PBJ Connections, Inc., a local, non-profit provider of mental health services to youth and families, announced today that it has received a $4,200 grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities. The grant includes $2100 from the McDonalds Owners/Operators of Central Ohio and $2,100 matching funds from Ronald McDonald House Charities' Global Offices.
The grant is in support of PBJ Connections' CONNECT program and will allow the organization's professional team of therapists, horse specialists and horses to provide mental health therapy to at-risk or troubled youth from lower income families who would not otherwise be able to pay for such services.
"We are grateful for our local McDonalds Owners and Ronald McDonald House Charities for their support and dedication to helping Central Ohio at-risk youth," says the organization's Executive Director, Glenda Childress, "and we are looking forward to giving more children a chance to become successful, happy adults."
Founded in 2006, PBJ Connections uses horses and donkeys, along with a highly-skilled team of mental health and equine professionals, to provide mental health therapy and healing to youth and families throughout Central Ohio. The organization provides services from its Pataskala farm and from Otterbein University's Center for Equine Studies in Westerville.
Equine-assisted therapy has a long history of success at helping youth who are at risk of falling through society's safety nets. You can learn more about equine-assisted therapy and PBJ Connections on their website at www.pbjconnections.org.