About Us
Founded in 1994. Work to Ride (WTR) is a 501 c3, nonprofit community-based prevention program that aids under-resourced urban youth through constructive activities centered on horsemanship, equine sports and education. The program is housed at Chamounix Equestrian Center, located in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. This setting provides a unique opportunity to bring urban youth in contact with animals and nature.
Work to Ride is designed as long-term program for 8 to 18 year-old students who must commit to a minimum of one year of participation. It is, however, expected that participants will choose to remain with the program through high school graduation. Work to Ride graduates receive help with college enrollment, and most also choose to return to Chamounix to mentor new participants.
Building Community – Expanding Horizons – Transforming Lives
Young people of ages 8 to 18 residing in communities of concentrated poverty in Philadelphia are learning to play polo – and so much more – through Work to Ride (WTR) at Chamounix Equestrian Center in Fairmount Park. Through participation in evidence-based programs, they are working early mornings and after school for the opportunity to acquire life skills such as responsibility, decision making, and leadership while they learn to ride horses and play polo. They are also learning that the life limitations they see all around them in their local neighborhoods may not have to be so limiting after all.
WTR Participants and graduates are surpassing expectations, competing in, and winning interscholastic and intercollegiate polo competitions. To build on this success, we need to build improved facilities and offer programs and services to enable more young people to participate in this unique, urban equestrian community. The WTR Board of Directors has launched a capital campaign to raise $12 million to support and sustain the WTR mission, construct a fully enclosed, multipurpose equestrian facility within Chamounix Equestrian Center, renovate the current stabling and pastures, and seed an endowment to ensure sustainable growth.
WTR Participants and graduates are surpassing expectations, competing in, and winning interscholastic and intercollegiate polo competitions. To build on this success, we need to build improved facilities and offer programs and services to enable more young people to participate in this unique, urban equestrian community. The WTR Board of Directors has launched a capital campaign to raise $12 million to support and sustain the WTR mission, construct a fully enclosed, multipurpose equestrian facility within Chamounix Equestrian Center, renovate the current stabling and pastures, and seed an endowment to ensure sustainable growth.
Current Facilities
Chamounix Equestrian Center (formely McCarthy Stables), was built in 1973 to house the mounted police force that patrolled the parks and streets of Philadelphia. In 1994, when Work to Ride took over the lease on the property; it had been adandoned for several years and needed repair. Over the years, several smaller repairs have been made, but much of the maintenance has been deferred due to budget limitations. Your support through the Capital Campaign will allow us to make the much-needed structural renovations and modernize our current facility!
The future is looking bright!
Take a look at the architect renderings of how the new indoor arena and barn renovations will look like when the projects are completed.
Designs by Archer and Buchanan.
How Can You Help?
Work to Ride Leaders are committed to raising $12 million to expand and improve Work to Ride
facilities and resources to extend the reach of programs and services to additional youth who
could benefit from the experience. The campaign components include:
$10.5 million for a new 35,000
square foot indoor riding
facility
$1.5 million for upgrades to
our existing facility and
expansion of our pastures
An additional $1 million to seed an
endowment to ensure the future
growth and sustainability of
Work to Ride.
We welcome
your gift of
any size!
We welcome
your gift of
any size!
$1 million for a capital
reserve to ensure the future
growth and sustainability of
Work to Ride.
While the size and layout of the barn will not change, the spaces inside will be improved and modernized to make it more functional for the participants, the staff, and especially the horses. We hope to expand the pastures from 3.5 to 5.5 acres that are secure for the safety of our horses and riders.
We are excited for donors to participate in realizing our goals and objectives of continual community services and sustaining effective youth programs. We encourage potential donors to contact the following individuals who are leading the fundraising efforts.
| Naming Opportunities | |
|---|---|
| Indoor Arena [SOLD] | $3,000,000 |
| Barn | $2,000,000 |
| Outdoor Arena | $1,500,000 |
| Mezzanine Area | $1,000,000 |
| Lounge Area | $500,000 |
| Tie Area | $200,000 |
| Pasture #1 | $200,000 |
| Pasture #2 | $200,000 |
| Wash Stall | $150,000 |
| Classroom #1 | $150,000 |
| Classroom #2 | $150,000 |
| Office #1 | $100,000 |
| Office #2 | $100,000 |
| Scoreboard [SOLD] | $15,000 |
| *Donor Wall Recognition | $500 |
Meet the Work to Ride Fundraising Team
Work to Ride Board Member: Kareem Rosser
Email: Krosser@reathco.com Cell: 215-800-8550Work to Ride Executive Director and Founder: Lezlie Hiner
Email: Lezlie@worktoride.net Office: 215-877-4419Work to Ride Board Member and Advisor: Peter Rizzo
Email: rizzo.poloworks@gmail.com Office: 561-777-6448Information available upon request: Krosser@reathco.com
– Business plan, annual budget and financial policies and procedures
– Full architectural rendering for the proposed facilities
– Work to Ride Board of Directors list
