Wellington, FL – February 16, 2013 – The Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center (VTRC) hosted its 26th Annual Benefit Auction to great success at The Grand Pavilion at the International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC). The safari-themed fundraiser provides a vast majority of VTRC’s annual operating budget and featured an action-packed evening of dinner, dancing and fundraising. By the end of the night, $470,000 had been raised.
“We cannot thank our donors and the entire community enough for their continued generosity and support of Vinceremos,” VTRC Executive Director Ruth Menor expressed. “We truly couldn’t continue our program without them. This single event is how we generate a majority of our funds to cover costs for the entire year.”
Ruth Menor with one of the VTRC Riders of the Year, Heather Pampena
Despite many attendees being snowbound up north by the Blizzard of 2013, riders, volunteers, donors and many equestrians from the Wellington community were out in full force Friday night. Event Chairwoman Tuny Page and Young Professionals Chair Devon Kane had plenty to celebrate as total funds raised by the end of the night skyrocketed to $470,000, which will support VTRC’s mission of providing recreational and therapeutic horseback riding to those with disabilities in Palm Beach County.
Devon Kane, Tuny Page, and Ruth Menor
Along with the fun night of events, the VTRC honored four people that are very special to the program. The Riders of the Year were Adison Gobardhan and Heather Pampena, both of whom were in attendance. Adison’s mother, Amy, spoke about the importance of VTRC for her daughter’s health and explained how therapeutic riding has helped her progress beyond what was expected. The Volunteers of the Year were also awarded to Julia Baxter and Greg Tarnowski, and they were thanked for their tireless efforts to help VTRC, its horses, and its riders.
Adison Gobardhan and Misty May
The evening kicked off with 3rd annual “Buck Off” Finals, concluding event for a series of mechanical bull riding competitions held over a three week period in January. Western country singer Jason Thomas served as the official Bull Operator for the competition. Wellington equestrians Mike Smith and Hunter Harrison stepped in as judges, along with Shane Sweetnam and Debbie Stephens. The winner of the coveted “Buck Off” Buckle was “The Sticky Buns,” an all-female team comprising of Ava Stearns, McKinsey Hughes, Maria Moore, and Lauren Garner.
The Sticky Buns Team
The high-energy evening continued with the premier live auction, hosted by celebrated novelist Tami Hoag. Bidders brought out the big guns to chase some extraordinary offers, igniting several bidding wars along the way.
Dutta Corporations and Guido Katte’s offer to fly a horse from Europe to Wellington was doubled via telephone by Tim Dutta, who was stranded in New York by the snow storm. Dutta’s son Timmy took his father’s place at the podium to make the generous offering.
Buck Off Judges Shane Sweetnam, Mike Smith, Debbie Stephens, and Hunter Harrison
The perennially popular offering from Purina, Red Barn Supply and Larsen Hay’s “Horse D’oeuvres,” which includes a full shipment of hay and feed, was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Miller. The Millers kindly donated their prize back to VTRC to support the twenty horses that are the backbone of VTRC’s program.
A trip to Yosemite National Park, donated by Delaware North, a lifetime membership to the International Polo Club Palm Beach, an exclusive golf holiday at the Wentworth Club with a luxury stay at The Milestone Hotel (donated by Mark and Lindsay Harms), and a week’s stay in a Vail Village penthouse were other exciting live auction items that had bidding wars to help increase funds raised.
Hunter Harrison and Bruce Duchossois
The silent auction was well supported by many Wellington community establishments, including the Tackeria and Van Dell Jewelers, who celebrated their 26th year of support for VTRC. Thanks go to Lee Frankhouser and the Floridian Community Bank for their BidPal sponsorship, which helped make the silent auction a streamlined and easy way for everyone to bid on their favorite items.
Dinner, wine, and dancing continued the evening’s celebrations late into the night. By the event’s conclusion, $470,000 had been raised for VTRC. Funds from the 2013 “Explore the Possibilities” event will enable VTRC to provide services to its clients through four different programs: Therapeutic Riding, Hippotherapy, Therapeutic Carriage Driving, and Equine Facilitated Learning. Since 2007, VTRC has also proudly partnered with Horses for Heroes, a therapeutic program for injured service personnel from all branches of the armed forces.
This year’s event could not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of many people committed to supporting VTRC. The VTRC would like to thank the host committee, chairpersons, auction committee, and young professionals committee for all of their contributions.
VTRC is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and accepts donations year-round in many forms, including foundation grants, individual contributions, new and used horse/farm/office supplies, horse sponsorships and memorial contributions. VTRC can always use more volunteers to assist with riding lessons, barn maintenance, special events and horse care. For more information, call 561-792-9900 or visit www.vinceremos.org.