SACRAMENTO – California Senator Scott Wilk, R-Antelope Valley, chose Carousel Ranch of Santa Clarita as the 21st Senate District’s Nonprofit of the Year Wednesday, as the California Association of Nonprofits hosted California Nonprofits Day at the State Capitol.

“For twenty-one years Carousel Ranch has been making a huge difference in the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children in the Santa Clarita Valley,” Wilk said.

“They do amazing work and are more than deserving of this award,” he said. “Equine therapy feels more like fun than therapy to kids struggling with physical, emotional and developmental issues. Watching the kids on the horses is like watching poetry in motion. The team at Carousel Ranch has made a real difference in the lives of so many young people and their families.

Carousel Ranch opened in 1997 in a backyard with one student. In 2005 directors Becky Graham and Denise Redmond purchased an incredible 10+-acre ranch in Agua Dulce and are now serving more than 100 students a week. Through community support, Carousel Ranch has expanded to include vocational programs as well.

“Visiting the Capitol today and receiving this award has been a great honor,” Redmond said. “We are very appreciative of Senator Wilk for recognizing us as the Nonprofit of the Year but without the amazing support of our Santa Clarita community, the hundreds of students we have seen over the years and of course, our equine business partners, none of what we have accomplished would have been possible.”

The 2018 Nonprofit of the Year award winners were chosen based on their long-standing support of the community, civic involvement and dedication to the community in which they are located. Becky Graham, Denise Redmond and Eric Stroh from Carousel Ranch were in Sacramento to receive the award from Wilk.

“Carousel Ranch is a stellar nonprofit organization,” Wilk said. “It has provided invaluable services to the people living in and around Santa Clarita. I applaud them on a job well done.”