GREAT CHARITY CHALLENGE Helps Many Nonprofits Across Palm Beach County All Year Long The ninth annual Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments, will be held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center on Saturday, Feb. 3. Dozens of Palm Beach County charities will compete to receive a share of the $1.5 million purse during the exciting pro-am jumping competition held during the popular Saturday Night Lights series at the Winter Equestrian Festival. The Great Charity Challenge, founded in 2010 by Mark and Katherine Bellissimo of Equestrian Sport Productions, and their daughter Paige, has distributed more than $10.8 million from the equestrian community to 220 local nonprofits. All of the money raised gets distrib-
uted in one evening every year, with first place receiving $150,000 and all participating charities being guaranteed a minimum of $15,000. While the public excitement takes place one day of the year, that money is put to work year-round at the dozens of charities that receive a slice of the winnings. The Kids Cancer Foundation has received more than $200,000 from the Great Charity Challenge, having been lucky enough to participate at the event
three times, including taking third place in 2016. KCF has also been selected for the 2018 event, which means a guaranteed minimum of $15,000 in additional support. The nonprofit’s mission is to provide hope and support to children and families in Palm Beach County battling childhood cancer. It currently provides assistance to more than 450 families. When children are diagnosed with cancer, their life immediately changes. Instead of school, playgrounds and parties, their new reality is chemotherapy, doctor visits and hospital stays. The effect on the entire family is dramatic — and often, traumatic.
(Left) The 2016 winning team from the George Snow Scholarship Fund with Commissioner Shelley Vana, Councilman John McGovern and Councilwoman Anne Gerwig; riders Lindsay Tomeu, Kaely Tomeu and Shane Sweetnam; team sponsors Lisa Lourie and the Preston family; Mark Bellissimo; and Commissioner Melissa McKinlay. (Right) The 2016 second-place team from Bella’s Angels with Commissioner Shelley Vana, Councilman John McGovern, Councilwoman Anne Gerwig, Mark Bellissimo and Commissioner Melissa McKinlay. PHOTOS BY LOIS SPATZ
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february 2018 | wellington the magazine