Redmond Mayor John Marchione and former Major League baseball star John Olerud helped celebrate the giant strides of Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, which held a ceremonial groundbreaking Wednesday afternoon at its future $11 million home on Northeast 106th Street in Redmond.
Little Bit’s current Woodinville facility serves 240 students of all ages and disabilities and is known as an industry leader in hippotherapy, physical or occupational therapy utilizing the movement of a horse. Construction at the new Redmond site is already underway and will open sometime in 2012.
When the Redmond facility is running at capacity, the Woodinville facility is planning to be retained for research and training purposes.
Little Bit purchased its new 17-acre Redmond property, formerly Simpatico Stables, back in 2008, and recently has reached $8 million of funds raised and placed all the necessary permits to start building the new facility, for which services have been at extremely high demand.
“It sounds a little trite, but words cannot express how excited I am,” said Kathy Alm, executive director of Little Bit. “This has been a really long and exciting journey, and there is a huge need with over 200 children and adults with disabilities on a waiting list, waiting two years to start services. When we’re completed here, we’ll be able to double our capacity and serve in upwards of 500 each week. Right now, we can only serve 240.”
According to Alm, the project has an $11 million price tag, which leaves $3 million yet to be raised. So far in the initial $8 million, Little Bit has received four donations of $1 million or more, and an additional six gifts of $100,000 or more. Alm is optimistic the generous donations and the strong outpouring of support will continue.
“It’s a lot of really dedicated individuals, corporations and foundations,” Alm explained when asked where the primary funding has come from. “We will keep building, and our hope is to keep building through next year and have the whole project done by January 2012.”
Marchione was on hand for the ceremony, welcoming Little Bit to Redmond and acknowledging the organization’s positive addition to the city.
“Little Bit makes the City of Redmond much richer,” he said. “I know many families that are touched by Little Bit, and their children have benefited greatly.”
Perhaps nobody knows the benefits of hippotherapy better than Olerud, the former Seattle Mariners first baseman. He and his wife Kelly, who are co-chairs of Little Bit’s Campaign Cabinet, gave birth to a baby girl, Jordan, during the summer of 2000.
Unfortunately, Jordan suffered major complications beginning shortly after birth, including respiratory and sensory issues and the need for a feeding tube.
In 2003, the Olerud family began therapy at Little Bit, and by Jordan’s third birthday, she gained enough strength to sit up on her own, while her senses and mobility drastically improved.
“Little Bit has made a huge difference in the life of our daughter Jordan,” said John, who was part of the Seattle Mariners’ record-breaking 116-46 season in 2001 amid his daughter’s health problems. “This new and expanded facility will benefit all of us and hundreds of other children like Jordan, who will have the same opportunity to experience the same benefits of hippotherapy therapeutic riding.”
Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center’s mission is to improve the bodies, minds and spirits of children and adults with disabilities through equine-assisted therapy and currently has the help of 400 dedicated volunteers.
For more information on Little Bit or how you can help, visit the Web site at www.littlebit.org, or contact Alm at (425) 882-1554 or executivedirector@littlebit.org.
