|
Philanthropy and Community at Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show
WESTPORT, CT - June 28, 2013 - The AA-Rated Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show held June 18-22, 2013 in Westport, Connecticut not only featured a wonderful venue for equestrians of all ages and levels to compete, it welcomed the public to experience the equestrian sport and also enjoy community activities free of charge.
In selecting the EQUUS Foundation as the show's beneficiary for the last 10 years, the Fairfield County Hunt Club has also been instrumental in helping the Foundation award more than $2 million in grants to charities across the United States that are dedicated to horse welfare and enabling the therapeutic use of horses for those with special needs.
Over $185,000 was raised in association with the 2013 horse show, and more than 400 guests attended the EQUUS Foundation Benefit Luncheon that was held in conjunction with the show’s Grand Prix on Saturday, June 22, 2013.
|
Above Left to Right: George N. Venizelos of Wells Fargo Advisors, Grand Prix Presenting Sponsor, his son, Gregory Venizelos, Helen Klisser During, and Gordon F. Joseloff, Westport's First Selectman.
Above Left to Right: Ed & Ellen Boyle with Nestle Waters North America CEO Mike Pengue and his wife, Jill.
Above Left to Right: Brenda Tananbaum, Benedicte Berg, Berkeley Soper and Gabrielle Guise.
"We are so deeply grateful to the Fairfield County Hunt Club and the many individual and corporate sponsors that contributed to the success of our fundraising efforts," said Lynn Coakley, EQUUS Foundation President.
|
Above: Oliver Pursche of Gary Goldberg Financial Services with his wife, Virginia.
Above: Left to right: Amanda Belden, Charlotte Stern, Meredith Belden and Kim Ward.
Above: Left to right: Gabby Alecia, Dimitra Ippolito, Katie Sargent and Katrina Tiktinsky.
Corporate sponsors included Official Sponsors - Ariat International, Audi Fairfield, Mercedes Benz of Fairfield, Moffly Media, Nestle Waters North America, Porsche of Fairfield, Terrain of Westport, Wells Fargo Advisors & George N. Venizelos; Gold Medal Sponsors - Avenue Capital Group, Fairfield Equine Associates and Newmark Grubb Knight Frank Global Corporate Services; Silver Medal Sponsors - Gary Goldberg Financial Services, Hi Ho Petroleum, Hospital for Special Surgery, Imperial Dental Associates, Kennedy Equine Transport, and Margaret Bondy Interiors; Bronze Medal Sponsors - Agriventures Agway and Wynatte Chu, DDS.
|
Thanks to Nestle Waters North America, the show also featured a Family Fun Day on Saturday with free pony rides organized by the New Canaan Mounted Troop (NCMT), a "horseless" horse show, and arts & crafts by The Giggling Pig.
|
|
New Canaan Mounted Troop, one of the local grant recipients of the EQUUS Foundation, tapped into their volunteer base and their ponies to make Family Fun Day "fun" for hundreds of spectators and their children. NCMT ponies, Blue and Jackson, and Hunt Club ponies, Dora and Sparky, delighted adults and kids alike. The volunteer "Troopers" included Anne Dylewski, Jessica D'Urso, Joan Burnett, Liz Gallagher, Nicole Rivard, Alejandra Zamora, Jillian Kutner, Julianne Reilly, Maddie Bernstein, Amanda Bauersfeld, Kelsey Allen, Paige Drippe, and Lauren Hanny.
|
|
New Canaan Mounted Troop (NCMT), a 74-year old 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is dedicated to building leadership, responsibility and confidence in youth through sound horsemanship. With an emphasis on teamwork, NCMT teaches the fundamentals of hunt seat equitation and equine care to approximately 100 children ages 7 - 17. NCMT also offers "Super Troopers", a therapeutic riding and horsemanship program for children and adults with special needs.
|
|
All photos provided courtesy of Reflections Photography.
About The EQUUS Foundation
The EQUUS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity established in 2002, also known as Horse Charities of America, is dedicated to ensuring the well-being of horses, fostering the horse-human bond, advancing the therapeutic use of horses for those in need, and educating the public about the horse's unique ability to power, teach and heal. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Contact the EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880, Tele: (203) 259-1550, E-Mail: mail@equusfoundation.org, Website: equusfoundation.org.
|