The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., recently awarded $250,000 in grants to charitable organizations that promote the positive use of the horse for the benefit of the general public and the equestrian sport as a whole. The “all volunteer” EQUUS Foundation raises funds from two annual events—one held in February during the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, and the the Benefit Luncheon held in June in conjunction with the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show in Westport, CT.

“We are extremely grateful to the hundreds of individuals and organizations that donated to EQUUS in 2006,” said Lynn Coakley, President of The EQUUS Foundation, Inc. “In just four years, we have awarded over $600,000 in grants and have helped thousands of horses and people.”

Corporate sponsors at the Florida and Connecticut events included the Callari Auto Group, Fairfield Equine Associates, George N. Venizelos & Wachovia Securities, Show Circuit Magazine, FTI Consulting, Bank of America, Hospital for Special Surgery, Newhouse Financial & Insurance Brokers; Balducci's of Westport, Chopard, Conte's Market & Grill, The Higgins Group, Barbara C. Manion, O.D., The Saxon Group, Torys LLP, Skyy Spirits, Swiss International Air Lines & the Monaco Government Tourist Office.

Grant recipients include charities that benefit the public using horses to help people therapeutically and recreationally, especially children, with life threatening illnesses, physical and emotional handicaps, and children "at risk" of succumbing to a life of violence. Other recipients promote the health and welfare of our most treasured partners through rescue and rehabilitation as well as veterinary research. EQUUS also supports charities that benefit equestrian sport by offering scholarships and grants to support the competition, training, and educational needs of equestrians.

The deadline for the 2007 Grant Program is October 1, 2006. The Grant Application can be downloaded from the website at www.equusfoundation.org. For additional information, contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880, or call (203) 259-1550, or e-mail to [email protected].


~~~