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HISTORY
The
Pegasus Program was founded on January 1, 2001 to serve children in the
surrounding area of Pierce County by providing an educational, mentoring
program that meets children’s emotional and physical needs.
Pierce County has few after school programs.
It has poverty (34% of our students qualify for free or reduced
school lunches), a drug problem, a high teen pregnancy rate, and a large
number of children suffering from mental illness.
The United Way of Pierce County stated that “children who are
involved in after school activity are 47% less likely to be involved with
drugs.” Research has found
that “children who develop positive relationships with adults and have
their discretionary time filled with worthwhile activity make better
choices and become more successful adults.”
According to the University of Washington the “number one reason
for hospitalization of Children (in WA state ages 5-19 years) is
Depression and Behavior Problems.”
It is
common Knowledge that children who are actively involved in after school
activities and have a health connection with caring adults are less
troubled and are much more likely to be successful later in life.
Providing mentoring and educational opportunities along with
healthy recreational and animal husbandry activities can do a lot to
support children’s emotional and physical needs.
The
Pegasus Program was founded to meet the needs of children by offering
encouragement, recreation, a “wellness education”, a chance to make
friends, and healthy adult mentors. The
program originally involved horsemanship and horseback riding lessons.
We’ve branched out into other recreational and educational
activities so that youth who might not be interested in riding horses
could benefit from participation. Mentoring
children, improving their lives and helping them grow into healthy
successful members of society is a win/win/win scenario.
The youth win, society wins and our volunteers benefit as well.
Several of our past program participants have had emotional or
physical challenges, several have been deaf.
We feel from the feedback given by the youth and their parents that
their Pegasus Program experience has helped participants move forward to
taking on the challenge of integrating into society.
In the case of our deaf participants this involves living in a
society which doesn’t “speak” their language. We
are proud of them and happy we were there to help them fulfill their
potential.
In 2008
the Pegasus Program provided an equestrian portion to a camp for the
children of wounded warriors. The
camp sponsors relayed that the Pegasus Program’s portion was the
favorite activity offered. That
same year we were included in American Family Insurance’s 2008 Annual
Report. We have also been
included in United Way of Pierce County’s Day of Caring.
We are very thankful for the support we have had from them, the
community and individuals. Our
success is dependent on the generous help and support we have had and
continue to receive from others.
We are
looking forward to the future and are excited to see where it will lead.
You are welcome to join us on our journey.
It is sure to be an exciting and rewarding.
Margaret
M. Mason,
R.N., B.S.N. Pegasus Program
Executive Director
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