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The Children’s TherAplay Foundation’s Expansion Status
Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Submitted
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For nearly two decades, The Children’s TherAplay Foundation, a not-for-profit pediatric outpatient clinic, has been providing physical (PT) and occupational therapies (OT) on horseback for children with diagnoses such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, traumatic brain injury and developmental delay. The foundation’s therapists combine a sensory-rich, child-centered clinic with hippotherapy—a treatment strategy incorporating the movement of horses—to provide carefully graded motor, sensory and neurological input. It is one of the few clinics in the country dedicated to providing innovative PT and OT on horseback.
As the population continues to grow and the needs of The Chil dren’s TherAplay Foundation’s clients also continue to grow, the foundation recognized the need to launch a capital campaign and expansion plan that has been underway—despite a global pandemic—and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2020.
Progress Amid Pandemic
The foundation realized it was outgrowing its current approximately 4,800-square-foot facility located at 9919 Towne Road in West Carmel about five years ago. With the expansion and renovation of its current facility to an impressive 11,000 square feet—upon completion—it will be able to provide more treatments, options and space for growth and development. It will also be the nation’s largest hippotherapy facility in the country, once completed.
The expansion spaces include
• More space for dedicated private evaluation and treatment rooms. • Addition of speech therapy. • A dedicated life-skills area, equipped with child-sized kitchenette and restroom. • Centralized administrative offices. • Spacious waiting rooms and both family-friendly and quiet areas. • An all-weather event and meeting space, which will serve as a venue for fundraising events.
We spoke with Kathy Pelletier, executive director of The Children’s TherAplay Foundation, about the status of the construction and how the project has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Children’s TherAplay Foundation is such a special place,” Pelletier said. “There are still some great things happening here all the time, and we’ve really been able to navigate the uncertainty of the last several months. Interestingly enough, the road to getting to our [construction] kickoff on April 15 was so bumpy and full of so many starts, stops and delays, it was almost comical when the pandemic started. That was literally the first time our [expansion] project continued to move forward without hinderance.”
Pelletier explained that the project was held up for approximately six months after breaking ground in 2019 due to permitting delays.
“Of all the things that could stop this project from moving forward, a global pandemic was unable to make a dent,” Pelletier expressed. “We actually benefited from it. It just worked out that as we were closed [due to the statewide shutdown] and had switched to telehealth services, the construction crews put the pedal to the medal and probably completed 10 weeks of work in seven to eight weeks.”
The Giddy Up & Grow Capital Campaign
As previously stated, the foundation realized that it was outgrowing its current space and was experiencing a growth in children and families that it is servicing.
“To give you some perspective, in 2013, we were roughly 300 sessions per month, and currently, we do over 800 sessions per month—continuously,” Pelletier shared. “It got to the point where we were able to do the great things that we’ve been doing [for nearly 20 years], but we were not able to customize our programming to meet each child’s individual needs.”
The foundation has been raising the necessary funds for the $4.4 million Giddy Up & Grow Capital Campaign through more than 170 generous donors and through its partnership with United Way Central Indiana, which offered a million-dollar match for The Children’s TherAplay Foundation fundraising.
But the goal isn’t quite yet met. The campaign is 75% fulfilled, and the foundation is seeking additional donations to raise the remaining balance. Pelletier explained that naming rights are still available, or folks can make a legacy gift in honor or memory of someone, and all amounts of monetary donations will go a long way to helping the foundation’s fundraising efforts. The foundation’s annual fundraiser, the 18th Annual Children’s TherAplay Hoe-Down, is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2020. However, due to the pandemic-related restrictions and safety protocols, the foundation is expecting the fundraiser to look vastly different from past events.
“The Hoe-Down is a huge part of our annual fundraising, and it’s not something we can take out [of the equation] without it being a tough [financial] blow for us,” Pelletier emphasized. “We have decided to do Hoe-Down Live with a much smaller crowd—200 max— and Hoe-Down at Home as a virtual option to participate in the event. We have so much sponsorship support and enthusiasm from our supporters, so we felt we had to plan something creative and as safe as possible so we can connect with those supporters and raise vital funds for our mission.”
To learn more about The Children’s TherAplay Foundation programs and services, visit childrenstheraplay. org, and to learn more about available naming rights and how to donate, go to childrenstheraplay.org/ capital-campaign.
