Ride on Center for Kids celebrated becoming debt-free at their annual Barn Dance fundraiser last month.
The nonprofit equine therapy center, located at 2050 Rockride Lane, worked to raise $4.2 million for their Miracles in the Dirt capital campaign.
The money would cover paying off 20 acres purchased by the group in 2014,as well as the 20 acres purchased in 2017.
The campaign also included building the Sport Clips Heroes Arena, additional horse stalls, fencing, the Doc Breen Vet Clinic and the Cecile Autrey Ham Family Room. The expansion of the Patti Colbert Learning Center and staff offices were earmarked for the future.
Following a grant challenge from the Harry E. and Eda L. Montandon Charitable Trust, fundraising was matched in full by the W.D. Kelley Foundation, and ROCK was able to pay off the land purchased during the campaign. The group celebrated a debt note burning with the 901 Barn Dance attendees.
“We’re so honored that the community has supported ROCK since this campaign has been going,” Development Director Karah Powell said. “Now the Patti Colbert Learning Center can be done with cash and we can go forward debt free, which is so amazing.”
This was one of the goals of George and Barbara Brightwell, who served as chairs of this capital campaign. The Brightwells got ROCK started with an initial land donation. Mr. Brightwell passed in April, and Ms. Powell said knowing ROCK had paid off the additional land with community support was a great comfort.
“For him to know we were debt free before he passed, it was a joy in his heart to know the community came forward to make that happen,” she said.
ROCK is moving forward with the final part of the Miracles in the Dirt campaign and will break ground on the Patti Colbert Learning Center this summer. The organization still needs to raise the remaining $220,000 needed to complete this final phase, but Ms. Powell said she feels optimistic.
“We’re looking forward to completing the expansion and finishing out the Miracles campaign in the next six to 12 months,” she said.