The 2013 FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments, will take place Saturday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. under the lights of the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington.
The GCC is an exhilarating event where amateurs are paired with world-class riders and randomly assigned with charities to compete for prize money raised by equestrian families and corporate donors.
In its first three years, the event raised more than $2.7 million for over 50 Palm Beach County charities. The goal this year is to raise $1.3 million with all the proceeds donated to 32 local charities.
Twenty-eight charities were randomly selected from a pool of applicants at the annual Wellington WinterFest, held at the PBIEC on Saturday, Dec. 1.
Two charities won pre-selection, while two more will be chosen at upcoming events — the $100,000 Trump Invitational on Jan. 6, and the day of the GCC on Jan. 26. The winning charity will be awarded $150,000 and every participating team will receive a share of the money raised.
The list of charities chosen thus far are as follows: Pre-selected charities – Wellington PTO/PTA and the Caridad Center (winners of the Ticket Contest at last year’s challenge); charities drawn Dec. 1 – Achievement Centers for Children and Families (Delray Beach), Arc of the Glades (Belle Glade), Alzheimer’s Community Care (West Palm Beach), American Red Cross-Treasure Coast (West Palm Beach), Children, Hope & Horses (Boca Raton), College for Kids/Take Stock in Children (West Palm Beach), Community Caring Center of Greater Boynton Beach (Boynton Beach), First Care Family Resources (West Palm Beach), the Hanley Center Foundation (West Palm Beach), JDRF (West Palm Beach), Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast (West Palm Beach), Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches (West Palm Beach), Palm Beach County Motorcyclists Toys for Tots (West Palm Beach), Palm Beach Island Cats (Palm Beach), Paws for Liberty (Lake Worth), South Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure (West Palm Beach), South Florida Science Museum (West Palm Beach), Spirit of Giving Network (Boca Raton), Urban Youth Impact (West Palm Beach), Voices for Children (West Palm Beach) and YWCA of Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach); Wellington-based charities – Blooming with Autism, Danny and Ron’s Rescue, the Kids Cancer Foundation, the Polo Players Support Group, Wellington Cares, Wellington Colts Travel Baseball and the Western Communities Football League.
More on the event, including sponsor and charity information, can be found at www.ftigreatcharitychallenge.com, on Facebook at FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge and at www.equestriansport.com.
ABOVE:Â Team sponsor Kim Van Kampen Boyer draws a charity name for the Great Charity Challenge with Anne Caroline Valtin and Mark Bellissimo of Equestrian Sport Productions looking on. Image Courtesy ManciniPhotos
I wonder how Tom Wenham will give his Colition and Jeremy Jacobs credit for this event. He has become an irritating pawn of the Jacobs.