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The Ride For Hope News
Equestrian Aid Foundation
June 2010 - Vol. 2, Issue 3
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Make A Donation
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Donations provide financial assistance for basic medical and living expenses to those in our community struggling with illness and injuries. As a 501(c)3 organization, your donation is tax deductible.
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| Charlie Weaver and Friends | Our thoughts and prayers go out to Charlie's friends and family.
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Stay Connected
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| Making Strides in the Ride for Hope! |
Dear friends, This month the newsletter holds something for everyone and shares what is at the heart of EAF - a horse community of friends doing all they can to help others. We said goodbye to friends and professional horsemen Charlie Weaver and Tim Grubb; and amateur Robin Szczesny of State College, Pa.  Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families and friends. Old Salem Farm Horse Show hosted a wonderful exhibitor's party with a dunk tank to assist with Charlie's medical expenses - and it was only one of several gatherings that brought our community together. Thank you to those who've made memorials in Charlie, Tim and Robin's honor. We have exciting events coming up that you won't want to miss in the "Save the Date" section and still more have
sections of their own with more details - Hampton Classic, American Eventing Championships, High Roller Reining Championship "Play it Forward Poker Tournament," and the Sidelines Quadrathlon! If you're headed to Traverse City in July for Horse Shows By the Bay, make sure you pack your items for the "Gently Used Clothes Sale." It's a great time to clean out the closet and replace items too! We've started a new series of recipient profiles. If you missed the first on Orlando Gonzales, we've recapped it again below. Thanks to everyone who filled out a SUCCEED survey. The company gave $1 to EAF for each completed survey. Nearly 2,000 people took the survey! Thanks so much to SUCCEED and survey takers! And see below how SUCCEED is offering continued support through eBay! If you're interested in hosting an event, becoming a sponsor or donating an item for auction, please contact us. Thank you for your continued support of the EAF, its events, programs and recipients. We can't do it without you. |
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SAVE THE DATE - You Won't Want To Miss These Upcoming Events!
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July 25 - Second-Ever Used Show Clothes Sale comes to Traverse City, Mich., to Horse Shows by the Bay. The clothing drive will take place during the first
two weeks of hunter/jumper competition with drop off your gently used
riding gear at the EAF tent. The clothing sale will be Thursday, July 25. To make a donation, contact Caitlin Ziegler at
414.975.0916.
Sept. 2 - Hampton Classic "Back Where it All Began" Party and Auction at the Bridgehampton Community House from 6 - 11pm. Come as you are from the show and enjoy great food and friends. Pick up some terrific auction items too. If you'd like to make a donation to the silent auction, please email.
Sept. 9 - American Eventing Championship Party and Auction at Chatahoochee Hills in Ga. Watch the EAF website or Facebook for more on this exciting event.
Sept. 16 - "Play it Forward" Poker Tournament, South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. This tournament is amateur friendly too! Held during the High Roller Reining Classic.
Jan. 30, 2011 - Triathlon with a Twist - the new Sidelines Quadrathlon at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in Wellington, Fla. You definitely don't want to miss this! It's back by popular demand after a three-year hiatus. See all your favorite riders compete in dressage, show jumping, polo - and reining too! More info below.
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SUCCEED eBay Auction Benefits EAF and Courtney King-Dye
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SUCCEED recently added the EAF as a beneficiary to its successful eBay auction established to support Courtney King-Dye's medical fund. All proceeds from the store equally benefit the following: Equestrian Aid Foundation and the Courtney King-Dye Medical Fund.
Check out the great products for sale on eBay and support EAF and Courtney!
Email here to donate products.
Learn more about SUCCEED digestive conditioning program.
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| Give a Gift of Beauty with Zen Horse Silk Scarves | Zen Horse I
Collectible 100% Silk Scarf designed by Linda Luster
Complements any style - perfect to wear or frame!
Featured on the cover of Chronicle of the Horse
Measures 39" x 39" square
The scarf is available for $100. Purchase now online
or at On Course Consignment in Wellington, Fla. All proceeds from the sale of
the Zen scarf benefit the EAF and its recipients.
Special thanks to EAF supporters Karen Long Dwight and artist Linda Luster for their enormous generosity in
creating and producing this scarf for the EAF.
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Hampton Classic Party and Auction
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Hampton Classic "Back Where It All Began" Party and Auction
Bridgehampton Community House
Thursday, Sept. 2, 6 - 11pm.
"Come as you are!"
In so many ways, the Hamptons are home to the EAF and its membership. So many important milestones for the EAF have started there. So, we're bringing a great party back to the community house to enjoy a beach-style party. Lots more details to come! If you'd like to be a sponsor or make a donation to the auction, please contact us.
