<p align="right"><font size="2" color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">June
14, 2002</font>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF">After
the dust settled from this year's Hollywood
Charity Horse Show, William Shatner reminisced
that his "most gratifying moment was watching
the kids from Ahead With Horses perform."</font>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF"> This
week, we thought you might like to learn a little
more about this very needy and worthwile organization
because they can use your help.</font>
<p align="left"> <font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF">Ahead
With Horses (AWH) is a non-profit therapeutic
riding organization that assists approximately
200 severely disabled children each month in
and around Los Angeles. Their brochure speaks
quite eloquently of their goals and accomplishments:</font>
<blockquote>
<font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF">Physically,
AWH takes children with disabilities through
a complex series of movements while the horse
rhythmically moves the body in a manner similar
to the human gait. This improves the children's
posture, balance and muscle control.</font>
<font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF">Mentally,
AWH increases concentration, impoves sequential
thought and helps children learn to speak
and develop spatial awareness.</font>
</blockquote>
<p align="center">
<blockquote>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF">Emotionally,
AWH provides the opportunity for children
to bond with the horses, instructors and volunteers
to build confidence and trust...but most importantly,
the sheer sense of joy raises their spirits
and brings smiles to their faces.</font>
<font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#FFFFFF">Socially,
AWH nurtures a positive self-image. For the
first time in their lives, children with severe
disabilities often experience a sense of independence.</font>
</blockquote>
<p align="center">
<font color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">The
children have disabilities such as Down Syndrome,
Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Paraplegia, Autism,
Quadraplegia, Muscular Dystrophy and Autism.
Some of the children are unable to walk, some
are blind - but all of them benefit from the
special kind of therapy provided by the gentle
horses and caring staff. </font>
<p align="left"><font color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Not
only do the children benefit, but the horses
benefit as well. In 1997, the Santa Monica Police
Department Mounted Unit donated two retired
police horses to AWH rather than allow them
to face an uncertain future. The horses, Flex
(25) and Chris (20), both Quarter Horses, had
developed arthritis and were no longer able
to respond quickly to emergency calls. Ahead
With Horses provided the horses with a "happy
and dignified life" after police work.
As a matter of fact, a</font><font color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">ll
of the horses that come to AWH are donated,
many from similar circumstances. Most are Draft
Horses.</font>
<p align="left"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">This
past Sunday, Ahead With Horses had their annual
fundraiser called Fun Day. The event provided
an opportunity for the community to see what
AWH is all about, and watch the children (in
the program) perform. For the kids, it was a
tremendously thrilling day. </font>
<p align="center"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> </font>
<p align="left"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ahead
With Horses receives nearly all of its funding
through private donations. While they have been
a beneficiary of the Hollywood Charity Horse
Show since its inception in 1990, they can use
your help, too. Any donation, no matter how
small, will be put to good use. During Fun Day,
Liz Helms, the director of AWH, was as happy
to receive a "small" check from a
former student as she was a $5,000 corporate
donation. Each dollar is a step closer to the
goal of getting children off of the waiting
list and onto horses!</font>
<p align="center"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">
</font>
<p align="center"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF"><font color="#66CCFF" size="1">Bill
is pictured above at the Hollywood Charity Horse
Show several years ago with a little girl who
was able to take her first steps as a result
of AWH.</font></font>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Ahead
With Horses is located at 9311 Del Arroyo Drive,
Sun Valley, California 91352. All contributions
are tax deductible, and the tax ID number is
95-3165 603 501 (c)(3). </font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">
If you'd like to make a donation by credit card,
their phone number is (818) 767-</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">6373.
</font>
<p align="left"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> We
would like to thank the members of the fan club
who have sent in donations over the years. </font><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">They
have made a big difference in the lives of these
challenged kids.</font>
<p align="left"><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">This
past Sunday, we presented Ahead With Horses
with a check for $610 on behalf of Shatner &
Friends International members. </font><font color="#FFFFFF" size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">We
will continue to forward fan club donations
to AWH throughout the year. It's a nice way
of showing that Bill's fans care. </font>
<p align="left">
<p align="right"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">Contributed
by Sandy Moruzzi and Jane Singer</font>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2" color="#FFFFFF">P.S.
If you missed any of our past articles, you
can view them in the SFI
Archive. </font>
<hr />
<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="" size="2"><font color="#FFFFFF"> Shatner
& Friends International is William Shatner's
official fan club. We are a community of friends
drawn together by an appreciation of William
Shatner, the actor and the man. </font></font>
<font color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">O</font><font color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">ur
first newsletter, The
Best of Times, is posted online. Each issue
features the latest news about Bill and his
activities, exclusive interviews, articles,
lots of candid photos, charity updates and much
more. The next one will be published in mid-June.</font>
<font color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">
We will post time sensitive information concerning
Bill's appearance schedule within Bill's online
calendar. It's updated regularly, so keep
checking back. </font>
<p align="left"><font color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> <font size="-1">If
you're interested in joining the Club, annual
membership includes a beautiful autographed
8x10 photograph of William Shatner as Captain
Kirk, a copy of Bill's credits, a short biography,
a subscription to The
Best of Times and the opportunity to participate
in our annual Shatner Weekend. Membership also
grants access to the Captain's Club, an exclusive
members-only part of WilliamShatner.com which
includes a bulletin board and Club merchandise.
Click here to join.</font></font>
<font color="#FFFFFF" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">We
are excited to be part of WilliamShatner.com
and we will be making regular updates to the
website. </font> |
