Loxahatchee, FL – December 14, 2011 – The 2011 Holiday HorseFest held in Downtown West Palm Beach, FL, on Sunday, December 11, 2011, at the Meyer Amphitheatre was a huge success. Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center (VTRC) emerged victorious as a nominated charity to be represented at the 2012 FTI Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments on the evening of Friday, February 17, 2012.
As one of the 32 selected charities, VTRC will be randomly assigned to one of the sponsored teams competing for the top prize money at the Great Charity Challenge. The Challenge is a competition consisting of two junior/amateur-owner riders combined with one Olympic or world-class rider. This year, $1.5 million is the goal, and all proceeds will directly go to the participating charities, with the least amount received being $10,000.
VTRC also had the honor of participating in the opening ceremonies of Holiday HorseFest. Juan Burbano, A. J. Zembrzuski, Carrie MacMillian, and Jason Legato performed a color guard routine to represent the VTRC and the Special Olympics.
Wellington, Florida – February 12, 2011 – In only its second year the FTI Great Charity Challenge Presented by Fidelity Investments has galloped out of the gates to become one of the largest fundraising events in Palm Beach County with a goal of one million dollars to benefit 32 Palm Beach charities at an exciting Pro-Am show jumping family event on Saturday Feb. 19th, 2011. To be held at the prestigious Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida which has recently undergone a 20 million dollar renovation to become a major spectator destination, this signature event of the twelve week FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival horse show features the top riders in the sport including Olympic riders who are training for the 2012 London Olympics.
Mark Bellissimo, CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions, comments, “We are inspired by the enthusiasm and support of the equestrian community as well as our sponsors for this charity event. We devised a broad based charity approach to impact as many worthy causes as possible in Palm Beach County, and are proud to have this as a signature event of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival.”
Thirty two teams of one professional and two amateur riders will compete under the lights of the International Arena for the charities which were randomly assigned to each team. These teams are generously sponsored by an equestrian family with additional monies coming from corporate and individual donors as well as all proceeds from ticket and VIP table sales for the evening’s event. Everyone is a winner in this event where the charity matched with the winning team will win approximately $150,000 with a sliding scale where even the last place finisher will win $10,000 for its assigned charity.
Wellington, FL – January 23, 2010 – With 512 tickets sold, Danny and Ron’s Rescue became the 30th selection of the 2011 Great Charity Challenge (GCC). Caridad, with 535 tickets sold, received a bye for the 2012 GCC. Yesterday, over 2,600 tickets and $55,000 dollars were raised for the event.
A summary of the 2011 Bye Candidates and the count of sales is below:
Wellington, FL – January 15, 2011 – The first annual FTI Great Charity Challenge galloped out of the gates in 2010 with huge momentum, raising over $560,000 for 24 non-profit charities. The success of the inaugural event inspired Equestrian Sport Productions to set a fundraising goal of $1 million for the 2011 FTI Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments, which is a featured event of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.
The Great Charity Challenge (GCC) is a relay style jumping competition that is scheduled to take place at 6:00 p.m. on February 19, 2011 in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Thirty relay teams will be formed, consisting of two junior/amateur riders and one professional rider. Each equestrian team is assigned a charity to represent, and the charity matched with the winning team will win over $100,000!
The event will also host the Equestrian Aid Foundation Carnival, where children can enjoy carnival games, a dunk tank, a moon bounce, and more. In the true spirit of giving, the EAF will contribute half of the proceeds received from the Carnival to the total prize money awarded to the 30 charities participating in the GCC. The other half of the proceeds will be contributed to the Equestrian Aid Foundation.
Wellington, FL – October 15, 2010 – Equestrian Sport Productions and the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) are offering the chance of a lifetime to charities serving Palm Beach County. The FTI WEF will once again host the Great Charity Challenge on the evening of Saturday, February 19, and this year the goal is to raise a tremendous amount of $1 million, all of which will be donated to charity.
The Great Charity Challenge (GCC) is an exhilarating pro/am relay style jumping competition that will take place under the lights in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center to benefit 30 non-profit charities. 2010 was the event’s inaugural year, and over $560,000 was raised and donated to 24 charities that were randomly selected to participate in the event.
Teams, which are generously sponsored by families and individuals, consist of two junior/amateur riders and are anchored by one Olympic or world-class rider. Each equestrian team is assigned a charity to represent, and the charity matched with the winning team of riders will win over $100,000!
