ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

MISSION AND PROGRAMS

Mission

The GATEWAYS Foundation was established in 1999 to provide financial stability and support for the mission of GATEWAYS for Youth and Families. In addition, some of the money raised is contributed to other organizations that share the mission of GATEWAYS in ways that serve more people in need.

Programs

Foundation programs and projects include: • Jessie Dyslin Ranch Expansion Program • Scholarships for Ranch Teen Center Programs • Support for Foster Parent Association of Washington State • Direct Community Service Grants to Not For Profits • Sponsorship of Community Service Projects • Fundraising Support & Technical Assistance • Collaborative Mental Health & Youth Assistance Efforts

GOALS AND RESULTS

Accomplishments for Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2007

1. Awarded grants to organizations who share the mission of Gateways for Youth and Families in our service area.
2. Provided scholarships to foster kids for a wooden boat building program.
3. Supported launching of a Teen Center, an after school program for 10-17 year olds

Objectives for Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2008

1. The Foundation anticipates awarding grants from $2000 to $10000 that share the mission of Gateways Foundation for youth and families
2. Capital Campaign to establish an Equestrian Center for At Risk Children at the Jessie Dyslin Ranch
3. 3. Establish numerous Enterprises to teach children a trade and at the same time support our grantmaking abilities.

“The air of Heaven is that which blows between the ears of a horse."

---Arab Proverb

Youth Development through Horsemanship

The bond between humans and horses is ancient. Children especially are drawn to the animals. What child would not love the freedom to gallop a horse or brush its fine hair in the stillness of a barn smelling of fir shavings?

Today’s harsh reality, however, is that children often are drawn to less desirable activities leading to anti-social behavior and academic failure. Delinquency is at an all-time high. Early exposure to violence, drugs and alcohol, family issues, and other environmental factors are barriers to a child’s ability to thrive. In Washington State, the high school dropout rate hovers around 24%. The data and research is voluminous, and staggering. Some experts say nearly 40% of all youth are at risk.

Since 1890, Gateways for Youth and Families has been part of the solution to problems for youth and families, offering an entrance or “gateway” for new possibilities and opportunities. Today is no different. With a unique chance to help children through horsemanship, GATEWAYS intends to create equestrian programs for youth of all ages that will help them establish goals to meet standards in riding and horse management with a curriculum designed to build skills and self-esteem.

Our Vision

Through the Jessie Dyslin Ranch Expansion, GATEWAYS will develop a 31-acre parcel of land into an equestrian center for youth and families. Facilities will include an indoor riding arena that will double as a performing arts center; a lodge that will serve as a common area for year-round youth programs and summer camps as well as staff office space; and a learning-center barn filled with schooling horses and large tack rooms that double as classrooms for un-mounted lessons. Programs will offer youth a variety of options and focus on building relationships through team activities and peer mentoring.

The facility is centrally located between five major school districts in Pierce County, just off the State Highway 512/Interstate 5 transportation corridor. Contractual agreements with school districts and other partnerships will ensure access to the programs and a steady-flow of participants with hundreds of children served annually. To ensure long-term sustainability, boarders and equestrian/performing arts events will bring in revenue and expose the youth programs to the community at large, thus generating ongoing public understanding and support. GATEWAYS plans to monitor its success of the programs by measuring outcomes against established benchmarks.

Equine Assisted Activities include personal development, education and therapeutic interventions and utilize experiential learning. Experiential learning is learning by doing. It occurs when a person is interacting with the environment, including the people, animals and situations involved.

Therapeutic Riding is a growing and widely-accepted treatment for rehabilitating a range of physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. Riders experience increased self-confidence and improvement in strength, balance, coordination, attention span, language and social skills. It involves an ongoing therapeutic relationship with clearly established treatment goals and objectives developed by the therapist in conjunction with the client. The therapeutic team includes an appropriately credentialed mental health or rehabilitation professional and an equestrian specialist.

One such team member explained how he uses a non-verbal communicator --the horse -- to teach humans about themselves and their interactions with others, and to improve their communication skills. You get a horse to stop by coming up in front of it, you can get it to move by applying pressure from behind. Side-by-side is the relationship zone. That's where you have to feel comfortable -- with horse or with human. What does it take to build that relationship?

