SARI Therapeutic Riding receives $10,000 boost

London’s Twenty Under 40 Foundation selects SARI Therapeutic Riding as the recipient of its 2020 Community Project Fund

Photo: SARI Therapeutic Riding executive director, Janine Langley, with Twenty Under 40 Foundation board members Nicole Spriet and Chris Costello

LONDON’S TWENTY UNDER 40 Foundation has announced the recipient of its 2020 Community Project Fund. SARI Therapeutic Riding, an organization providing equine programming for children and adults with disabilities in London and surrounding area, will receive $10,000 to assist in the construction of a memorial pavilion.  

“Our Community Project Fund is becoming better known in the city,” says Chris Costello, chair of the Twenty Under 40 Foundation board. “It is always amazing to learn about the incredible work being done by organizations in our community ― often addressing gaps in traditional funding models. In a year like 2020, the need has been even greater, and we are proud to offer something back into the London community supporting the important missions of organizations like SARI.”

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The Twenty Under 40 Foundation is comprised of past recipients of London’s 20 Under 40 award program (this year’s recipients will be profiled in the upcoming Winter edition of London Inc.), who are recognized for business achievement and community involvement. The annual Community Project Award is the foundation’s way of thinking the London community that has supported alumni, and a way for the foundation to build a legacy for years to come.

The new pavilion will be built within the horse pastures at SARI’s Medway Road property, and will offer a safe, rural haven for people with disabilities to experience the benefits of an agricultural setting. This will be an accessible, outdoor option to host programming initiatives for people who use mobility devices. These initiatives include SARI’s summer camp for kids with disabilities, experiential groups from long-term care and rehabilitative homes and veterans’ groups, as well as student and corporate volunteer groups. Construction is set to begin in 2021.

Janine Langley, SARI’s executive director, adds, “Thank you to the foundation so very, very much – I have been working so hard to gain support to honour the legacy of our founders Syd and Jeanne [Greenberg] through this pavilion build.”

SARI Therapeutic Riding was founded in 1978 by the Greenbergs in memory of their late daughter, Sari. Since its forming, the non-profit, charitable organization has grown from a backyard project into a nationally recognized and reputable leader in para-equestrian activities and programming. The centre uses horses to provide its approximately 250 clients in the London region — children and adults living with disabilities — with recreation, social activity, physical therapy, rehabilitation and life-skills training.