Lancaster, Pennsylvania – On Saturday, October 21st, Greystone Manor Therapeutic Riding Center’s (GMTRC’s) sponsors, volunteers, and mission families came together for the 11th annual “Mane” Event Dinner and Auction presented by Garman Builders at Bent Creek Country Club. The evening raised $75,000 to carry out GMTRC’s mission to enhance the lives of individuals with special needs and other diagnoses through equine-assisted activities.

Other event sponsors included E.G. Stoltzfus and AssuredPartners.

The evening’s mission ambassador was 13-year-old Connery Pham from Columbia. Connery started therapeutic riding at GMTRC in July 2019 after her mother, Kara Donatucci-Pham, researched the benefits of equine-assisted activities for children and adults with special needs. Like many families of people with disabilities, Connery has found friendship, confidence, and acceptance at GMTRC. “I love to see the incredible connection between Connery and her horse,” said Donatucci-Pham “The horse doesn’t care what people look like or how they speak. They see what’s inside.”

Since 1981, GMTRC has provided therapeutic equine-assisted activities to children and adults with special needs and other diagnoses. The $75,000 raised at the fundraiser will assist GMTRC in getting the 40+ people on its waiting list into programming sooner.

In addition to therapeutic riding, GMTRC offers customized programming for special interest groups who share a common interest but do not have a disability or diagnosis. Just last month, GMTRC launched a free program for first responders and frontline workers who report ongoing trauma as a result of their COVID-19 experiences. There is additional availability for this program for interested parties in the Spring of 2024. To learn more, visit greystonemanortrc.org or call 717-844-3941.

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Images:

DSC_3325: Connery (atop Neptune), participates in the 2022 GMTRC Horse Show with her therapeutic riding instructor, Stephanie Fleck (left), and volunteer Donna Spurri (right).

DSC_5203: Connery Pham (right) and Kara Donatucci-Pham share their story at the “Mane” Event on October 21, 2023.

All individuals pictured in the attached images have signed releases.

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