This is the time of year when Central Florida really starts revving up its event schedule, and we’re kicking ours off with the Florida Thoroughbred Charities Golf Tournament this Friday, October 8, at Stone Creek Golf Club, which Showcase is happy to help sponsor.
“We’ve sponsored this event a number of times, and it’s always a real pleasure, especially working with the people at Stone Creek,” says Showcase Director of Real Estate Lee Kerr, who is also an avid golfer. “It’s a really beautiful course, and they’re a top-notch team over there. And we’re always happy to support Florida Thoroughbred Charities, because they do a lot of great work in the community.”
The FTC is the charitable branch of the FTBOA, focusing on raising money for thoroughbred retirement, youth education, industry, and community projects and organizations. For the past 22 years, a key project is the Second Chances Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, which is a farm on the grounds of the Lowell Correctional Institution that offers the female inmates an opportunity to learn skills in the equine industry so they can qualify for jobs once they’re paroled. It is the only female inmate program that partners with retired thoroughbreds in the country.
“We’ve actually had our model used down in the Virgin Islands; they’re trying to do the same thing down there. They have retired thoroughbreds there with a juvenile program and do the same thing,” says Tammy Gantt, Executive Director at FTC. “It makes such a huge difference in the lives of the participants and gives them real, viable tools to create something new for themselves.”
“We’re always happy to support Florida Thoroughbred Charities, because they do a lot of great work in the community.”
– Lee Kerr, Director of Real Estate at Showcase Properties
“Horses can feel your heartbeat from twelve feet away,” Tammy points out. “They know when you’re nervous or upset, or if you’re having a bad day. They’re extremely good judges of character and of human behavior. Once these women feel comfortable with the horses, cleaning their feet and riding them, they know they’ve gained the trust of an animal who is extremely discerning. There’s a new confidence there.”
Even more affirming is when sponsors and advocates come to visit the facility – after careful vetting – to observe the results of their donations in practice. It’s an eye-opening revelation of what their money goes towards and pioneers when they talk to the inmates and see how much the program does to foster the women’s future possibilities.
“We really want to raise as much as we can for the projects the FTC works with so that they can keep going as successfully as they have. So we’re hoping to see a lot of people!”
– Valerie Dailey, FTBOA president, FTC social and charity committee chair, and Showcase owner/broker
This year’s golf tournament starts off with a luncheon hosted by the Florida Thoroughbred Fillies ladies friendship club and FTC. An educational mini-seminar series – sponsored by FTC, the Florida Thoroughbred Farm Managers and the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ Association – will also take place that morning at breakfast with topics of interest to equine businesses.
“We really want to raise as much as we can for the projects the FTC works with so that they can keep going as successfully as they have,” she says. “So we’re hoping to see a lot of people!”
Florida Thoroughbred Charities has raised more than $3.5 million for charitable organizations within the thoroughbred industry, the city of Ocala, Marion County and the state of Florida. The FTC auction is sponsored by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ Association and media partners Horse Capital Television and Florida Equine Communications.
If you would like to get tickets and attend any of the events, or would like to bid on an auction item, or are interested in making a donation, please contact golf chair Donna Delahunty at 352-274-415.