Feed The Pig! To Help Special Equestrians
Feed the pig! Give A Buck Founder, Sissy DeMaria. Photo courtesy of Give A Buck.
Give a Buck for Special Equestrians, a Miami-based fundraising initiative to support therapeutic riding programs for children and adults with physical, developmental or emotional disabilities, is in ‘hog heaven’ that Coral Gables bookstore Books & Books has agreed to host its ‘piggy bank’ during a donation drive by the Coral Gables Community Foundation.
Starting in September, ceramic piggy banks will placed in different businesses in hopes patrons will stuff the pigs to raise money for different charities that are part of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, the philanthropic conduit to connect people and corporations looking to positively impact the City of Coral Gables. Give A Buck, which is part of the CGCF is an all- volunteer organization supporting Special Equestrians of the Treasure Coast, Good Hope Equestrians, Stable Place, Naples Equestrian Challenge, Vinceremos and Appalachian Therapeutic Riding Center, encourages horse owners to share the joy of horses and horsemanship with those with physical or emotional disabilities by asking horse owners to contribute as little as a buck, or as much as they can, with each month’s board payment.
From September through the holidays, Give a Buck’s piggy bank will be in Coral Gables mainstay, Books & Books. The shop opened its doors in Coral Gables in 1982 and since that time, the Books & Books has become one of the most well-respected independent bookstores in the country.
“We are ‘squealing’ with excitement that Books & Books is partnering with Give A Buck for this donation drive,” said Give A Buck Founder Sissy DeMaria. “Books & Books is a special part of Coral Gables and we are thrilled that they support our mission as we try to help those with special needs receive the healing power of horses.”
Books & Books owner, Mitchell Kaplan,said he agreed to host the pig after hearing about Give A Buck’s mission.
“When we heard about the donation drive we were happy to take part in encouraging our patrons to give back to the community,” Kaplan said. “Giving is good in our book.”
There will be 19 other piggy banks at business throughout Coral Gables as part of the CGCF piggy bank campaign. For more information on the campaign www.gablesfoundation.org.
