SMART Receives Grant from Lakewood Ranch Community Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation

BRADENTON, Fla. - Oct. 18, 2018 - PRLog -- Submitted by:  Linda Gross
         linda@advice-inc.com
         (941) 907-9507

SMART Receives Grant from Lakewood Ranch Community Fund of the  Manatee Community Foundation

(Southwest Florida) Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, Inc. (SMART) is pleased to announce they have received a $3000 grant from the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation. The grant will be used to provide therapeutic horseback riding lessons to children living in the Lakewood Ranch area.

"We simply could not do what we love doing without the gracious support of our community," said Brandi Ezell, executive director of SMART. "We are so incredibly grateful to the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation for their longtime support of our mission."

The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund, a Field of Interest Fund of Manatee Community Foundation, was founded in 2000 to serve the people and interests of the Lakewood Ranch community, and allow donor-allocated funds to stay in our region. The Fund is the only philanthropic entity whose sole focus is Lakewood Ranch.  Since the first grant in 2002, the Fund has distributed grants totaling over $1.2 million to a variety of non-profits serving the Lakewood Ranch area and east Manatee and Sarasota counties.

About SMART

Established in 1987, Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy (SMART) is a non-profit organization that provides horseback riding, carriage driving and equine-assisted activities for individuals with disabilities. Located in eastern Manatee County, SMART is a mostly volunteer organization that serves over 650 individuals with disabilities each year, including people with a variety of challenges such as autism, attention deficit disorder, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome, as well as individuals with terminal illness, emotional or mental health conditions, and hearing, speech or vision impairments. Among the activities offered are therapeutic horseback riding and driving, a literacy program, and programs for veterans, at-risk youth and teens, and victims of human trafficking. Volunteers age 14 and over are welcome to join the organization at any time after completing an orientation and training program.

SARASOTA MANATEE ASSOCIATION for RIDING THERAPY, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 Organization.
All Contributions are Tax Deductible.         CH4398          65-0043354
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352)

WITHIN THE STATE OR BY VISITING www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com

REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.