The Washington, Oregon and Alaska American Quarter Horse Association state affiliates are proud to announce that after just one year they have met their fund-raising goal of $100,000, and will begin awarding $5,000 in scholarships annually through the Region One Scholarship Program starting in 2016.
The scholarship program is designed to benefit youth residing in the states and provinces within AQHA’s Region One (Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho and British Columbia), and will be managed by the American Quarter Horse Foundation in Amarillo.
Jeff Williams, President of Washington State Quarter Horse Association (WSQHA) commented, “Our goal was to raise $100,000 by 2017, but due to overwhelming support for the program, some last minute fundraising at the WSQHA convention last week, and a generous donation by Coyote Rock Ranch in Oregon, we were able to make our goal a reality.
He continued, “The amazing part of this story is that not only were we able to raise the entire $100,000 in the first year, we already have additional pledges that total over $100,000 through 2017, so it now appears our new goal will be $300,000 in the fund for $15,000 in annual scholarships by the end of 2017.”
Fundraising activities for the Region One Scholarship Fund to date include the donation of Washington, Oregon and Alaska R1AQHA funds, pledge drives held at Washington, Alaska and Oregon annual conventions, as well as the Region One Scholarship horse show and Charity Auction held in Monroe, Washington in August of this year.
Lisa Gardner, manager of the new Region One Scholarship show says, “The support for the new horse show was overwhelming, we had exhibitors competing from every state and province in Region One, and 100% of the proceeds from the horse show went directly to the scholarship fund.”
In addition, AQHA director for Washington Tracy Adams led the charity auction that was held during the horse show. Tracy explains, “Trainers in the region donated a month’s worth of training to our silent auction, and in many instances those trainer donations raised more than four times their actual value.”
Tracy adds, “We were also able to procure donations for trips throughout the region with weekends in Seattle, Tacoma, Portland and travel packages for Alaska as well as islands and resorts throughout the region.”
She notes, “The bidding was fast and furious and we can’t thank everyone enough for their donations and generosity. It is because of that support that we have reached our goal so quickly.”
Between the horse show and auction over $28,000 was raised.Please consider a full tax deductible donation to the AQHA Region One Scholarship fund. You can do so on line with a credit card at www.aqha.com/region1sch or you can contact Veronica Almanza with the American Quarter Horse Foundation at [email protected].
