FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Equestrian
Aid Foundation Processes 160 COVID-19 Relief Grants
for
Industry Professionals in Crisis
Wellington,
Florida—Apr. 16, 2020—The Equestrian Aid Foundation is proud to announce the
distribution of 160 relief checks to equestrians in financial crisis as a direct
result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative to support equestrian
professionals and industry service providers has been funded through EAF’s
Disaster Relief Fund.
“The
essential shutdown of our industry has really thrown the community into crisis,”
said EAF board member Scot Evans. "Many of the people we work among week in and
week out have been left with no means of financial security and no way forward.
It's been devastating.”
Applications
for emergency grants have come from all corners of the equestrian community,
from jump crew to stewards to instructors whose lesson income has all but
disappeared. Thanks to community support, private donations, and the Great
Charity Challenge, the Equestrian Aid Foundation has been able to fund emergency
grant payments of $500 to assist qualified applicants with basic living
expenses. The Foundation is also honored to have financial support from a
growing number of businesses.
“When
we conceptualized our Disaster Relief Fund several years ago, we never imagined
we’d be helping our community through a pandemic,” said EAF board member Louise
Riggio. “But this fund is designed to help people overcome the unimaginable.
We’re making great strides to help alleviate the financial impact of COVID-19,
and as long as we have community support, we’ll continue to face it head-on. We
are horsemen helping horsemen.”
Please
visit the Equestrian Aid Foundation’s website for
updates on grant availability and businesses supporting EAF’s COVID-19 relief
effort. Click here to donate to
EAF’s Disaster Relief Fund.
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The
Equestrian Aid Foundation® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that assists
people from all corners of the horse world within the United States who are
coping with catastrophic injury or illness and resulting financial crisis. For
more information, please visit EquestrianAidFoundation.org.