Consider a Donation to the 10th Annual Audrey Grace Auction on PleasureHorse.com
A note from Becky Bailey, owner of One Hot Krymsun, on the Audrey Grace Auction:
“Last week, I had the great fortune to go and visit San Francisco and Sonoma Valley. We did much of the sight-seeing on bicycles and I got to bicycle across the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a magnificently beautiful day with super blue skies. On the ride across we heard the boom of cannons below and the roar of jets overhead. It turns out it was the day of their annual Columbus Day celebration that included a display of warships, Canada Air Force flyers and Blue Angels. I cannot tell you how magnificent this experience was and how blessed I felt on that day. I felt so secure with the show of power across the bay, so alive with the biking and clean cool air, so awed by the greatness of God looking at the ocean and cliffs and all the structures He gave man the ability to create. At that moment, it occurred to me that my life on this planet has been truly blessed, but if not for the GRACE of God, things could be very different for me as they are for many others.
It’s in this spirit of GRACE, that I feel compelled to donate a breeding to the AUDREY GRACE HOUSE in this year’s auction. I know the going has been very tough for everyone over the past few years. I know too that the donation of a breeding is NOT something to be taken lightly. As people purchase fewer breedings, these donations get harder and harder. But I will encourage those of you thinking of donating this year to consider that no matter how tough this economy is right now, there are folks in this world who have a go that is tougher than it is for any of us. I know also that many people have other charities they donate money, time, and precious resources to. God bless you for that. But please search your soul and do what you can to support this year’s Audrey Grace Auction. God has given us horses, and this is a way that our horses can be a big part of giving back to those who are so much less fortunate.”
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Dear Friends,
We are excited to announce the 10th Annual Audrey Grace Benefit Auction on PleasureHorse.com. We started this program when we lost our daughter, Audrey Grace, at birth October 21, 2002. Friends got together to make a tragedy into a success story, finding something positive during a time of sadness. We started raising money for a much needed children’s home in Audrey’s honor. The Auction has grown with the help of generous donors such as you. In nine short years, we have raised $500,000 and with our family’s matching gift, we now have $1,000,000 for the New Horizon’s home for sexually and physically abused children. Then, upon review of the project from the T. Boone Pickens Foundation and The Reese Jones Foundation, we were blessed with a sizable donation for the Audrey Grace House. On August 19th 2009 the dream became a reality! We had the Grand Opening ceremony and our first group of children moved into the Audrey Grace House! Your gifts will continue to help us with the full scope of the project, from purchasing the land, to building the home, to hiring Masters Level Licensed Clinicians who provide the care these kids need, and for that we are truly grateful.
Each year thousands of children are victims of abuse. For over thirty-five years, New Horizons (non-profit 501© (3)) has provided services to “at-risk” youth and developed a reputation as the benchmark for offering quality, continuum-of-care treatment services for those kids with the highest level of need. Services include residential care, foster homes, therapeutic group homes, family services, adoption programs and emergency shelter.
The goal of services provided in today’s environment is to serve children and their families closer to their homes. New Horizons’ Community Centers of Care will serve as residential treatment and family centers in cities that do not currently have services available for the kids who are considered the highest risk. The Audrey Grace House is the first of these centers and is located in Abilene, Texas.
This year we are continuing to reach out to the horse world through our friends at PleasureHorse.com by posting a full section of photos and information on merchandise with links back to your web site. We’re especially excited about the exposure you will get as a donor based on all of the wonderful enhancements Joe and Heidi have made to the website this past year. Traffic has always been very strong on PleasureHorse.com, and yet page views are up 250% over what they were last year at this time (hundreds of thousands of views), and with their extended show coverage and new Classifieds, traffic continues to grow by the week. Beyond this growth in traffic overall, each year the Audrey Grace auction brings an additional 25,000 new views to the site. With the new design, we will now be able to provide each donor with a full page to include your details, a photo gallery, video and links back to your website. We also post full descriptions on the Pleasure Horse Forum with its nearly 4,000 viewers every day. The online Auction will run Monday, December 5th through 5:00 pm Sunday, December 11th, with items consisting of stallion services, training services, tack, web sites, advertising, art work, show clothes and other horse related items. The earlier you submit your donation, the more you’ll be able to take advantage of the free advertising for your business.
Please help us again this year by donating to the Auction. Your donation is 100% tax deductible for the full retail value. Please use the Audrey Grace Donation Form when submitting your auction donation information to insure accuracy with web sites, phone numbers, and retail value and include any extra fees needed to be paid by the buyer and full descriptions.
We encourage you to spread the word – Children are a universal love. We and all the staff and children at New Horizons sincerely appreciate your involvement.
Warmest regards,
Jane Backes