Georgia Truitt of the Christiana Care Visiting Nurse Association has been honored as a Jefferson Award winner by Christiana Care Health System for her volunteer work with Southern Delaware Therapeutic & Recreational Horseback Riding.

Truitt, a senior recruiter in human resources, teaches up to 10 lessons per week as a registered Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International instructor. She also is the president of the horseback riding organization’s board of directors.

Therapeutic riding has physical and emotional benefits for people with autism, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, ADHD, cognitive challenges and social or emotional challenges, Truitt explained. She has witnessed some participants saying their first words while riding a horse.

“I can honestly say that my relationship with our riders, their families/support system, our volunteers and horses have changed my life,” Truitt said. “It’s a true honor to spend time with our riders and help them reach their potential.”

Founded in 1972, the national Jefferson Awards program honors public service in the United States. As part of a related Christiana Care recognition program, Truitt was one of five people presented with awards at the John H. Ammon Medical Education Center in recognition of the Christiana Care employees who contribute countless volunteer hours in their communities.

Other honorees included Christiana Care social worker Amy Benton, cofounder and vice president of the Eric and Ava Benton Joy-Hope Foundation; Kim L. Petrella, RN, a member of the Delaware Medical Reserve Corps and Christiana Care Medical Reserve Corps; and Reynold S. Agard, MD, and Vinod Kripalu, MD, cofounders of several nonprofits including the Delaware Medical Relief Team and From Our Kitchen.

For more information about Christiana Care go to www.christianacare.org/whoweare.