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Rice Lake Community Health Foundation matching grant for NETC!

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Dear Friend,

The schedule book at Nature’s Edge lists appointments by first names.  As I sit at my desk, glancing through tomorrow’s schedule name by name, a story opens around each name.  I remember the first session and the initial challenges observed, first goals, faltering steps forward, setbacks overcome and goals achieved.  Some had unintelligible speech or no speech; others wouldn’t sit still for even a few seconds or tolerate any form of sensory restriction.  Another wouldn’t take a bath and wasn’t potty-trained at five years old.  One is struggling to recover from a devastating accident; two others were limited by the inability to implement social skills.  So many challenges . . . so much progress, and yet more ground to cover.

Many of our patients would not have achieved what they have accomplished without receiving therapy at Nature’s Edge, where intensive treatment provided by licensed therapists is blended with nature and animals.  Parents and caregivers often tell us that they had tried traditional therapy for their loved ones, but were unable to achieve progress until they came to Nature’s Edge.  However, many of our patients would not have been able to afford therapy at Nature’s Edge without scholarship help.   It’s not because we are more expensive than other facilities; therapy at Nature’s Edge actually costs less than at other clinics.  It’s because for most families, we are an out-of-network provider.  It’s because of the current healthcare climate and the nature of coverage for disabilities – which are neither injury nor illness but rather present at birth.  It’s because finances are tight for families with loved ones with disabilities.  For many patients, receiving therapy at Nature’s Edge is possible only because of the generosity and concern of other people.

At Nature’s Edge, we see day by day that our intensive, one-on-one therapy sessions, interaction with nature and our animals, and the homelike atmosphere of the ranch, dramatically accelerate our patients’ progress, the majority of whom are children.  Please accept our invitation to share in the joy of obstacles overcome, goals achieved, of increased living skills and greater independence for our patients.  Consider making a matching donation to impact the life of one or several of our patients.  Your generosity is a gift of essential life skills and hope for the future!

Grateful for your partnership,

Becky Payne, MATCCC/SLP/HPCS – Director

 

*Donation checks can be made out to “Rice Lake Community Health Foundation” with “Nature’s Edge” in the memo and mailed to us at 2523 14 3/4 Ave., Rice Lake, WI 54868 or you can donate here: https://naturesedgetherapycenter.org/donate/

Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy Innovative Treatment Methods

Programs

Hippotherapy: Takes place in a controlled setting, using activities on and with the horse to provide sensory input that elicits adaptive responses from the patient.

Horticulture therapy: Uses an appreciation of nature and gardening in a therapy session.

Animal-assisted therapy: Utilizes animals as part of a therapy session to accelerate progress and promote the human-animal bond.

"Evening in Elegance" Gala! Save the Date!

Events, News

Nature’s Edge Therapy Center presents their
“Evening in Elegance” Gala
An Annual Fundraising Event
January 19, 2018

A warm & enchanted winter evening!
Nature’s Edge Therapy Center
cordially invites you to its
2018 “Evening in Elegance” Gala
An Annual Fundraising Event
Held on Friday evening, January 19, 2018, at the Rice Lake Elks Club
5:30 p.m. — Hors d’oeuvres and Social Hour
6:30 p.m. Dinner — Choice of Prime Rib,
Boneless Chicken Breast or Vegetarian Entree
Silent, Live and Delicious Desserts auctions with dozens of select items held throughout the evening!
9-11:30 p.m. –Dancing with the
Dean’s List Orchestra
 
Ticket Price is $50 per person
Invitation, R.S.V.P., and travel directions are available on our website. 

Rice Lake Community Health Foundation awards matching funds grant for patient scholarships to Nature’s Edge

News

IMG_0506Nature’s Edge Therapy Center has been awarded a $20,000 matching grant from the Rice Lake Community Health Foundation (RLCHF), designated for patient scholarships for therapy sessions.  Each eligible patient may receive up to 12 treatment sessions funded by the RLCHF grant.  The Foundation will disburse grant funding to Nature’s Edge for scholarship distribution as it is matched by contributions designated for Nature’s Edge.  Donors are invited to contribute to the Nature’s Edge match.
The RLCHF grant award provides an exceptional opportunity for patients with financial need to receive therapy at Nature’s Edge.  At Nature’s Edge, therapists focus on the development of skills necessary for each patient to achieve the highest possible level of independence and integration into school, family and society.  Incorporating the natural setting, therapy animals and especially horses into treatment motivates and accelerates progress.  Through the generosity and partnership of RLCHF and Nature’s Edge donors, this scholarship opportunity is available for patients.

Contribute to this match! Your gift will be matched at 150% . . .
Please consider making a donation to match the $20,000 grant.  Through the generosity of the Foundation, the entire $20,000 scholarship package comes to Nature’s Edge to assist patients for only $13,333 of contributions to be raised, because RLCHF has agreed to match $1.50 for every dollar designated to Nature’s Edge.  Every dollar that you contribute becomes $2.50 for someone waiting for therapy.  Write out your contribution to RLCHF (Rice Lake Community Health Foundation) and indicate “Nature’s Edge” on the memo line for patients to receive scholarships.  Checks can be mailed to Nature’s Edge, 2523 14 3/4 Ave., Rice Lake, WI  54868.  Your generosity places scholarships into the hands of patients who need them at Nature’s Edge.

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At Nature’s Edge, licensed and certified therapists combine conventional treatment methods with innovative techniques such as hippotherapy (the horse as a treatment tool), animal-assisted therapy and horticulture therapy.  Treatment is provided on the Nature’s Edge 65-acre ranch, a natural setting that includes forest, field, river and hills and is home to 26 therapy animals available for inclusion in treatment sessions.  Therapists at Nature’s Edge treat a wide spectrum of disabilities while specializing in the treatment of autism, brain injury and cerebral palsy.

