The Board of Directors of The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., an all-volunteer fund raising and fund granting 501(c)(3) charity, will award grants to 37 charitable organizations that promote the positive use of the horse for the benefit of the general public, horse welfare and equestrian sport as a whole in 2006, up from 28 in 2006.

In just four years since its establishment in August 2002, The EQUUS Foundation has awarded over $600,000 in grants, with over $250,000 awarded in 2006.

The idea for The EQUUS Foundation was born from the fact that thousands of people, especially children, benefit from their involvement with horses each year—not just as participants in the sport, or recreationally, but also therapeutically. “The mission of EQUUS is two-fold,” said Lynn Coakley, EQUUS President, “to raise funds for the many organizations that promote the positive use of the horse for the benefit of the public and also to educate the public on the significant role horses play in our society.”

The EQUUS Foundation raises funds for grant awards almost entirely from two special events.

The first event, The EQUUS Equestrian Idol Talent Show & Bash, will be held during the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, on Saturday evening, February 17, 2007, at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club. With 400 guests expected, the event includes cocktails, dinner, music, a silent auction, and a musical talent show performed by top grand prix riders, trainers and other equestrians, featuring Robert “Ryan Seacrest” Dover as emcee, with George Morris as the celebrity judge joining the other judges, Mason “Simon Cowell” Phelps, Jr., Susie “Paula Abdul” Schoellkopf, and Gene “Randy Jackson” Mische.

The second event, The EQUUS Benefit Luncheon & Silent Auction on Saturday, June 30, 2007, will be held in conjunction with the $25,000 Fairfield Grand Prix, the culminating event of the Fairfield County Hunt Club June Benefit Horse Show in Westport, CT. The show is one of the most prestigious shows in the country and ends with the $25,000 Fairfield Grand Prix—an exciting show jumping competition featuring many of the top professional riders in the country.

In order to raise funds, The EQUUS Foundation is seeking individuals and businesses to assist with their gracious generosity, either through cash donations, in-kind donations, auction donations and sponsorships. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

The 2007 Grant Recipients include:

Public Welfare: Charities, schools, camps and other organizations that benefit the public therapeutically and recreationally using horses to help individuals of all ages, especially children, with physical, mental and emotional disabilities, life threatening or chronic illnesses, and "at-risk" and emotionally troubled or economically disadvantaged youth. They include:

—Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center (BTRC), Buffalo, NY, www.ryegate.com (click on BTRC),
—Camp for All, Houston, TX, www.campforall.org,
—City Slickers, Inc., Wolcott, CT, City to Saddle, Weston, MA, www.citytosaddle.org,
—Equi-Kids Therapeutic Riding Program, Virginia Beach, VA, Garfield Park Academy, Willingboro, NJ, www.garfieldparkacademy.org,
—Giant Steps School & The American Institute for Neuro-Integrative Development, Southport, CT, www.giantstepsct.org,
—Green Chimneys Children's Services & School, Brewster, NY, www.greenchimneys.org,
—Heritage Schools, Provo, UT, www.heritagertc.org,
—High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc., Old Lyme, CT, www.highhopestr.org,
—The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Inc., New Haven, CT, www.holeinthewallgang.org,
—Horses in the Hood, Tarzana, CA, www.horsesinthehood,org,
—Living