Calling all spectators! The Great Charity Challenge returns this Saturday February, 5th to the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), for its 13th year of raising money for community non-profits in the Palm Beach region. Founded in 2009 by Mark and Paige Bellisimo, the GCC has raised to date a remarkable $15.9 million for 276 local non-profit organizations.
Wellington Equestrian Realty is honored to be a sponsor of GCC, knowing that our support has an immediate impact on charitable organizations within Palm Beach county. Each year there are several hundred non-profit applicants for a limited number of beneficiary positions available for the Great Charity Challenge. This year, WER has been paired with Alzheimer’s Community Care as our sponsorship beneficiary and Portfolio Horses, LLC as our equestrian team.
2022 GCC Theme Focuses on Literacy
The event, held February 5th at the PBIEC, will take place during Saturday Night Lights at the Winter Equestrian Center (WEF). The evening of exciting show jumping competition features teams of horses and riders dressed up to the theme of “Children’s Story Books” – with the intent to highlight the importance of literacy in our community.
Thirty three non-profits were randomly selected to participate this year, and they will be assigned to a show jumping and sponsorship team. This year, the GCC has raised an astounding $1.7M in prize money, with the top placing team going home with $100K. Each non-profit will also receive a charitable donation from the evening, regardless of their team’s competition placing, guaranteeing everyone goes home a winner!
Our team from Portfolio Horses, LLC, will consist of three riders, Mia Bagnato jumping the 1.30m course, Samuel Wilson in the 1.20m, and Sara J. Pezza in the 1.10m. Wellington Equestrian Realty is looking forward to joining Portfolio Horses for a course walk prior to the competition, along with representatives from Alzheimer’s Community Care.
Supporting Alzheimers is Personal
Although our pairing with Alzheimer’s Community Care was the result of a random selection process, being partnered with a local non-profit that aids families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s hits home for Wellington Equestrian Realty. Craig Martin, associate broker at WER, is originally from Tauranga, New Zealand. It was there that he was introduced to horses at a very young age through his grand father, Maurice Kiely, who bred and raced trotters. Maurice was unfortunately diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his early 70’s, which naturally impacted Craig’s family. Craig has a first hand understanding of the extra support a family needs when caring for an Alzheimer’s patient.
The organizers of the Greater Charity Challenge released the following statement regarding our beneficiary:
The Alzheimer’s Community Care program is dedicated to promoting and providing community-based, family-centered care for patients and their caregivers living with Alzheimer’s disease. Funds will be used to bring Alzheimer’s Community Care’s (ACC) Family Nurse Consultant (FNC) Program to families living in Palm Beach County who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia. The FNC model incorporates best practices for home-based, dementia-specific care based on research conducted at the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s disease. Services include disease Education; Counseling and support for the caregiver; and Strengthening social supports and family relationships.
For more information, please visit their website: www.AlzCare.org
We Hope You’ll Join Us!
The Team at WER is looking forward to a fun filled evening watching international equestrians coming together for the greater good of the Palm Beach community! General admission to the PBIEC for the GCC Saturday Night Lights is free to the public, and so is parking at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival show grounds. We hope to see you there!
For all the details regarding the Greater Charity Challenge please visit
https://gcc.coth.com/
https://www.facebook.com/greatcharitychallenge