Hope For Heroes Inc

PROVIDE THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP TO ABOUT 50 VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL WEEKLY SUFFERING FROM PTSD AND OTHER WOUNDS OF WAR. - SECTION A: DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT, POPULATION OF FOCUS, AND STATEMENT OF NEED A-1 HOPE FOR HEROES HORSEMANSHIP CENTER HAS BEEN PROVIDING THERAPEUTIC HORSEMANSHIP CLASSES TO ABOUT 100 INDIVIDUAL VETERANS AND ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL ANNUALLY FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS. THEY DO THIS BY ORGANIZING PARTICIPANTS INTO SMALL GROUP CLASSES OF 4 TO 6 PARTICIPANTS EACH FOR WEEKLY 90 MINUTE CLASSES FOR 8 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS. THEY OPERATE 3 CLASSES DAILY ON THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS FOR EACH 8-WEEK SEMESTER AND GENERALLY OPERATE 4 SEMESTERS ANNUALLY. OF THESE (9) CLASSES THAT ARE OFFERED WEEKLY, 4 TO 5 ARE FOR FIRST-TIME PARTICIPANTS AND 3 TO 4 ARE FOR PARTICIPANTS WHO HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED ONE SEMESTER AND ARE ATTENDING FOR "POSTVENTION" SERVICES. THE APPLICANT OPERATES THIS PROGRAM THROUGH COMMUNITY DONATIONS AND DOES NOT EVER CHARGE ANY OF THE PARTICIPANTS ANY FEES FOR PARTICIPATION. TO-DATE, THE APPLICANT PROGRAM HAS NEVER OBTAINED COMPLETE AND TOTAL FUNDING FOR THEIR OPERATIONS AND RELIES UPON NO-INTEREST LOANS FROM THE PROGRAM FOUNDERS TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONS. THE APPLICANT PROGRAM WILL BE USING THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FG-23-099 TO HELP PAY FOR THE FUNDING OF THEIR PROGRAM IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER COMMUNITY FUNDING. THE PROGRAM HAS CONSISTENTLY GROWN THEIR COMMUNITY FUNDING BASE EACH YEAR BY 15% TO 30% AND RECEIVED