LoveWay, Inc.--History

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Our History
	LoveWay Projects, Inc. was founded by Gary and Sandy Weatherwax in 1973 in memory of their 17 year old daughter, Laurie. While in high school, Laurie had taken a school trip to Augusta, Michigan to visit the Cheff Center. At that time, Cheff Center was the only therapeutic riding center in the mid-west. Laurie was very interested in bringing a program of therapeutic riding to Northern Indiana since her father required a wheelchair.

It was from this visit that Laurie's dream to help others with physical, mental or emotional disabilities was borne. After her death the Weatherwax's founded LoveWay Projects, Inc. In 1990, the name was officially changed from LoveWay Projects, Inc. to LoveWay, Inc.

Old Arena

LoveWay was incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization Sept. 24, 1974. The first board of directors was comprised of Mr. & Mrs. Weatherwax and Jykla Wiegand. Ms. Wiegand was the center's first instructor and received her therapeutic instructor training at The Cheff Center, Augusta MI. The first lessons for special needs children were provided in the Weatherwax driveway with specially selected and trained horses. A volunteer training program was established and many community minded volunteers began donating their time to assist with students. Local resident Agnes Riegsecker was the organizations' first volunteer.

Agnes Riegsecker, LoveWay, Inc.'s first volunteer,
and her husband, Jesse.

Fund raising was a community wide effort and $50,000 was raised to build the first indoor arena in 1979. Stacy Stearly a fourteen year old student from Jimtown High School conducted a 65 mile trail ride and raised over $4,000 in pledges to help with the arena project.

The first Wild Rose Moon festival was begun by Mary Van Dyke in 1981 and continued until 2003. In 1990 the name was officially changed to LoveWay, Inc. A program director handled student enrollments and the board continued to handle administrative needs.

The Welcome Center was constructed in 1996 under the leadership of board president Wayne Campbell. Shortly thereafter a strategic planning session provided the plan to hire an Executive Director. In the fall of 2000 the board hired Sandra Carbone of Shipshewana as the first Executive Director. The board of directors transitioned to a Governance model of operations and focused on the future. In April of 2003 under the guidance of board president Karen Thomson, a capital campaign completed the new 80' x 104' NIBCO Riding Arena with a lead gift from the Rex & Alice A. Martin Foundation. With funds provided by three anonymous donors, the 60' x 80' Equipment and Hay barn was completed in the fall of 2004. In 2006 paving of the driveway and parking lot for handicapped accessibility was provided by the Goshen Rotary Club and Rieth Riley, Inc.

Our History