Jefferson Foundation Awards $7,500

The Jefferson Foundation, funded by the proceeds from the sale of Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Crystal City to Mercy Health, is dedicated to providing support for charitable and educational activities that promote individual and community health and well-being in Jefferson County, Missouri. Since its formation, the Foundation has distributed more than $7 million in grants annually to qualified agencies. Jefferson Foundation has invested in Ride On St. Louis's programs and operations since 2014 and over those years has impacted 1,095 children and adults with health challenges who benefit from services available through Ride On St. Louis.

Local youth from St. Margaret Mary Alacoque visit the barn to learn about services and lend a hand with daily maintenance and barn chores.

Funding awarded for 2021 will support services by helping us meet new programs costs associated with our interim home near the House Springs area of Jefferson County. “We can't do what we do without the support from our grantors,” says Grant Manager BriAnn Session. “Jefferson Foundation has been very generous to Ride On St. Louis and the community. They have allowed us to grow and expand in so many areas of our organization. This recent grant award provides assistance that enables us to continue our health and wellness programs like Barn Buddies and Unmounted Activities, as well as expand new programs like our distanced opportunities and Always Home equine retirement care.”

Ride On St. Louis retired equine assisted service ponies Amiga (foreground) and Style (background) are able to live their retirement years in our care and in their home environment through our Always Home retirement program.