March 23, 2010 – Wellington, FL — It was an evening of competition where everyone came out a winner, especially the international children’s charity The Step by Step Foundation (www.stepbystepfoundation.com). The three member SBS team was giving it their all on the international field at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Festival to win funds to go to Haitian relief.
Amateur and junior riders had the thrill of a lifetime when they were able to compete side by side with Olympic champions and international show jumping icons during the first ever Great Charity Challenge on Saturday, March 20, 2010 during the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.
Heading the riding squad for the international charity the Step by Step Foundation was long time SBS supporter, U.S. Olympian Margie Engle, who had championed the children’s organization earlier in the year when she joined founder Liliane Stransky to host the All In for Charity Poker Tournament and Benefit following the devastating earthquake in Haiti. The one night of gaming, auctions and fun raised over $100,000 in funds went to help the devastated country of Haiti. She added another worth while win, both for her resume and for children in need, when she and her fellow riders walked out of the grand prix arena with a $150,000 check that will be donated to the Step by Step Foundation.
The Great Charity Challenge raised $25,000 for Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center. Courtesy of Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center.
Loxahatchee, FL – March 24, 2010 – Supporters of the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center (VTRC) showed up in droves to the Great Charity Challenge at the Winter Equestrian Festival. The exciting show jumping competition raised over $25,000 to support the Center’s mission to turn disability into ability. The event was held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Saturday, March 20, 2010, and was preceded by a tailgate event for VTRC.
Over 100 people cheered on the VTRC team during this year’s Great Charity Challenge. The team for VTRC featured Olympian Lauren Hough, junior rider Sara Ketcham, and amateur rider Tracey Weinberg, and was sponsored by Roger and Jennifer Smith. VTRC had the largest cheering section at the event, and volunteers made “Barn Palm Palms” out of green hay string and riding crops to show their support.
The Great Charity Challenge donated $10,000 to all of the charities that participated in the event. At the end of the night Edward Kochetova donated $15,000 for the team that finished third to give to another charity. The team sponsored by Hunter Harrison placed third, and Harrison to donate the money to VTRC, bringing their grand total to $25,000.
More Than $560,000 Raised for 24 Palm Beach County Charities
Wellington, FL – March 22, 2010 – The inaugural FTI Great Charity Challenge galloped out of the gates raising over $560,000 for 24 charities. The sheer emotion of sponsors, donors, charities, and riders who competed touched everyone and gave a new definition to team effort. The precedent setting event in terms of money raised and scope of charities served featured 24 teams in a show jumping pro/am relay where Olympic and world-class athletes teamed with amateur riders over a challenging course in the International Arena. Each team was generously sponsored by a donor, and was randomly assigned one of the 24 charities. The teams rode their hearts out to win prize money for each cause.
One hundred percent of the money raised will be distributed to 24 Palm Beach County Charities. The event was held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Saturday, March 20, during the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.
Here Is Your Chance to Give Back with the Great Charity Challenge at the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival
Wellington, FL – March 15, 2010 – Equestrian Sport Productions is pleased to announce that FTI will be the title sponsor of the inaugural Great Charity Challenge.
The inaugural Great Charity Challenge will be held on Saturday, March 20, at 6 p.m.
Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo stated, “We’re honored that our title sponsor of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival is also taking the lead on the Great Charity Challenge. We thank Dennis Shaughnessy and FTI Consulting for their gracious and generous title sponsorship of our inaugural fundraising event and look forward to our partnership to aid a broad base of 24 charities during this difficult fundraising environment.”
Wellington, FL – March 12, 2010 – Ride the wave of enthusiasm for the First Annual Great Charity Challenge with a special Charity Polo Challenge match on Thursday, March 18 at 6 p.m. at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
International Polo Club Palm Beach and Equestrian Sport Productions team up for this special event and form a great partnership with all of the evening’s proceeds going to the Great Charity Challenge, part of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival which will be held on March 20th at 6 p.m. at the PBIEC.
Mark Bellissimo, CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions states, “We are very excited about the Great Charity Challenge, and we are equally excited about the polo community’s interest and support of this event. We would like to thank John Wash and International Polo Club Palm Beach for their sponsorship on this important community effort.”
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