Support from a variety of therapists can help those with special needs meet the challenges they face on a daily basis, but one of the most unconventional types of therapy doesn’t come from a human. It comes from a horse.

From Monday, March 24, through Sunday, March 30, Exceptional Equestrians Unlimited, which offers such support, will be the beneficiary of Strack & Van Til’s Checkout Challenge Round Up. Customers across the Region can round up their purchase to the nearest dollar when shopping at their local Strack & Van Til store or Town & Country in Valparaiso. Those extra funds will be donated to the organization.

According to the nonprofit’s treasurer, Jeffrey Perz, Hobart-based EEU was founded in 1979 to provide specialized horseback riding programs for children with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other developmental and physical challenges.

With a team of 10 trained therapy horses, EEU offers customized lesson plans for 45 to 50 individuals per year, designed by skilled instructors to improve balance, coordination and self-confidence in riders.

Perz notes 100% of the proceeds from the Strack & Van Til Round Up will help support its life-changing programs that enhance the well-being of individuals with disabilities, including the construction of an outdoor riding arena. This new space will allow EEU to incorporate natural elements, offering a sensory-rich experience for riders that can improve focus and engagement. In addition, funds will aid in improving pasture fencing to ensure the safety and well-being of the therapy horses and addressing long-overdue maintenance on other structures across the property.

“The Strack & Van Til Checkout Challenge is highly competitive due to the many deserving nonprofits in the region that apply for this opportunity, and we are very grateful to have been chosen as a beneficiary,” notes Perz. “EEU is privately funded, relying on donations, sponsorships and community support to care for its horses and maintain its facilities. Events like the Strack & Van Til Checkout Challenge Round Up play a vital role in ensuring the program continues to serve children in Northwest Indiana for years to come.”

Strack & Van Til continues an more than  95-year tradition of philanthropy by raising funds through the Checkout Challenge Round Up program to help organizations in the communities they serve throughout Northwest Indiana.

President Jeff Strack credits customer generosity and employee commitment for the success of the Checkout Challenge Round Ups.

“We are so grateful to our customers, as they are the ones who give back to the community,” Strack explains. “Our stores, with the help of our employees, simply provide our customers with an outlet to give to some of their favorite local organizations.”

Show your support for Exceptional Equestrians Unlimited by participating in Strack & Van Til’s Checkout Challenge Round Up.

For more information on EEU’s programs, to volunteer or to donate, visit eeunwi.org or Facebook.com/eeunwi.

To learn more about Strack & Van Til’s community involvement, visit strackandvantil.com/company/community-involvement.