Lou Castriota, Jr. is one step closer to transforming his dream into reality.
The state Department of Community and Economic Development announced last week that Castriota's nonprofit project, Leg Up Farm, was awarded a community development grant worth $62,405. The grant was the largest among nearly 50 York County grants.
Castriota describes Leg Up Farm as a non-profit, comprehensive therapy rehabilitation center for children and young adults with special needs. The concept combines traditional therapies -- physical, speech and occupational therapy -- with non-traditional therapies, such as hippotherapy (horseback riding), aquatherapy, massage therapy and sensory play. The center would be located on a farm in York County.
The award was especially sweet for Castriota after losing out on the same grant three times within the past year. Still, he looked at the rejections in a positive light.
"We're on our way. This is the most exciting day for me in the history of the project, so far," Castriota said. "We worked and continued to get more letters of support after each round, so it actually helped us lay more groundwork and helped us get more support in the community."
But much work remains. Castriota still needs over $9 million to get the project up and running. He still needs to purchase a farm for the project, or better yet, find someone to donate their land.
The grant money will help with operating expenses, marketing materials and architectural site surveys. It will also be used for feasibility studies for a capital campaign, that is, seeing how well the community will support the project, how many people, businesses and organizations will support it, even down to an estimated dollar amount, Castriota said.
The concept of a complete therapy and rehabilitation center came after Castriota's 4-year-old daughter, Brooke, was diagnosed at 6 months old with mitochondrial disease, a metabolic disorder that causes cognitive and motor delays. Castriota developed the idea as he and his wife, Laurie, sought therapy for Brooke and thought it would be easier to have everything consolidated.
For questions about Leg Up Farm, call 717-843-8341.
By TED CZECH, The York Dispatch/Sunday News