The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) has designated February as its fundraising and membership month. The organization hopes to receive funds or pledges totaling $850,000 during the month as well as renew its current memberships of more than 10,000.

“KEEP is a self-funded organization, meaning we receive no public funds or grants. Our operating funds come from the horse industry that we represent,” said Patrick Neely, KEEP executive director. “We operate on the membership fees collected and our fundraising efforts and the last significant fundraising event we had was a stallion season auction in December 2004. The majority of those funds were used for the monumental “Horses Work for Kentucky” ad campaign of 2005 and 2006, and for grassroots efforts which helped secure the Breeders Incentive Fund. What we are asking the industry during February is to make a three year commitment to the organization at a dedicated funding level.”

“For such a young organization we have had tremendous success since we united the industry and brought all the breeds and disciplines together under one banner,” said Brereton Jones, KEEP Chairman. “In just a short time we were able to establish a Breeder Incentive program and remove a damaging sales tax issue which caused horses to leave the state. (This was a tax that was levied on out of state buyers unless they removed their horses from the state.) In the next few weeks breeders who qualify for funds under the breeders incentive program will be receiving their checks from the state and KEEP wants to make sure the recipients remember KEEP’s efforts in promoting the success of this program, and continue to support our organization. We have many other issues we are fighting for and need the industry’s continued support to maintain our level of service.”

In addition to its legislative efforts, KEEP’s grassroots efforts have helped organize equine 4-H programs around the state, worked to establish a trail riding association (TREK), worked with educational institutions with equine programs to identify needs, and has developed a grant program to support horse shows, breed associations and equine educational efforts.

KEEP was created in May 2004 to promote and protect Kentucky’s horse industry. The organization was successful during the 2005 legislative session in helping establish a breeder incentive fund. For this effort they were awarded the Public Relations Society of America’s Silver Anvil Award in June 2006.

For more information on KEEP’s progress and fundraising goals visit www.horseswork.com.

ENDS~~~For more information, please contact Maria Partlow, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, at (859) 225-6941, or via e-mail at [email protected].