UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show Names First Pink Ribbon Class to Raise Funds for Breast Cancer Research
RELEASE: August 16, 2007
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By the American Royal
The United Professional Horsemen's Association (UPHA) American Royal National Championship Horse Show now offers Saddlebred enthusiasts and others the opportunity to raise funds for breast cancer research...right from the back of an American Saddlebred. “With your generous sponsorship, an important tradition begins in 2007—a unique "Pink Ribbon" class that not only honors or remembers those persons in your life who have fought or succumbed to breast cancer, but generates much-needed funds to find a cure for the disease,” said Ann Rowland, Chair of the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show Committee.
“This new opportunity for the Saddlebred horse show community to lend its support to breast cancer research is also a wonderful way to stimulate participation in the Five Gaited Ladies National Championship,” said Rowland. “Today, one in eight women will face breast cancer. That statistic really strikes home when you think of the fact that in 2006, eight women competed in the Five Gaited Ladies National Championship. Among our own Saddlebred family of owners, exhibitors and trainers, each can likely name at least one person who has fought this deadly disease. Now, there’s something else we can do to help race for the cure, and strengthen the network of support within our horse show family.”
Sponsorships of the innovative Pink Ribbon class—the Five Gaited Ladies National Championship, to be held as the last class on the Friday evening of November 16—are open to anyone and available at several different contribution levels. Sponsorships are based on a dollar amount that is pledged and paid according to the number of horses that complete the class, thereby creating an incentive for owners to have their horses qualify and earn a berth in the championship class. Sponsorship levels and recognition opportunities are:
—$100 per horse (for a maximum total contribution of $2,500): Sponsor may designate up to three honorees to be listed and pictured in the Pink Ribbon Sponsorship section of the horse show program; a long-stemmed pink rose will be given to the sponsor present at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show; and recognition from center ring during the Ladies Five Gaited National Championship.
—$50 per horse: Sponsor may designate one honoree to be listed and pictured in the Pink Ribbon Sponsorship section of the horse show program; a long-stemmed pink rose will be given to the sponsor present at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show.
—$25 per horse: A long-stemmed pink rose will be given to the sponsor present at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show; recognition listing in the horse show program of sponsor’s name.
—$10 per horse: A long-stemmed pink rose will be given to the sponsor present at the UPHA American Royal National Championship Horse Show; recognition listing in the horse show program of sponsor’s name.
For example, a sponsorship level of $100 would equal a $1,500 donation if 15 horses completed the class; if 10 horses completed the class, the sponsor’s contribution would be $1,000, at the $100 level.
Of the sponsorship funds, 50% will be paid to owners of the horses that complete the class; the remaining 50% will be donated to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Bottom line: owners of winning horses can receive the class’s regular prize money, plus half of the total Pink Ribbon sponsorship funds—an unusual payout arrangement that benefits everyone who participates.
Rowland added, “Sponsors may contribute at a level that honors or remembers a special person in their lives. If you know someone who has been affected by this disease, we encourage you to earmark your donation by designating that person as an honoree; honorees’ names—even their photos—will be published in a special listing in the h