"Looking, listening and following directions," he said. "Those are the three ingredients involved in respect. That's true for horses. That's true for humans." It's amazing, he said, how you can use horses to break down the things you do all the time into simple lessons. "And once you learn it with horses, it's easier to transfer it to people."

Clients that are “at-risk” according to mental health experts are individuals who require therapy to help them stay on the right track, or to find the right track. Equine assisted therapy is an effective tool for those deemed “at-risk” by the mental health field definition.

Clinicians describe something magical about the human-horse bond, about the energy levels involved, they say.

Professional Health Credentialing organizations, such as the Equestrian Assisted Growth & Learning Association, promote, educate and provide standards of practice, ethics and safety in the field, state that Equestrian Assisted Therapy is more than “horsemanship and riding classes." Equine therapy, which involves clinical professionals, has been shown to be effective in treating a variety of mental health and human development needs and behavioral issues, such as attention deficit disorder, substance abuse, eating disorders, abuse issues, depression, anxiety, anger management, conflict resolution, relationship problems and communications.

Horses offer several advantages. For one thing, their size offers a perfect opportunity for some to overcome fear and develop confidence. "Accomplishing a task involving the horse, in spite of those fears, creates confidence and provides for wonderful metaphors for dealing with other intimidating and challenging situations." Horses are social animals, with distinct personalities, attitudes and moods. Working with them and caring for them requires effort --there's no easy way out. No quick tricks.

"A lot of animals are used in therapy," explained one. But with horses, there's the respect factor. "You can't bully them. If you give respect, you get respect."

Horses have the ability to mirror exactly what human body language is telling them. People complain that the horse is stubborn or antagonistic. "But the lesson to be learned is that if they change themselves, the horses respond differently."

Taking Action

In the Spring of 2007, Gateways assembled a Steering Committee of community leaders representing the fields of architecture, education, engineering, entrepreneurship, equine industries, event management, law and social and health services. These volunteers met through the Summer of 2007 to further develop plans for the facilities, the enterprises and the programs and services.

A number of events were held to generate support including a car tour and wine tasting at the LeMay Museum; a Kid’s Day at The Ranch; participation in the Point Defiance Music Festival on Labor Day and an Open House. Limited programs for youth with some early-stage buildings are targeted to begin the summer of 2008. Programming should be up and going in the Spring of 2008 with a Summer Camp shortly thereafter. The Lodge should be complete in September 2008 and the Arena should be up and running by June 2009. The Barn could be up at the same time.

It’s About Making A Difference In The Lives of Our Children

Horses can reach children in ways that humans cannot. In knowing horses, children can overcome challenges, experience the pleasure of companionship, learn the responsible care of a large animal, and so much more while engaging in a unique sport.

The GATEWAYS equestrian programs will offer structured activities for the entire family in a supportive environment that provides stimulation and the development of skills and values that will last a life time.

Meeting the Need

Although the vision for the Jessie Dyslin Ranch Expansion is unique and will offer children opportunities like no other, the work cannot be accomplished alone. GATEWAYS for Youth and Families needs caring individuals and businesses to provide financial backing to be successful.

When the Jessie Dyslin Ranch Expansion is complete, the impact on our community will be priceless. However, the community return on investment will be equally significant. For every dollar spent today to help youth development, the community will save $10.51 in the future.*

The financial goal of GATEWAYS for the Jessie Dyslin Ranch Expansion is to raise $4 million in three years – a potential investment in excess of $40 million to our community. The campaign has already raised $1.7 million or 40% of our goal.

If you would like to help, several levels of tax-deductible giving have been established with special recognition for each level. Any level of financial assistance that you can provide will be much appreciated.

The GATEWAYS Foundation is a 501 C3 non profit corporation. Our tax id # is 31-1642426 and our UBI # is 601931811. Please contact the Gateways Foundation office at 253-882-1144; by e-mail at foundation@gatewaysforyouth.org or write to Gateways Foundation, 301 Garfield St., Tacoma, WA 98444 for more information.