per session, to assist in offsetting the costs of providing our programming to them. A chart listing our year's fundraisers will be on hand at the barn, so you may check on the activities in which you have participated and what opportunities are upcoming. Remember, fundraisers are not necessarily "selling", but may also be assisting at one of our fundraising events or on a committee.

Members of specific clubs (i.e. Once Upon a Horse 4-H Club, GVSU Riders for Fun Club, etc.) are expected to participate in THWM's program fundraisers IN ADDITION TO fundraisers conducted for their own club activities and causes.

United Way Support
At present, THWM receives allocated funding from Greater Ottawa County United Way. To allow THWM to receive support through your United Way giving, whether one of these mentioned or not, you can request that your contribution be designated for us. These requests may be enacted at the beginning of any quarter. Please consider this option for giving.

Program Wish List
THWM is always in need of materials and supplies . . . horse tack, feed and equine medical supplies, building materials, and much more. Call 616-837-6112 if you'd like to offer this type of support.

NEEDS-LARGE AND SMALL:
You may not realize that you have access to or have contacts for products that our facility is in desperate need of. Check out this list, and maybe it will inspire you to think of other needs you can fill that we haven't thought of ourselves:

oak boards 1"x 6", 10' to 12' long, for fence and stall repairs
12' and 14' tubular metal gates
plywood and 2x4s
fiberglass or metal 100-150 gallon water tank
porcelain wash basin
free-standing shelf units
large Tupperware containers
plastic mounting block
plastic tool chests
replacement tires for wheelbarrows
30 and 50 gallon plastic barrels for feed bins
arena harrow
driveway gravel or slag
sand fill
trash bags, paper towel, toilet paper, wet wipes, waterless sanitizer, human medical supplies, bandaids, acetameniphen tablets, anti-itch cream, digital thermometer
Pronto lice spray, 409 cleaner, add bleach, Sharps container
computer paper, blank return envelopes, labels
Donated services, such as veterinarian, farrier, chiropractor, including credits to current accounts

Horse products: psyllium, ivermectin wormer, daily Strongid wormer, MSM, yucca, biotin, glucosamine/chondritin supplements, Red Cell Freedom/Spot On fly repellant treatments, Repel-X spray horse and large-horse web halters, horse medical supplies, Vetrap, antibiotic veterinary cream, Swat ointment, disposable syringes and 1 1/2" needles, fungicide spray, betadine solution
We need serviceable Western bridles of all sizes and several small to mid-size Western saddles, 16" and 17" English saddles with medium to wide trees and both an adult-size Australian saddle and a sidesaddle. English bridles, with or without reins, with 5"-51/2" D-ring or eggbutt bits are desperately needed too.

A reliable used tractor with a loader and round bale spear, a medium-size manure spreader, and an arena harrow would be a great asset.

Donation of any of these items would be of great value to us, and could provide a tax write-off for someone who no longer has a need for these items. Please call the farm or contact Alan Conklin at (616) 892-2175 if you can help.

Animal Welfare
THWM accepts donations of unwanted or retired equines, creating second careers as therapy horses for them. Animals that would otherwise be unsuitable for competition or breeding or pleasure use are able to fulfill a purpose and extend their healthy useful lives. We provide a safe, caring and useful existence for the many horses and ponies serving as therapy mounts for their participants. In the past ten years, "tried and true" equines have shared their life experience with the physically, mentally, emotionally and behaviorally-challenged population in our community. Our Jessica Staltzer Tripp Memorial Fund helps support our aging equine friends as their nutritional and medical needs increase. To read more about this aspect of our program and how you can help, download a PDF here.

Shop at Country Supply and earn $$ for THWM:
THWM gets a percentage of each online sale if people designate us for CountryCares. Our Care Code is "therapyriding". There is a place to designate this online when you place orders.

Our Jeffers Affiliate ID # is 11630, and our Promotion Code is THWM EQUINES