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Kudos - Fundraising Recaps
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Partygoers enjoy dunking their favorite equestrians  |
Exhibitor's Party at Old Salem Farm Show on May 21
Dunk Tank Fundraiser for Charlie Weaver
Old Salem Farm Spring Show, New York
More than $1,500 was raised in dunk tank tickets for Charlie Weaver's medical and essential expenses. Thanks to the team at Old Salem Farm and everyone who came out to support the dunk tank. First-Ever Used Show Clothes Sale on May 14
Kentucky Spring Horse Show
Showgoers had a great time donating items and shopping too! Thanks to Caitlin Ziegler for organizing this event. It was such a success that the "Second-Ever Used Show Clothes Sale" will be held in July in Traverse City at Horse Shows by the Bay. Questions? SUCCEED surveyThanks to everyone who filled out a SUCCEED
survey. The company gave $1 to EAF for each completed survey. Nearly
2,000 people took the survey! Thanks so much to SUCCEED and survey
takers! Click here to learn more about the SUCCEED digestive conditioning program. |
Recipient Profile - Orlando Gonzales
|  This is the first in a new series of profiles on EAF Recipients. While
some EAF recipients remain anonymous, many have graciously agreed to
share their inspiring stories of tragedy and hope. Please take a moment
to get to know them and see how easily everyday circumstances can
quickly change to create a need for emotional and financial support from others.
"When The Horse and The Dream Heal" from Warmbloods Today. Read about the life-threatening illness that compelled Orlando Gonzales to become an EAF Recipient.
Orlando
credits the amazing good work of the EAF for actually keeping him
alive."Seriously, I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for them. I
can't say enough good things about them." Faced with skyrocketing
medical bills and many more to come with specialists and high insurance
costs, the EAF came to Orlando's rescue.
"All I
could do was watch my horses and read mountains of horse magazines,"
recounts Orlando. "I happened to see a small advertisement about this
organization. They took care of all those worries."
Orlando is very serious now. "It's why I have a life like this now.
Because of the good work they do, riders like me can heal and mend the
emotional wounds as well as the physical ones."
Read the complete story here (pdf file).
Special thanks to Editor Liz Cornell and Warmbloods Today magazine for telling this heartwarming story. Reprinted with permission, this article appears in the May/June 2010 issue.
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Here's your chance to Win Big in Vegas and support EAF too!
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 "Play it Forward" Poker Tournament
Thursday, Sept. 16, 8-11 pm
South Point Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
During the High Roller Reining Classic.
Last year's winner Jim Rygiol, of Monterey, Calif., out-smarted 40 other players to
claim the hotly contested victory at the "Play It Forward" Poker
Tournament during the High Roller Reining Classic (HRRC). The event was
held at the South Point Hotel and benefited EAF.
The
tournament, open to all levels of players, began at 8p.m. in the
HRRC VIP Private Poker Tournament Room. Dealers provided $2,500 in
chips to all participants and slowly the ten tables of players dwindled
down to one table of ten players. At 11 p.m., the players counted their
chips and Jim Rygiol came out on top to win the highest percentage of
the pool and the "Play It Forward" Poker Tournament trophy.
"It was very scary because I'm a beginner and this is my first
tournament," commented Rygiol. "I was shaking on the first table on the
first hand, so the whole time I was thinking please don't let them see
my shaking hand."
Rygiol has a horse named Pine Whizin competing with Gabe Davide at the
High Roller Reining Classic, and he found out about the tournament
through the horse show management. "The management was so enthusiastic
that beginners could go ahead and try, and we like to give to charities
so we decided to give it a shot," smiled Rygiol. * Press release courtesy of Phelps Media.
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Triathlon with a Twist - The "New Quadrathlon!"
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After three long years, the Sidelines Triathlon is back! And, we've added the twist of a new discipline - reining. The new quadrathlon will feature four teams of four riders competing in dressage, show jumping, polo and reining. More on this event to come!
SAVE THE DATE!
January 30, 2011
Jim Brandon Equestrian Center
Wellington, Florida
You'll definitely want to be there and we're offering lots of opportunities for sponsors too! Sponsor a team of four riders, take part as an event sponsor or feature your product as one of the winning prizes! There are lots of promotional opportunities that fit all levels or we'll happily customize one just for you.
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Help EAF with a GoodSearch Toolbar
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More "Ways To Give" Now you can support the EAF every time to shop or search online! Add the Equestrian Aid Foundation GoodSearch toolbar and each time you
shop at one of the more than 1,300 participating stores, a percentage
of what you spend will be donated to EAF at no extra cost to you (you
may even save money as the toolbar provides coupons and deals)! The
toolbar also has a search box and each time you search the Internet,
about a penny is donated to EAF. No registration is required! http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbar/equestrian-aid-foundation |
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We hope you've enjoyed this issue. Please feel free to share your ideas and comments with us. Watch for future issues or in the meantime, visit the website, Facebook or Twitter for the most up-to-date information.
During these tough economic
times, please remember our friends in need - attend or host a
fundraiser, become a member, or make a donation today! Also consider
donating an item for a horse show silent auction or an eBay giving
works auction. Your contributions are more meaningful now more than
ever. Join us in The Ride For Hope. |
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