By The Star Staff
The Monagas Parents’ Association has made a donation to the Carousel Foundation to expand its equine therapy and hydrotherapy services to patients with autism and other conditions, according to a Monday press release.
“Since the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) appointed us to manage this public facility, we have been committed to improving its condition,” the association said in a written statement. “With private funds from the parents themselves, we invested more than $200,000 in three months to make the corresponding improvements. The contract with the DNER allows us to make quarterly donation contributions by the users of the facility to non-profit entities and we selected the Carousel Foundation for its wonderful work, which helps in the quality of life of so many people.”
The first check to be given to the Carousel Foundation will be in the amount of $6,500.
Currently, the foundation provides weekly services to about 100 people and will soon offer a certification in horse- and nature-assisted therapy, in collaboration with the University of Puerto Rico in Bayamón.
Carousel founder and director Marta Jaraiz expressed her gratitude for the donation.
“This assignment means a lot to us because it will solidify the services we offer at the Monagas equestrian facilities and will help us have the best equine therapy program in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean,” she said.
Among the improvements that have been made to the park are: the paving of the entire park and the police area with private funds; repairs to the horse baths, repairs to the roofs of the horse sheds, remodeling of the cafeteria, creation of a paddock area, gates for the new competition tracks and the restoration of the Las Palmas track.