Memorial concert Sept. 29 will benefit universal playground at Rainbow Center

The Rainbow Therapeutic Riding Center will hold its second annual concert in memory of Amy Granville-Smith on Sept. 29 from 7:30-10 p.m. at the Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center Street in Manassas VA. Proceeds of the benefit will go toward building a sensory integration and universal playground at the center located at 5605 Antioch Road in Haymarket VA.

The playground will be 66 feet square and enable children with disabilities and those without to play side-by-side, participating in the same activities. The estimated cost of the playground is $150,000. The playground will have new equipment, protective surfacing and borders and wheelchair accessible pathways. The area will be open not only for clients of the riding center but also for the public. It will be configured so that it is fun, rigorous and challenging for children of all abilities.  According to Debi Alexander and Kevin Cole, co-chairs of the event, 2011 proceeds were $78,000. This year’s goal is $100,000.

The benefit concert will feature the music of Peter Mayer and Scott Kirby for the second year. Mayer has been the lead guitarist for Jimmy Buffet for 20 years. Kirby performs a jazz, coastal type of music as well. The duo has performed together for years.  Brendan Mayer, Peter’s son, will also play in the concert. Cole said that Mayer and Kirby have their own careers, but “play off each other” and the interaction between them is just “plain good.”

Also, Gary Green will entertain the crowd on the harmonica. Cole and Alexander admit that he “gets into it” as he is playing and promises “it will be a show.” While brainstorming on fundraising ideas, Cole thought of having a concert. Cole is a Jimmy Buffet fan and knew that obtaining his services would be beyond the means of the Rainbow. Therefore, he sent Kirby’s agent an email and the musician responded himself. Their time and entertainment are donated by the musicians with Rainbow covering their travel costs. Alexander and Cole are thankful to the musicians and reveal they are very “pro-active” in asking how they can help the center. The benefit is the last on the musicians’ tour; Okra’s will have food and beverages available at the event.

Rainbow Center Therapeutic Riding Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to “improve the lives of children, teens and adults with disabilities through equine assisted activities.” They offer assisted psychotherapy, therapeutic riding and hippotherapy. Alexander said they serve children with all disabilities including those on the autism spectrum.

Cole believes that there is a human desire to “achieve something,” and that is where success lies at Rainbow. Riders learn that they can ride high on a horse and have them turn when they want by giving them cues that they follow and also care for them. Alexander said it helps students focus and improve connections.
Equine Assisted Activities provide important physical, psycho-social opportunities to prevent physical deterioration and emotional/social isolation. Alexander said the program diminishes the incidence of preventable disease by improving mobility, respiratory function, core strength, joint mobility, neck stability and reduces spasticity induced deformity. Rainbow also provides inclusion and respite activities.

In 2011, the center provided services to 114 children. By June of 2012, it had served 119 families. In addition, the center hosts a Wounded Warrior program.
The program was “nomadic for decades” before acquiring space, owned by Prince William County. The site development on the property in Haymarket began three years ago and is being completed in stages. Alexander explained that Granville-Smith was instrumental in pulling together help from the building community, many of whom donated their services to building the center. Granville-Smith lost her battle with breast cancer in April 2011.

The site now holds paddocks with run-in sheds, a mini barn/tack room, fencing, a caretaker’s house, outdoor riding ring, indoor riding arena with electricity and lighting, two wells, a parking lot, gravel roads and a caretaker’s house. The center is home to 14 horses, all of which have been donated, most recently, a Friesian, a war horse.

Cole said that the center will be a “world class facility” that people “will fly here to see how we did it.”  He adds that 90 cents of every dollar donated directly impacts the children they service as they operate with many volunteers. Tickets to benefit concert are available at http://rainbowriding.event brite.com/. With your own chair, lawn seating tickets are $15; tables under the stars are $25 per seat; and tables under the pavilion are $35 per seat.  Sponsorships are still available.
To learn more about Rainbow Center go to http://www.rainbowriding .org, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 571-332-2587.