CONTACT:

Katie Condon
Kopper Top Life Learning Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2015
KOPPER TOP BRINGS ANIMAL THERAPY TO BURLINGTON COMMUNITY
The nonprofit organization hopes to reach others with compassion and support

ELON, N.C. The friendly tail wag of a Labrador Retriever named Sampson, the chorus of
goats in the field and the smiles of volunteers this is how one is greeted when stepping foot on
the Kopper Top Life Learning Center. The nonprofit organization, located on a 33 acre farm in
Liberty, North Carolina, houses therapy trained animals that work with individuals with and
without disabilities to improve ones physical, emotional and cognitive development.
Kopper Top is my way of reaching the world with kindness, love, and hope, founder Deborah
Meridith explained as she walked past the horse pastures, an energetic Jack Russell Terrier
named Nutmeg following behind dutifully. Meridith began working with horse-related therapy
while attending the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. After
graduating with a degree in recreation and a concentration in
therapeutics, Meridith worked with barn facilities at the YMCA,
developing horse-related therapy programs for individuals with
special needs. Her work in therapeutic recreation lead to the creation
of her own animal therapy center.
Founded in August 1990, Kopper Top has come a long way from its
original facility. Initially a therapeutic riding center, Kopper Top
became an IRS incorporated nonprofit organization in 1997, moving
to its current location in Liberty in February 2005, as well as adding
a number of new programs including small animal and plant therapy.
These programs range from Healing HOOVES (Helping Out Our
Helping HOOVES is one
Valued Equestrian Students), Healing PAAWS (People And Animals
of Kopper Tops many
Were Serving) or Healing GROWTH (Gently Reaching Our World
therapy programs.
Through Horiculture). HOOVES is a horseback riding program for
those with or without disabilities that include teaching individuals
about the proper care, handling, and riding of the horses. PAAWS refers to the small animal
therapy program, allowing dogs, cats and bunnies to hop into a van and travel to local nursing
homes, schools and churches, bringing

comfort to individuals of all ages. GROWTH is plant therapy, using herbs and plants as a way to
soothe the mind and spirit.
With so much going on at the farm at once, Kopper Top is heavily
dependent on the support of the community in donors and
volunteers. Taylor Holloman serves as a volunteer coordinator for
Elon University students that wish to get involved at Kopper Top.
Tasks can range from helping with a horseback riding lesson,
tacking the horse and leading the horse and rider around the ring, or
accompanying the smaller animals in the PAAWS program and
facilitating their interactions with nursing home residents. We
really appreciate all the volunteers and the help they provide,
Holloman said. As a volunteer-run organization, Kopper Top
depends on those committed to giving their time and energy to the
program.
Elon student Claire Bishop
volunteered at Kopper Top this
Other volunteer activities include helping to maintain the farm
past semester.
through cleaning the grounds and looking after the animals. Jen
Taylor, a junior at Elon University, previously volunteered at
Kopper Top with a student organization. We cleaned up some fallen tree limbs in the yard,
weeded the garden areas, and brushed the horses, Jen said. I liked providing the animals with a
safe place to live.

When introduced to Kopper Top, the initial question is: why animals in therapy? Animals are
able to provide unconditional love and acceptance, Meridith said. They do not judge based on
abilities or behavior. Whether this comes in the form of a little girl with autism forming a bond
with the gentle and easy-going horse Dinero or an elderly man remembering what it was like to
have his own dog when the black and white Jack Russell Terrier curls up next to him, Meridith is
able to see firsthand the positive effect that Kopper Top can have on an individuals life.

ABOUT:

Kopper Top Life Learning Center, Inc. is a 501(C) 3 nonprofit animal therapy center, mostly working with
children with disabilities and the elderly. Kopper Top has two programs, HOOVES and PAAWS. The
HOOVES program offers horseback riding lessons, and PAAWS provides small animal therapy, typically at
assisted-living centers in Alamance County. Volunteers can help in a variety of ways including assisting
with the HOOVES program, fundraising, or cleaning up around the farm. For more information, visit their
website: http://koppertop.org/.
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