equine therapy program that provides healing and hope for abused Colorado children.

Dark Star Farm (owned by Franktown local Deb Strachan) was once again the site for this year's Art on the Farm held Saturday, Sept. 6, and featuring Channel 4's Brian Maass as emcee. Nearly 200 invited guests and horse-lovers from throughout the Front Range enjoyed this 6 th annual evening of dining, dancing, and dressage (plus vaulting and reining) that helped Griffith Centers for Children raise funds for its therapeutic horse program.

" Trails to Trust is a proven success in helping young victims of abuse and neglect," says Barbara Ritchie, Griffith Centers for Children's chief development officer and director of the Griffith Centers for Children Foundation. According to Barbara, children who come to Griffith Centers have previously been placed up to six times in other treatment centers or in foster care. Many of these children and teens have never known a loving relationship with their families. More importantly, they have never learned how to trust others.

"Our equine therapy program partners each child with a horse and teaches children how to groom, feed, and ride their horse," Barbara explains. "Over time, young people in the program develop that special human/animal bond, and in turn, they begin to build up their own self confidence, self-esteem and the ability to trust!"

Each year, Art on the Farmattracts great attention and support for Trails to Trust, which is available year round and helps 80 children and teens each month. This equine therapy program has expanded to serve families, private therapists and their clients and local school children with special needs. Recently, Trails to Trust opened its doors to assist children with autism. The equine therapy program takes place at Griffiths' 100-acre boys' ranch near Larkspur, and is also available to children from Griffith's Colorado Springs residential facility.

Established in 1927 by noted educator Miss Emily Griffith, Griffith Centers for Children is a nonprofit that over the past eight decades has helped more than 22,000 at-risk children. This year, the organization will serve 1,600 troubled youth and their families in 32 Colorado counties. More than 90% of those in Griffith's care are uninsured and Medicaid eligible. Approximately 50% of children in Griffith's residential treatment are from the Denver area.

Besides equine therapy, Griffith also offers residential care (including crisis intervention and one-on-one counseling), family preservation programs, foster care and adoption services, on-site special education schools,

group homes, wilderness therapy and ropes courses, and a voluntary nondenominational spiritual program. Griffith's programs and services are available 24/7, year round.

Griffith Centers is grateful to the many guests who joined in the 2008 Art on the Farm, and would also like to acknowledge these event sponsors: High Prairie International Polo Club, Colorado Arabian Breeders Alliance, Town & Country Foods, Wells Fargo - Franktown, Allstate Insurance Company, CWH Graphics, Coca-Cola Colorado Springs, Gelazzi Gelato, Franktown Liquor, Odell Brewery, Acadia Equine Rehabilitation, IPG - Initial Production Group, and Instant Imprints. Special thanks go to this year's participating artists, who also donated a portion of their sales to Trails to Trust: Fritz Anders, Barb Cohen, Trina Dillman, Robert Gray, Peter Lewis, Gary Miller, Robert Towery,and Deanna Urs.

For details on Griffith Centers for Children, Trails to Trust, and Art on the Farm, please visit www.griffithcenters.org or call 303-237-6865.