FTI Great Charity Challenge Returns To PBIEC Feb. 17 By Lauren Miró
Charities across Palm Beach County will have the chance to win their share of $1.5 million as world-class and amateur riders compete as part of the 2012 FTI Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments on Friday, Feb. 17 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.
percent of the money raised gets distributed to the charities,” Bellissimo said.
“This event allows us to educate, showcase, and to financially support the broad missions of 32 random Palm Beach charities,” Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo said. “It is not about a specific charity or mission, but the spirit of giving and the spirit of community.”
The charities chosen included the two pre-qualified charities, the Caridad Center and the Wellington Community Foundation, and the randomly selected charities, which were as follows: the American Humane Association, the American Red Cross, Be A Star Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Child and Family Connections, Children’s Home Society of Florida, Greyhound Pets of America, Gulfstream Goodwill Transition to Life Academy, the Hanley Center Foundation, Hospice of Palm Beach County, Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options (JAFCO), Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast, the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County,
The Great Charity Challenge, first suggested by Bellissimo’s daughter Paige, began two years ago as a way for the equestrian community to give back to Palm Beach County. “In two years, the event has raised more than $1.5 million and is targeting to raise $1.5 million this year alone,” Bellissimo said. The 32 charities will split the $1.5 million prize, with each taking home a guaranteed $10,000 and the winner taking $150,000. “One-hundred
More than 160 charities applied to take part, and 28 of them were drawn in December, guaranteeing them a place in the competition.
Loggerhead Marinelife Center, the Lupus Foundation of AmericaSoutheast Florida Chapter, the Palm Healthcare Foundation, Place of Hope, the South Florida Science Museum, Susan G. Komen for the Cure South Florida, the Center for Family Services, the Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Wheels for Kids and the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center. Three others will be added in the weeks leading up to the event, with one final charity added on the night of the competition. “Every charity has an equal chance of being selected and then an equal chance at winning by randomly being assigned to a rider,” Bellissimo said. The charities are paired with a team of world-class and amateur riders who compete over a course of fences in a relay race. The fastest time determines the winner. “It’s a family-oriented equestrian relay race led by Olympiccaliber athletes,” Bellissimo explained. Each charity was randomly assigned a sponsor — a generous family or individual who donated money to make
(Below) Images from last year’s Great Charity Challenge. (Far right) Dennis Shaughnessy, chairman of sponsor FTI Consulting, with his wife Mary Kay and Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo.
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February 2012 |wellington the magazine|