'Give Thanks'

On behalf of the Winslow Therapeutic Riding Board of Directors and the Winslow Gala Committee, we would like to thank a community for coming together and supporting the 37th Annual Denim and Diamonds Gala on Nov. 5 at Falkirk Estate and Country Club. Winslow is a non-profit Therapeutic Riding Center that produces smiles, laughter, friendship and healing through our programs and horses. We see children and adults everyday who improve their physical, cognitive, social and emotional well being by learning to ride in our therapeutic setting. With the more than $80,000 raised the night of the gala, we are able to continue our efforts to provide a “Healing with Horses” environment for our very special clients. We would like to thank our very generous sponsors: St. Anthony Community Hospital, Leo Kaytes Ford, Provident Bank, ShopRite Supermarkets and Sure Hands for making this evening possible. Also, in Winslow’s continuing effort to provide learning opportunities and expand the experience to those we serve, the instructors along with their students discovered a new teaching aide. With newly mounted iPads 2’s, those that may find verbal communication difficult can now use this technology to help communicate with their instructor and then further develop their relationship with their horse. We were able to raffle off three iPad 2’s the evening of the gala and also provide Winslow with five new student iPad 2’s. This would not be possible without our very generous donors. We would like to thank Glenn P. and Susan D. Dickes, Apple Valley Pharmacy, Price Chopper and Jonah Mandelbaum for making our new teaching aide possible. We would also like to thank Wayne and Carla Corts for their continued support of Winslow and opening up the beautiful Falkirk Estate and Country Club to us; Amy Sliter and Corwins Florist for donating the extravagant centerpieces; Gallo Wine; and Jimmy Sturr and his orchestra for providing a memorable event. Our committee also was able to raise more than $12,000 during our live auction provided by Bill Jenack. It was not only profitable but very entertaining to see Mr. Jenack in action. To all of our many live auction contributors, this would not be possible without your generous donations. We thank you for donating and helping the many children and adults in our community to continue to discover the joy and healing that takes place in our very special environment at Winslow. On behalf of the board, the committee and the hard working staff at Winslow, especially Sue Ferro our executive director and Martha Underwood our project coordinator, we thank you for allowing us to be a part of “Healing with Horses.” Sincerely, Ellen Freda and Cindy Vander Plaat Auction co-chairs Denim and Diamond Gala