2015 Audrey Grace Benefit Auction Now Accepting Donations
It’s that time of year again! The 2015 Audrey Grace Benefit Auction is upon us (December 7-December 13, 2015), and donations are now begin accepted. This annual fundraiser for the Audrey Grace House with New Horizons (501(c)3)) proves successful year after year and proceeds go toward helping children in need.
Please read the heartfelt letter below from Jane and Leon Backes, who began this cause by turning the tragedy of losing their daughter, Audrey Grace, at birth, to helping many neglected and abused children in Texas. To submit your donation, please complete the Donation Form and send to Jane via email.
Dear Friends;
We are excited to announce the 14th annual Audrey Grace Benefit Auction on PLEASUREHORSE.COM’s Delphi Forum. The Auction has become a favorite of horsemen and women across America. We continue to net in excess of $50,000 each year, regardless of the economy! 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 like you. In thirteen years, we have raised $690,000 solely through the Auction on PLEASUREHORSE.COM. Along with our family’s matching gift, we now have $1,500,000 for the New Horizons home for sexually and physically abused children. Upon review of the project, the T. Boone Pickens Foundation and the Reese Jones Foundation blessed us with a sizable donation for the Audrey Grace House. On August 19, 2009 the dream became a reality! We held 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. The money is used for a variety of things such as purchasing the land, building and maintaining the home, supplying food, clothes, schooling and medical care. The funds have also helped with hiring Masters Level Licensed Clinicians who provide the care these children need, as well as 24-hour caregivers. We are truly grateful for the ongoing support, which keeps the Audrey Grace House a top level children’s home.
Each year, thousands of children are victims of abuse. For over 45 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 levels 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 with our friends Joe and Heidi Zeimentz at PleasureHorse.com by posting a full section of photos and information on donated items and services with links back to your website. In addition, your donation will be mentioned in articles in Show Horse Today Magazine, and the Auction will be promoted on the PleasureHorse.com Delphi Forum. They have one of the largest online equine audiences in the world, with over 1,000,000 monthly page views, 650,000 Facebook fans, over 52,000 members of their forums, and multiple online destinations, including the award-winning PleasureHorse.com website and award-winning digital magazine, Show Horse Today.
We’re excited about the exposure you will get as a donor based on the continued growth of the PleasureHorse.com and Show Horse Today online community. Once again, we will be providing 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 daily visitors. The online Auction will run Monday, December 7th through 5:00 pm EASTERN time Sunday, December 13th. The items consist of stallion services, training services, tack, website design services, advertising, artwork, jewelry, show clothes and other horse related items. This year we are extending the payment due date for auction items to January 15th, 2016.
Please help us again this year by donating. The Audrey Grace Auction is so successful and loved because, unlike many charities, 100% of every dollar goes to the children. There are no salaries paid for the work, all involved donate their time, letterhead, postage and other needed items. Joe and Heidi donate the site and the horse friends donate the items. ZERO costs means 100% profit going straight to the children in need! Your donation is 100% tax deductible for the full retail value. Please use the enclosed form when submitting your auction donation information to insure accuracy with websites, phone numbers, and retail value and include information about 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, along with all the staff and children at New Horizons, sincerely appreciate your involvement.
Warmest regards,
Jane & Leon Backes