TCA announces over $450,000 in grants
From a Thoroughbred Charities of America release
Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) announced today that grants totaling $462,139 have been awarded to 71 Thoroughbred industry-related non-profits that work to uphold TCA’s mission.
Additionally, nearly $24,000 was expended from the Horses First Fund within the organization’s last fiscal year to aid in the rescue of the 43 horses abandoned in Mercer County, Kentucky, bringing total support provided to nearly $486,140. Grant recipients from the last three years can be found on www.tca.org.
TCA distributes grants to several categories of Thoroughbred-related nonprofits including retirement, rehabilitation and rehoming organizations; backstretch and farm employee programs; equine-assisted therapy programs; and research organizations. Grants are provided to organizations that successfully meet the criteria set forth in TCA’s annual grant application. Grant applications for the 2018 grant cycle will be available in early January.
The Horses First Fund was established by LNJ Foxwoods in June 2016 in support of the need for immediate horse rescue efforts in Mercer County, Kentucky. To date, the Horses First Fund has raised $38,000. The horses involved in the Mercer County rescue were successfully rehabilitated and rehomed.
“Our grants and aid would not be possible without the generous support of our donors,” said TCA president Mike McMahon. “We are especially proud to be the title sponsor of the Thoroughbred Makeover for the fifth time, as well as supporters of the Thoroughbred Incentive Program and the TAKE2 Second Career Program. We truly believe that retraining and repurposing is the way forward. We congratulate all of our 2017 grant recipients on successfully meeting our grant criteria and deeply appreciate their efforts in Thoroughbred aftercare and in providing health and human services to backstretch and farm employees.”
TCA’s mission is to provide a better life for Thoroughbreds, both during and after their racing careers, by supporting qualified repurposing and retirement organizations and by helping the people who care for them. TCA distributes grants to several categories of Thoroughbred-related nonprofits including rehabilitation, retraining, rehoming and retirement organizations; backstretch and farm employee programs; equine-assisted therapy programs; and research organizations. Since its inception in 1990, TCA has granted over $22 million to more than 200 charities. From 2000-2016, more than 95% of TCA’s expenditures were allocated to program services including direct grants. TCA is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA).
