Another year is swiftly passing and thus my annual charity post is due. I hope everyone had a most blessed Thanksgiving holiday and now we have been thrust into the season of shopping. First, Black Friday then Cyber Monday and don’t forget to shop for those in need of a helping hand, today is Giving Tuesday! The fans get so much out of Thoroughbred racing and so now or anytime is the perfect moment to give back. Read on to find easy links to donate to retired or injured thoroughbreds, jockeys and farm and backstretch employees.
11/27/18 is Giving Tuesday. Seven years ago the idea of Giving Tuesday was launched and backed by several organizations. The day was set to fall after Thanksgiving and before Christmas during the time in which consumers are in a spending frenzy. It is one day to focus on the need for spending on charity rather than self and commercial products. Today, Giving Tuesday is international and supported by multitudes of companies, some of which even offer to match donations. It is a day which is gaining in recognition and doing a wonderful job of helping charitable organizations to obtain much needed funding. I hope that 2018 will be another record year and that our Thoroughbreds and their connections have happier, healthier lives as a result.
There are a lot of fantastic charities that provide help to both equines and equestrians. I do advise that you choose wisely. Not every charity is a true nonprofit organization. You may want to check first if they are approved, ex. in the United States a nonprofit will have 501 (c) designation. Another safe bet is to pick a charity that has been or is a grant recipient of Thoroughbred Charities of America. This group makes it their mission to screen for approved charities that fund one of four main focus groups: equine research, equine assisted therapy, backstretch and farm employee programs and retirement, retraining and rehoming. Check out the many options on their drop down list from this menu below:
Or simply donate straight to TCA and let them choose who needs the support the most by donating here:
If you are wanting to know a few of my favorites, I am quite fond of Old Friends Farm, a rescue and retirement farm for Thoroughbreds that is a true “living-history museum of horse racing”. I love to visit from time to time and I find their work and their occupants to be outstanding. Donate to them here:
Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farms
Another great rescue group with the largest racehorse adoption program in America is New Vocations. They take in off the track Thoroughbreds and provide them with care and training to have a new purpose in life. Be generous with them here :
http://www.horseadoption.com/donations/
If you have a big heart for the other athletes at the track, the jockeys, you may be very interested in the Permanently Disable Jockeys Fund. This group helps jockeys who had very bad, long term injuries that occurred on the track. Donate to PDJF here:
I have a lot of love for another animal that does its job on the backstretch and the farms, the barn cats! Groups like the Kentucky Humane Society having a Working Cats program. Send these felines some funds here: Kentucky Humane Society
It is very important to spend wisely so keep this in mind during all holiday shopping. Please, if you have money to spare consider giving to charity. If you need to care for your family, friends and self needs then do that first and maybe you will have a better financial time for giving money later. Perhaps you are best at giving time, skill, thought, labor or love. There is a lot more to giving than dollars. Try to be a helping hand. I hope that everyone has a very giving spirit today regardless of if it is accomplished financially or in deeds. Happy #GivingTuesday!
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