The Pegasus Project Newsletter
SEPTEMBER 2016

Your Gift Matters!!

The Pegasus Project is changing lives every day for horses and humans by fulfilling our mission to rescue and rehome neglected animals. We completely depend upon your continued generosity to keep the operation going. To assist in our fundraising goals, Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) is sponsoring North Texas Giving Day on September 22nd. 

Members of the Pegasus board of directors and a group of our oh-so-awesome core supporters are providing matching funds for gifts made in connection with North Texas Giving Day. Our Matching Donors will match EVERY gift made on September 22nd dollar-for-dollar up to $35,000!

In addition, The Pegasus Project will receive extra bonus funds from CFT for each donation of $25 or more made on Thursday, September 22nd. More than $2 million in bonus funds are available to qualifying nonprofits! (Gifts of less than $25 are welcome and appreciated but not eligible for bonus funds.) 

With the bonus funds from CFT and our core supporters' 1:1 matching funds, donations totaling $35,000 will turn into more than $70,000! So, please mark your calendar for September 22nd, save your pennies, and plan to donate generously! 

Also, every donation made to Pegasus through the North Texas Giving Day website on September 22nd helps our chances of winning additional money. Prizes will be awarded throughout the day ranging from $500 to $5000! With more than 70 total prizes being awarded, our chances to maximize your gift are great.

By visiting NorthTexasGivingDay.org between 6am and midnight (Central Time) on September 22nd and donating $25 or more, you will make a tremendous impact on the work Pegasus can do. You can give securely from your computer, smart phone or mobile device. With your help, we WILL reach our $75,000 fundraising goal!

If you are in the area, please stop by The Forge in Ben Wheeler, Texas on September 22nd starting at 5pm. We will have a "donation station" set up and can assist you in making your donations. The Forge is partnering with Pegasus to offer specials and do some donation matching of its own. Come on out for some drinks and fun and help us celebrate the day!

Follow us on Facebook so you can share in the excitement and remember to give on September 22nd! Click the link below to read all about North Texas Giving. 



~I Am Legend~
Milagro (1983 - Sept 2, 2016)
On September 2, 2016, we said good-bye to the horse who inspired the formation of The Pegasus Project. At the time of his death, Milagro was a sweet and gentle 33-year-old stallion. This rare Canadian Hackney was the epitome of style, grace, forgiveness and strength. Our hearts are broken over his loss, but we take great pride in having had the honor to share our lives with this spirited creature for his last seven years. 

When Milagro came to Mike & Allyson DeCanio in May 2009, he was a mere shell of the glorious horse he had once been. At 26 years of age and more than 300 pounds underweight, many thought he was a lost cause. But Milagro's eyes told the DeCanios otherwise. His miraculous recovery led to his name (Milagro means "miracle") and to the founding of The Pegasus Project. Having witnessed first hand what proper care and a lot of love can do, the DeCanios began this mission. Because of Milagro, hundreds of horses have been rescued and returned to their full glory. 

Thank you, Milagro, for teaching us to never quit. You will live in our hearts forever. 

We encourage you to take a look at Milagro's journey. To read his full story and view his photo album, click here: MILAGRO


Milagro upon arrival at Pegasus - May 2009



Milagro in all his 33-year-old glory - April 2016



A Parting Thought . . . 
Chelsea spending Milagro's last moments with him. 
A Note from Allyson
 
 
Love and Loss
 
We have lots of hard days around here. With 40+ horses on the ranch and five different veterinarians in my speed-dial, hard days are a given. But, September 2nd, the day we lost Milagro, was one for the record books. 

Watching an animal you love suffer tops the list of negative experiences. The feelings of helplessness and uncertainty about what to do can be crippling. It's times like these that you must dig deep to find the strength and courage to do what's best for the animal, putting aside your own emotions. It's not easy, but it's necessary. 

With Milagro, his pain came on suddenly and unexpectedly. One minute he was fine, and the next he wasn't. The entire staff sprang into action, and after consulting with our veterinarians, we decided together what was best for Milagro. All indications were a tumor was impinging his gut, resulting in uncontrollable pain. We could not allow his immense suffering to continue.  

Our collective hearts broke as we watched this tough old horse fight back the pain. We all stayed with him, and we all cried together as we laid him to rest. We found comfort in knowing that we had rescued him from a life of misery. We found solace in knowing that he had been immersed in our love for the last seven years of his life. We found strength in each other. 

If you find yourself in such a situation, listen to your vets, surround yourself with others who love the animal, and trust your instincts. Then, allow time to heal your broken heart. 

Allyson DeCanio
President, The Pegasus Project
 
Send email to: allyson@MyPegasusProject.org

September 22 - Special NTGD Pegasus Partner Happy Hour at The Forge

 September 22 - North Texas Giving Day

October 8 & 9 - Mike Corcoran Cowboy Dressage Clinic

October 16 - Open House

 October 29 - Ride for a Rescue

November 5 & 6 - Bruce Logan Horsemanship Clinic  

November 9 thru 15 - Mark Rashid / Crissi McDonald Clinic

December 18 - Open House

PEGASUS PARTNERS


Thursday, September 22
5:00 pm
The Forge
Ben Wheeler, Texas

Monthly, fun, information-packed meetings for Pegasus supporters at various locations throughout the year. All Pegasus Partners at the $25/month level and higher are Happy Hour members. Membership includes a car decal, a Pegasus hat or t-shirt, a Pegasus logo wine glass and an open invitation to every meeting! Discuss the latest Pegasus news and connect with other like-minded horse fans. (Your wine glass is free, but the wine isn't! We know how much you drink!)

 Click here to join:  


 DO YOU LOVE

WHAT WE DO?

 

BECOME A

PEGASUS PARTNER!

 

Did you know Pegasus relies entirely on private donations? Our regular monthly donors, known as Pegasus Partners, are our most treasured assets. For as little as $10/month you can help provide us with a predictable source of income at a much lower cost than any other fundraising method.

While we are very appreciative of one-time donations, the monthly donations of our Pegasus Partners allow us to plan ahead.

 

Our ability to save these helpless horses, donkeys and mules depends on YOUR donations!

 

We cannot do this without you! Please consider making a monthly donation so we may continue to rescue horses that have no future without us.

 

Click here to join:

PEGASUS PARTNERS 

 

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