LOCAL FAMILY GIVES $1.5 MILLION TO THE EQUICENTER
The EquiCenter announced today that it received the commitment for a $1.5 million gift from the William & Mildred Levine Foundation. This gift is the first step toward the EquiCenter’s vision of increasing its capacity to serve the community at a new location with a larger, year-round facility. At today’s press conference the EquiCenter unveiled a conceptual rendering for the future property and facility. From this point forward, the EquiCenter will be known as the EquiCenter at the William and Mildred Levine Ranch.
“My wife, Mildred, and I had three children, nine grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren that we love and adore—family is extremely important to us,” said William Levine, William & Mildred Levine Foundation. “The EquiCenter provides a loving and secure environment; much like a family does, to the children and adults they serve every day. I am excited to see the EquiCenter’s family grow and flourish with the help of this gift.”
The EquiCenter at the William & Mildred Levine Ranch plans to include the following components:
- A large heated indoor riding arena, a building complex to include offices, training space, therapy rooms, educational classrooms, meeting space and special event rooms.
- Riding and carriage driving trails
- Additional pasture areas for 30 horses
- Outdoor riding arenas
- A sensory trail course
- Event, picnic and demonstration areas
- Overnight adventure campgrounds
- Maintenance space and storage
- Parking and special event space
“The William & Mildred Levine Foundation has forever changed the EquiCenter and the community through this generous gift,” said Jonathan Friedlander, president and CEO of the EquiCenter. “This gift will serve as the foundation and inspiration for others to follow as the EquiCenter further transforms itself into a leading center in the region and country for equine assisted therapies, teaching and research.”
In 1933 Levine and his father, Abraham Levine, founded Alleson of Rochester, Inc. and was elected president at its inception. Levine also was one of the founders of the First National Bank of Rochester where he served on the Board of Directors for 26 years. Eventually FNBR was purchased by M&T Bank. In 1987, Levine started the William & Mildred Levine Foundation with his wife, as they strongly believed in giving back to the Rochester community.