Diversification is simply another way of saying, “spread out A Reminder about Diversification –Your Asse February 2009, both the all-stock t Allocation your risk” or “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Diversifying and the diversified portfolios your investments helps them to weather volatility and may also improve returns based upon your level of risk. would have declined. However, the all-stock portfolio lost nearly half its initial value (–49.7%) and Diversification is simply another way of saying, “spread out your risk” or “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Diversifying your investments helps them to weather volatility and may also improve returns based upon your level of risk. the diversified portfolio lost a bit more than a third (35%). iversified portfolios contain a mix of equities and sometimes bonds, but at D In the eyes of seasoned investors, diversification has proven its long-term value. During the 2008-2009 bear market, Though the diversified portfolio declined, diversification did help to reduce losses compared with the all-stock portfolio. The allDiversified portfolios contain a mix of equities and sometimes bonds, but at the core of every great diversified portfolio are investments that react very differently to the same economic environment. Sometimes referred to as uncorrelatedinvestments, a diversified the core of every great diversihowever, many different types portfolio includes a mix of assets that zig while others zag. cash portfolio (1.6%) would have fied portfolio are investments that react very differently to of investments lost some degree of value at the same time. This outperformed the all-stock and diversified portfolios over this Though the ultimate goal of diversification is not necessarily to boost performance—it the same economic environmay have been one instance 14-month period, but missed out won’t ensure gains or guarantee against losses— once you target a level of risk based on ment. Sometimes referred to where investors felt that diveron gains during times of more your goals, time horizon, and tolerance for volatility, diversification has the potential to as uncorrelated investments, a diversified portfolio includes sification failed them, though in reality it did not. While major improve returns within that level of risk. stable market activity. Keeping your money in cash a mix of assets that zig while asset classes were more highly seemed like a good idea in FebIn the eyes of seasoned investors, diversification has proven its long-term value. During others zag. Though the ultimate goal of the 2008-2009 bear market, correlated, diversification helped contain portfolio losses. ruary 2009. However, just five years later, the portfolios looked however, many different types of investments lost some diversification is not necessardegree of value at the same time. To illustrate, consider the This may have been one very different. The all-stock instance where investors felt ily to boost performance—it that diversification failed performance of three hypothetportfolio gained 162.3% and them, though in reality it did not. While major asset classes were won’t ensure gains or guaranical portfolios in that 2008-2009 the diversified portfolio gained more highly correlated, diversification helped contain portfolio losses. tee against losses— once you time period: a diversified portfo99.7%, but the all-cash portfolio target a level of risk based lio of 70% stocks, 25% bonds, brought in a pitiful though To illustrate, consider the performance of three hypothetical portfolios in that 2008-2009 on your goals, time horizon, time period: a diversified port and 5% short-term investments; predictable return of 0.3%. folio of 70% stocks, 25% bonds, and 5% short-term and tolerance for volatility, diversification has the potential a 100% stock portfolio; and an all-cash portfolio. investments; a 100% stock portfolio; and an all-cash portfolio. What looks like great progress after a market downturn to improve returns within that By the time the market hit is a little more tempered when level of risk. its bottom point at the end of you keep the big picture in Diversification helped to limit losses and capture gains during the 2008 financial crisis
Diversification helped to limit losses and capture gains during the 2008 financial crisis
Source: Strategic Advisers, Inc. Hypothetical value of assets held in untaxed accounts of $100,000 in an all cash portfolio; Source: Strategic Advisers, Inc. Hypothetical value of assets held in untaxed accounts of a diversified growth portfolio of 49% U.S. stocks, 21% international stocks, 25% bonds, and 5% short-term investments; $100,000 in an all cash portfolio; a diversified growth portfolio of 49% U.S. stocks, 21% and all stock-portfolio of 70% U.S. stocks and 30% international stocks.
Rick Harrison, Principal, Senior Financial Advisor
mind. When we view a longer historic cycle, starting before the bottom in January 2008 through February 2014, the diversified portfolio was only up by a more typical 29.9% and the all-stock portfolio was up by 31.8%. This illustrates what diversification is all about. Diversifying your portfolio won’t necessarily maximize gains in a rising market, but it will capture most of the gains while still protecting your investments from volatility.
Your SYM advisory team works diligently to tailor your portfolio to meet your needs for cash flow, risk tolerance and time horizon. The SYM team stands firmly in support of your managed portfolio, and now is the time to think about your global asset allocation as you consider all of your cash, other investments and especially any highly concentrated stock positions. If you have questions or would like to talk further about asset allocation, your SYM advisory team is here to help.
Disclosure: The opinions expressed herein are those of SYM Financial Corporation (“SYM”) and are subject to change without notice. This material is not financial advice or an offer to sell any product. SYM reserves the right to modify its current investment strategies and techniques based on changing market dynamics or client needs. SYM is an independent investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about SYM including our investment strategies, fees and objectives can be found in our ADV Part 2, which is available upon request. SYM 20-64
