By Carmen Rodgers
Elmore/Autauga News
Who doesn’t like a good rodeo, especially one that benefits a great cause? Well, get ready because the Noah Foundation aims to do just that with the Inaugural Rodeo for Autism. Members of the Prattville City Council heard from event organizers during Tuesday’s regular meeting.
“What we are trying to do is host a rodeo to raise funds for the NOAH Foundation,” said Gaines Harrell with the Noah Foundation.
The Noah Foundation helps children and adults with special needs obtain the services they need.
It is an Alabama-based non-profit organization with a mission to help families with special needs children.
The Noah Foundation is a supporter of New Hope Academy, a school in Prattville, that specializes in individualized education.
“We don’t say people with disabilities,” Harrell said. “We say people with different abilities. The Noah Foundation supports New Hope Academy, which has students who are struggling with their learning skills and struggling to get through life because of the challenges that they face.”
The Noah Foundation is also a supporter of Savannah’s Hope.
“Savannah’s Hope works with adults in that matter as well by providing them with opportunities to find places to live, places of employment, and, obviously, some financial help as well,” Harrell said.
In addition, The Noah Foundation is a supporter of the YMCA’s Field of Dreams.
“I believe we are familiar with the YMCA’s Field of Dreams, which allows children and adults to participate in sporting activities,” Harrell said.
Jeremy Smith, the owner of Big Fat Rodeo Productions, LLC, also spoke to the council.
“We’ll come in. We’ll put the rodeo on. There are multiple things that we can do, other than just rodeo. We’ve had good luck in other cities where we brought Cowboy Day during the day on Saturday mornings. That helps families come in. It doesn’t cost anything, but it brings revenue into the City.”
Smith says his rodeo production traveled to the small town of Kosciusko, Mississippi, and made a big impact.
“In two days, that little city raised $72,000,” Smith said. “It could be really big in Prattville.”
Smith says his production is grounded in strong moral values.
“We start the rodeo off with God, then family and country and the way it is,” Smith said.
Founded in memory of Noah Hungerford, the 4-and- 1/2-month-old son of Beth and Chad Hungerford who died unexpectedly in a daycare accident, The Noah Foundation was created to help other children.
While this event is still in the planning stages, it is set to be held at Mac Gray Park in Prattville.
For more about The Noah Foundation, visit About Us – Noah Foundation (thenoahfound.org)
