Pictured are Alan Holbrook, President of The Westfield Fund, Claudia Monroe, Founder of Centaur Stride and Ann, a frequent guest at Centaur Stride with her horse.

The Westfield Fund recently granted $1,000 to help fund scholarships for the volunteers with disabilities project at Centaur Stride.

Centaur Stride has developed a new program, Volunteer Transitions, to make it possible for people with disabilities to learn to volunteer. Volunteers learn time management, breaking down tasks from large to small, managing a schedule of tasks, setting priorities, working as a team or individually, decision making, following rules, and the rewards of accomplishing their goals. When appropriate, the training may include interaction with the horses. The grant will alleviate the cost of fees for program participants. For more information on the Volunteer Transitions program, contact Centaur Stride at 716-326-4318.

On a recent trip to Centaur Stride members of The Westfield Fund Committee met Ann, who benefits directly from the efforts of Centaur Stride. Ann’s mother shared that her daughter looks forward to her time at the barn, and how much she loved the horse that she was paired with. During her visit she helped to curry the horse, saddle it, and after riding, helped with removing the saddle and tended to the horse. It was clear to see the benefits Centaur Stride provides these participants and their families.

The Westfield Fund is currently in the midst of their 100, 100, 100 fundraising effort. The goal is to raise $10,000 to add to the fund, allowing The Westfield Fund to continue to fund important worthwhile Westfield non-profit organizations far into the future. All monies donated to the fund remain in Westfield. With the help of our community, we can do more in the future.

Applications to The Westfield Fund are accepted by April 1 of each year; awards are allocated in June. For more information about The Westfield Fund, please follow us on Facebook, or visit https://www.nccfoundation.org/our-funds/the-westfield-fund/

The Westfield Fund is a Community Donor Advised Fund of the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation. If you are interested in establishing a Community Donor Advised Fund in your community, please contact NCCF at 716-366-4892 or nccf@nccfoundation.org.

Since its incorporation in 1986, the NCCF has invested nearly $23 million in northern Chautauqua County through strategic grantmaking, targeted scholarships, and leadership and community collaborations. The NCCF is a tax-exempt charitable organization inherently committed to enhancing the northern Chautauqua community and encouraging local philanthropy. As a nationally accredited community foundation, the NCCF has proven compliance with the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, demonstrating integrity, equity, accountability, transparency, and effectiveness in meeting the needs of its community. For more information on the NCCF, visit www.nccfoundation.org or call 716-366-4892.