When Terri Kane of Diamante Farms Dressage in Wellington, Florida, randomly drew the name of a non-profit she would cheer for at the Great Charity Challenge, she was surprised to choose the YWCA of Palm Beach County. As a longtime corporate sponsor of the annual equestrian event that raises funds for non-profit organizations, she didn’t recall the YWCA being included in the past.
It wasn’t. This was their first year to apply for the Great Charity Challenge and the first time was a charm. The YWCA team won the Feb. 6 event held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, along with a check for $100,000.
“This year I drew the YWCA, which I didn’t even know existed in the Palm Beaches,” Kane said. After she chose the non-profit, event organizers sent her more information about the YWCA and Kane was impressed with what she learned. “I said, ‘Oh my gosh, this is perfect, because everything they’re about are the things that are so important to me.’ So, in that way, it was even more meaningful for me to cheer for them.”
Although the equestrian community sponsors a myriad of fund-raisers throughout the winter show Wellington, many were curtailed because of COVID. The Great Charity Challenge (GCC) presented by Fidelity Investments® was able to blend in-person competition with virtual celebrations and raised more than $1 million in prize money for local charities.
Throughout its 12-year history, the GCC has distributed $15,928,227.66 to 276 local non-profit organizations. In addition to the 23 charities, 24 other non-profits received funding through grants awarded before the event this year.
In the fun-filled show jumping event, teams made up of three riders out of 23 pro-am combinations of athletes compete for randomly selected Palm Beach County charities. This year, the riders and their horses dressed in costumes honoring the heroes who stepped up during the pandemic.
©Sportfot
The winning team of riders and their horses including Lindsey Tomeu riding Bonapart, Ashley Vogel on Lucy in the Sky, and Shane Sweetnam aboard Heart on Fire were supported by team sponsor Spy Coast and Preston and corporate sponsor Diamante Farms Dressage. They entered the ring representing the United States Army as their heroes and finished with a time of 91.664 seconds. Their strategy and teamwork paid off and the YWCA of Palm Beach County, an organization dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all, took home the top prize.
“We are elated,” said Shay Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of YWCA of Palm Beach County. “We have been live streaming all night, and we are so thankful to the sponsors, the supporters, the riders, everyone who livestreamed, and especially to the GCC for putting this all together. We have been supporters, and it is amazing to now be award recipients.
“We do have some very specific plans for the $100,000,” she continued. “We have an amazing new initiative called the Women’s Health Institute, which helps to target the disparities that women face in the health industry, being both women and women of color. We have our child development center which helps to provide free, quality child care for low-income families. We are going to use the funds to continue our mission, to empower women, to eliminate racism, and to promote peace, freedom, and justice for all. It’s been an amazing night.”
Diamante Farms’ Terri Kane said she is proud to be an ongoing corporate sponsor for the event and she wants people to know that most equestrians who are full-time residents, as well as the many who travel to the area for the horse show season, are involved in a multitude of fund-raising events for charities throughout the season. And, since being aligned with the YWCA and their mission, she has become interested in becoming more involved with the non-profit organization.
“Each of the charities involved in the Great Charity Challenge receive funds to help them achieve their goals,” Kane said. “And, although it’s not their official tagline, I like to think of the event as, ‘One night. One goal.’”
©Sportfot