RLCHF Awards NETC Matching Grant

News

We are honored to announce that the Rice Lake Community Health Foundation (RLCHF) has generously awarded Nature’s Edge a matching grant of $20,000 designated to patient scholarships. This matching grant has the potential to benefit at least 11 patients with 12 therapy sessions each at no cost. The award of the $20,000 matching grant is a huge leap of progress, but it is “Step One” in a two-step process. In order to secure $20,000 of scholarships for our patients, Nature’s Edge donors must contribute matching funds. However, the match for every donation is better than dollar-for-dollar! RLCHF is offering to match every $1 contributed by our donors with $1.50 of scholarship funds. To bring home the entire $20,000 scholarship package, Nature’s Edge Therapy Center must raise $13,333. RLCHF is prepared to begin distribution of matching funds as of September 15, 2017. My special request to you is to respond as generously and quickly as possible with a donation so that we can begin to distribute scholarships to our patients right after Sept. 15! 

Community invited to Nature’s Edge on Sept. 9 to meet therapy horse won by Facebook votes

animal assisted therapy, Events, hippotherapy

Chloe_ElizBeth2
Nature’s Edge Therapy Center is hosting an Open House Celebration on Saturday, September 9, as a thank you to the community for their votes which helped to win Chloe, a Gypsy Vanner mare, during the LexLin Ranch “Gypsy Gift Horse” Facebook voting contest held earlier this year from April-June. The Open House Celebration will be held from Noon-3 p.m. at the Nature’s Edge ranch, 2523 14 ¾ Ave., Rice Lake. The community is cordially invited to meet Chloe “The Pale-Faced Mare” and to enjoy a complimentary lunch of pulled pork sandwiches, chips, Rootbeer and dessert. Adam Hutton of WJMC will be MC for the event. Presentations are scheduled during the afternoon, including Keith Dawson representing Thrivent Financial, a major sponsor of the event; Josy Wood, horse trainer for Nature’s Edge, who will demonstrate in the arena her training approach to horse handling; and Dr. Rebecca Blotz of Chetek Veterinary Clinic.
Chloe, the Gypsy Vanner horse that was donated to Nature’s Edge by LexLin Gypsy IMG_0015Ranch, was won with 11,790 Facebook votes. Voters cast votes via Facebook or by email daily during the 60-day voting period. The Gypsy Vanner horse, because of its engaging temperament, its strength, intelligence and movement, is ideal for therapy. Becky Payne, director of Nature’s Edge, and Barb Flouro, member of the Board of Directors of Nature’s Edge, received Chloe at the Passing of the Lead Ceremony at LexLin Ranch in Rockwood, TN, on July 21. Chloe will be presented to the community at the Open House with stablemate, Simba, also a Gypsy Vanner purchased from LexLin in January.
The Open House Celebration is sponsored free of charge to the community. Sponsors for the event include LexLin Gypsy Ranch, Thrivent Financial, Rice Lake Chronotype, WJMC, Cookin’ Up A Storm, Schilling Company, Reds in Chetek, Barron Bakery, Main Street Café, Brion’s Smokehouse Deli, Culligan of Rice Lake, Frito Lay and Village Hearth. Donations to Nature’s Edge will be accepted. For more information, call Nature’s Edge at 715-859-6670 or visit their website at naturesedgetherapycenter.org.

Come meet our new Gypsy Vanner!

animal assisted therapy, hippotherapy

We recently welcomed the newest addition to our team! Thanks to everyone who shared and voted for Nature’s Edge through LexLin’s Gypsy Gift program we were able to add a new therapy horse to our program.
LexLin has donated 45 horses to PATH premiere accredited centers across the US since 2009. This year, over 80 centers were nominated. To win a Gypsy Gift Horse, Nature’s Edge competed in a Facebook contest where we had to get daily votes to stay in the top 20 centers. With all the wonderful support we ended the contest in 13th place with 11,790 votes!
Becky, our founder, director, and SLP, and her daughter Courtney had the opportunity to fly to Tennessee to pick which horse would join the Nature’s Edge team. While there were many great choices, Chloe caught their eye with her sweet disposition and friendly nature.
On July 22nd Becky and Barb, a board member, went back to Tennessee to attend the Passing of the Lead ceremony where Chloe officially became part of Nature’s Edge. After the ceremony Chloe started her journey home where she was reunited with her friend Simba. Simba came to us from LexLin back in January and was happy to have his buddy back. He’s been a great protector when one of the other horses tries to bully Chloe.
Gypsy Vanners are very well suited for therapy horses because of their build, temperament, size, and love for people. At Nature’s Edge we carefully choose our horses for their temperament and the type of movement they produce. All are specifically trained for their unique role within therapy sessions and are guided by professional horse handlers, which optimizes safety and effectiveness. The horse through Hippotherapy (only completed by a trained Speech, Occupational or Physical Therapist) impacts a patient’s speech, core movements and balance, as well as their sensory system. The Gypsies fit these requirements wonderfully.
On September 9 Nature’s Edge would like to welcome everyone to an Open House to meet our new Gypsy Vanner! The event runs from 12-3pm at Nature’s Edge. We will have lunch and refreshments available: pulled pork sandwiches, chips, dessert, and root beer, along with presentations from Keith Dawson of Thrivent Financial (who are ever so kindly sponsoring the event), Josy Wood our horse trainer, and Dr. Rebecca Blotz of Chetek Vet Clinic.
You can view our open house flier here!
We hope to see you there!