LONG BRANCH to host "Epicurean Evening" to benefit the Therapeutic Riding Center
Submitted by: Laura Smith
Phone: 540-837-2208
Email Address: ltherapeuticriding(at)historiclongbranch.com
Date Added: 9/9/2009
Sunday afternoon, September 20, 2009 at 4:30 p.m., the Board of Directors and staff of LONG BRANCH and an impressive team of eight (8) top chefs and restaurants and event chairs, will host a fundraiser to benefit its new Therapeutic Riding Center in Millwood, while acquiring the underwriting to financially support this educational project intended for disabled clients in the Millwood community and beyond.
The new Therapeutic Riding Center event chairs, Mr. Harry F. Stimpson, III, Mrs. Norman J. (Patsy) Smith, Mrs. David J. (Deb) Norman and Mr. Robinson M. (Robin) Duncan, have partnered with eight (8) participating Virginia restaurants to include: The Ashby Inn & Restaurant of Paris, Battletown Inn of Berryville, Blackthorne Inn & Restaurant of Upperville, L’Auberge Provencale of White Post, Locke Store of Millwood, One Block West of Winchester, The Red Fox Inn of Middleburg and Violino’s Ristorante of Winchester.
The purpose of the inaugural endeavor is to showcase this recreational activity, which is practiced by certified riding instructors in partnership with a cadre of trained and valued volunteers. This North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) Center at LONG BRANCH will begin small and over time will enrich the lives of hundreds of children and adults with disabilities as well as youth at risk, and also Veterans.
"By borrowing from area tack rooms we have the very basics to start, but still need: helmets, stirrup leathers, girths, bare-back pads, a wheelbarrow, and stall mats -- if you have any of these items to spare, we need them. Aside from equipment, we would like to establish a scholarship fund to provide financial aid to clients," explained Program Coordinator, Laura W. Smith.
Harry F. Stimpson, III, event chair and Board President agrees with Laura and adds, “In order to accommodate wheelchair bound students the Therapeutic Riding Center at LONG BRANCH needs a special wheelchair ramp, which would enable the program to extend services to disabled veterans and other wheelchair bound adults.”
LONG BRANCH is located on 400 acres at the foot of the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains just 60 miles from Washington, D.C. LONG BRANCH is one of the most elegant historic homes in Virginia Hunt Country. Built in 1811, the home was restored in the early 1990s and tastefully decorated with European antiques and equestrian art.
Olympic, Triple Crown, and Gold Cup sponsorship packages for $5,000, $3,000 and $1,000 are available and support a restricted gift toward wish list items. Major sponsors will receive a complimentary copy of the book Trouble by English author, Belinda Sillars, from The Old Blue Dog Gallery. Belinda is the artist who graciously designed and donated the logo to LONG BRANCH for its Therapeutic Riding Center.
Individual tickets are $75 (tax deductible gift $45) and payment/reservations may be made by calling 540-837-1856.
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