Pal-O-Mine Equestrian receives $28,000 grant from LIREG

Islandia, NY Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, a not-for-profit agency providing therapeutic horseback riding and other programs for individuals with disabilities and other vulnerable populations, has received a charitable grant of $28,000 from the Long Island Real Estate Group (LIREG). Pal-O-Mine Equestrian is one of five local not-for-profits receiving LIREG grants totaling $165,000 for 2019.

The LIREG grant contributes to Pal-O-Mine’s 2019 capital campaign, and will help fund major renovations to its J-STEP vocational program building, according to founder and CEO Lisa Gatti. “The houses and barns on our 13-acre facility in Islandia date back as far as 1912. LIREG’s donation was able to provide a much-needed new roof and insulated windows for our J-STEP building. Many foundations want to fund scholarships, but in our case infrastructure is equally important, so we’re very grateful to LIREG for their generous help.”

Founded in 1995, Pal-O-Mine provides a comprehensive therapeutic equine program using horses to facilitate growth, learning and healing for children and adults with disabilities, those who have been abused or neglected, the military and the impoverished. Equine program participants are evaluated and those who qualify, who are over 21 years of age, and have a desire to work can be accepted into the vocational program, which seeks to provide them with marketable job skills.

“LIREG is pleased to support this unique program that has improved the lives of so many of our neighbors with a wide range of disabilities, as well as those who are disadvantaged,” said Andrew Richards, co-chair of the LIREG Charity Committee. Committee co-chair Peter Schapero said, “Our grant will help create a more comfortable, modern facility where Pal-O-Mine’s clients will be able to gain the necessary skills to find rewarding work in the community.”

LIREG is a networking and philanthropic group composed of 400 professionals in the real estate industry and allied trades on Long Island. Since its founding in 2004, the organization has contributed more than $1.4 million to numerous real estate-related projects undertaken by charities on Long Island.