The Salamone Family 10 Years Post 9/11
August 11th, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact: Chris Capra, 347-886-2798 or CapraHorse.PR@gmail.com
The Salamone Family 10 Years Post 9/11
The Launch of Spring Reins of Life (horses, humans & healing) 501c3
North Caldwell, NJ – August 3, 2011
On September 11th, 2001 – one moment changed the Salamone family forever. John Salamone, husband and father was killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Now a decade later if you talk to MaryEllen Salamone or any of her three children about how they are doing, you may be surprised to learn that they are not focused on the past but more on the future.
MaryEllen Salamone has been a 9/11 activist since soon after the attacks. Among many other projects and positions, she served as president of Families of September 11, and was a founding member of the 4 Action Initiative (a national curriculum assisting teachers in their efforts to teach children about global terrorism). She serves on the Board of the National School Center for Crisis and Bereavement and is proud of her work with the White House appointed National Commission on Children and Disasters.
“I feel like I have accomplished many of my goals and have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to help children who have suffered through trauma nationwide. But now, 10 years later, I want to take the best of what I have learned over the years and really give back,” says MaryEllen.
Spring Reins of Life – Horses, Humans & Healing was founded in 2011 by MaryEllen and Christianna Capra as the non profit extension to Spring Reins of Hope-Growth, providing Equine Assisted Services utilizing horses as “teachers” and “therapists” under the EAGALA Model (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association). The program provides EAL (equine assisted life-skills) and EAP (equine assisted psychotherapy) services on a wide variety of topics and issues from corporate training to depression and PTSD.
Animal assisted therapy has been proven to improve both physiological and emotional healing after loss and trauma. For the Salamone family, it was the horse/human bond that provided the help. Soon after 9/11, all three Salamone children began to ride horses. The special relationship they formed with the horses was a life metaphor for them…realizing that they had the ability to gain control and earn acceptance with the horses, something so much bigger than they were…just like 9/11 was in their life. While there were many people who offered help after 9/11, the horses were their best “therapists”.
“One size does not fit all. Traditional therapy modalities might not work for some people who are suffering, and others avoid seeking help because of the stigma attached to it. Animal assisted therapy with horses works, but so many people do not have access to programs that offer it.” Salamone noted.
Spring Reins of Life was formed to provide EAP/EAL services to those who would derive the most benefit but have the least access to services of its kind. Currently, they provide programming free of charge to Bereaved Children, Military and their Families, and At Risk Youth in the New York/ New Jersey region.
It is a labor of love for the whole family…the kids work at the farm and look forward to participating in the groups with bereaved kids. “Horses helped me when my dad died; I know they can help other kids too. Maybe if they see me and how well I am doing now, they will know one day they will be OK too”, said Anna Salamone. The boys look forward to working side by side with our military. “Men like Pat Tillman, left their jobs and their families to protect us, some of them for joined the army because of 9/11. I want to work with them as our way to say thank you”, said Aidan Salamone.
“Working on the farm is hard work, but I always leave feeling better than when I came”, said Alex Salamone.
MaryEllen Salamone concludes, “The next ten years will be different from the last. It will be about healing, a journey my kids and I are still on. It will be rewarding to share what has helped us with others.”
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About Spring Reins of Life – Horses, Humans and Healing (501c3):
Spring Reins of Life is a non-profit 501c3 organization. We are an EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) model program offering Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) which incorporates the use of horses for therapeutic intervention toward promoting emotional growth and healing. The program is a team approach featuring a licensed Mental Health Professional (MHP), a certified Equine Specialist (ES), and Horses specifically selected for their capacity to work with individuals who are troubled or suffering. We do not offer any riding or mounted work in our program. While there are many physical benefits to horseback riding, the EAGALA model is a solution focused base that thrives from the benefits of behavioral rehearsal and the real-time experiential component that is possible when clients interact with the horses at “free-will”. See more information at: www.springreinsoflife.org
*MaryEllen Salamone is also joined by her friend and colleague Terry Strada on the SROL Board of Directors. Ms. Strada is also a 9/11 widow and mother to three children and is also very committed and dedicated to healing power of horses.
Spring Reins of Life would also like to thank our first founding sponsors; it is great to start out with some funding and to be able to offer services right out of the gate!
Cloquet Capital Partners
The Salamone Family Foundation
Advantage Premium Horse Blend
www.springreinsoflife.org
For more information or to schedule an interview with Ms. Salamone contact:
Chris Capra, Publicist, 347-886-2798 or CapraHorse.PR@gmail.com
Posted in News & Events, News Releases
Tags: Bereavement and Horses, Complicated grief, EAP, MaryEllen Salamone, Non profit, Salamone Family, Spring Reins of Life
