Pegasus Farm: Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton grantee spotlight

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Tags: Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton , Foundations

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Pegaus Farm is a therapeutic equestrian center that the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton has supported for many years. Pegasus Farm offers equine-assisted experiential learning programs and work experience programs for youth and adults who have developmental or physical disabilities or behavioral health challenges. It has a second location offering programs for veterans, active military personnel, first responders and their family members.

As a longtime supporter of Pegasus, the foundation has provided funding for numerous efforts over the years, including support for the purchase and renovation of the 20-acre farm that became the Military Family Center in Lousville, Ohio. Foundation funding and technical assistance also enabled Pegasus to create a database and a system for evaluating program outcomes.

Programs at the Military Family Center (which are all free) include:

• Equine-assisted activities (carriage driving, horseback riding, and unmounted horse care)
• Veteran leadership workshops
• Counseling services
• Individualized exercise programs
• Summer camps for children and grandchildren of veterans and first responders
• Family engagement events

Thanks to the creation of the database and accompanying evaluative tools, Pegasus can confidently say that Military Family Center participants demonstrated:

• Increased self-concept, self-confidence, emotional regulation, distress regulation and interpersonal relationships
• Decreased stress, anxiety, and hypervigilance

Having quantitative data on program outcomes is essential for sustainability, because most funders require hard data before they will award grant funding.

The National Institutes of Health indicate that between 10 and 15 percent of veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, as do between 10 and 35 percent of first responders (including firefighters and police officers). This is because “They face many traumatic situations due to the nature of their work, and in the process of saving lives and property, they may sustain injuries and endanger their own lives.” In fact, more than 85 percent of veterans and 80 percent of first responders are exposed to traumatic events on the job.

Learn more about this hero organization by watching this video about the impacts Pegasus is making every single day.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System.