Category Archives: Jennifer Ward

JustWorld International Fundraising Gala Raises over $280,000

JustWorld International Executive Director Jessica Newman (center) with Hilary Betaille (left) and JustWorld Rider Ambassador Francie Steinwedell-Carvin. Photo - Sportfot.com

January 25, 2012 – Wellington, Florida – Over $280,000 was raised at the Ninth Annual JustWorld International Fundraising Gala held Friday, January 20, in Wellington, Florida.  JustWorld International is a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization working as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world by helping impoverished children.

More than 650 guests enjoyed an evening in the bygone era of the flapper at the 1920s-themed event hosted by Maria Newman at her beautiful Belle Herbe Farm in Grand Prix Village.  Renowned event planners, Dazzle Creative Events, created a ‘Speakeasy’ vibe that was reflected through food, drinks, specialty entertainment and a casino with 14 gaming tables.  Presented by FTI Consulting, Whole Foods of Wellington, and Caryl Philips and Frank Zeiss, the evening was an overwhelming success, raising $280,360 towards JustWorld project sites in Brazil, Cambodia, Guatemala, and Honduras.

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Ninth Annual Fundraising Gala for JustWorld International

December 22, 2011 – Wellington, Florida – Join JustWorld International for a swinging 1920s-themed evening in support of its ninth annual fundraiser on Friday, January 20, 2012, in Wellington, Florida.  JustWorld International is a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization working as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world by helping impoverished children.

Held at Maria Newman’s stunning Belle Herbe Farm in Grand Prix Village, guests will spend a glorious evening in the bygone era of the flapper.  The 1920s Speakeasy theme will be reflected through food, drinks and specialty entertainment created for the evening by renowned event planners, Dazzle Creative Events.  The who’s who of the Wellington equestrian and social scene will mingle with flappers, fellas, dames, mobsters and molls and gamble the night away with Lady Luck.  This evening is sure to be the Cat’s Meow as JustWorld International celebrates its past successes and fundraises for future accomplishments.

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JustWorld and Blenheim EquiSports Raise the Stakes

A JustWorld Horseless Horse Show will be held during the CSI2*-W Las Vegas National, organized by Blenheim EquiSports, from November 2 to 6 at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo credit – Sportfot

Las Vegas, Nevada – Blenheim EquiSports, a leading equestrian event management company based in California, has gone all in, partnering with JustWorld International for its upcoming Las Vegas event.  JustWorld is a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization working as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world by helping impoverished children.

Blenheim EquiSports and JustWorld International will launch their partnership at the 2011 CSI2*-W Las Vegas National, featuring $130,000 in prize money, held November 2 to 6 at the South Point Hotel and Casino.  Several fundraising and awareness events will be held, including the signature JustWorld Horseless Show, which sees human competitors jumping obstacles on foot.  Spectators can bet on great entertainment as they watch competitors race over a course of sponsored obstacles in the South Point Equestrian Arena concourse in their own ‘indoor’ event.

“We see tremendous opportunity to expand JustWorld’s outreach to the equestrian community on the west coast by developing a partnership,” said Melissa Brandes-Braunstein, Senior Vice-President of Marketing for Blenheim EquiSports.  “We look forward to a fabulous mix of events at the Las Vegas National.  It will be fun for all, all for a great cause.”

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Thunderbird Raises $11,607 for JustWorld International

Jane, Laura, George and Laura Jane Tidball all competed in the Family Extravaganza Equitation Class to help raise $11,607 for JustWorld International. Photo Courtesy of Thunderbird Show Park

September 27, 2011 – Langley, British Columbia – Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC, raised $11,607 in support of JustWorld International during its recent Summer Classic and Summer Festival tournaments.

JustWorld International is a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization working as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world by helping impoverished children.  Thunderbird Show Park identified JustWorld’s Cambodia Rice for Families Project at Stung Mein Chey in Cambodia as the project it wanted to raise funds for.  Setting a target of $9,000, Thunderbird far exceeded its fundraising goal by bringing in $11,607 from its various fundraising activities.  The money will go directly to the project, giving families in the Stung Mein Chey garbage dump a 5 kg bag of rice each month, helping to reduce the need for children to gather food scraps or to earn money by picking through trash.

Thunderbird held several fundraising and awareness events over the course of the Summer Classic tournament from August 17-21 and the Summer Festival tournament from August 24-28.  JustWorld’s signature Horseless Horse Show, which sees people compete on foot over miniature jumps, was held on Friday, August 19, much to the delight of the crowd.  A silent auction, which raised more than $4,000 in support of JustWorld, was also held the same day during the $50,000 Dianne Tidball Legacy Grand Prix.

During the second week of competition, the fun-filled Groom’s Class took the spotlight in the grand prix ring on Thursday, August 25.  Thunderbird Show Park matched the groom’s cash donations to help raise more than $600 for JustWorld’s project sites.

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Eric Martin Makes It a Double for Manitoba

Eric Martin over the third fence with Kumano. Photos - Cansport

Calgary, Alberta – Eric Martin of Oakbank, MB, scored victory in the $50,000 CSI2* Friends of Rocky Mountain Show Jumping Grand Prix held Saturday, August 27, at Anderson Ranch in Calgary, AB.

Manitoba athletes won both of the major competitions held at the Rocky Mountain Classic II show jumping tournament. Hayley Alfonso of St. Andrews, MB, posted the only clear round to win the $31,000 CSI2* Eunice Krausert Memorial Grand Prix held August 24 before Martin claimed his victory to make it two for two for Manitoba.

“We like Alberta money,” joked Martin, who pocketed $15,000 for his win.

Course designer Werner Deeg of Germany set a track that produced 11 clear rounds from a starting field of 24. The crowd was treated to an exciting jump-off that saw five horse-rider combinations leave all the jumps in place in an effort to win. In the end, it was Martin with the seven-year-old stallion Kumano who succeeded in doing it in the fastest time, 45.43 seconds.

“I just tried to be as smooth as I could,” explained Martin. “I have a good turn of foot; he’s fast through the turns.”

Martin makes the 16-hour journey to Calgary twice a year to compete at the Rocky Mountain Show Jumping tournaments. Having competed at the May events, he was back for the Rocky Mountain Classic series in August.

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Hayley Alfonso and Lennox Put Manitoba on the Map

Hayley Alfonso and Lennox won the $31,000 CSI2* Eunice Krausert Memorial Grand Prix on August 24 at the Rocky Mountain Classic II in Calgary, AB. Photo - Cansport

Calgary, Alberta – Hayley Alfonso of St. Andrews, MB, posted the only clear round to win the $31,000 CSI2* Eunice Krausert Memorial Grand Prix held August 24 at the Rocky Mountain Classic II in Calgary, AB.

From a starting field of 26 entries, only Alfonso riding Lennox 157 produced a clear round over the tough track set by German course designer Anne Kathrin Guenther.

Three other riders managed clear rounds but fell victim to the clock, incurring one fault for exceeding the 86-second time allowed.  Tracy Epp of Langley, BC, stopped the clock in 87.06 seconds riding Santee to place second while Beda Wachter of Innisfail, AB, took third place with a time of 87.93 seconds riding WH Carthago Sun III, his 10-year-old Canadian Warmblood stallion.  Lisa Carlsen of Spruce Grove, AB, came through the timers in 88.84 seconds with Cuba Libre to place fourth.  With the fastest four fault effort, Marshall Whyte of Cochrane, AB, rounded out the top five aboard Quinlan, the 11-year-old Hannoverian gelding he rode to victory one week earlier in the $31,000 CSI2* Laramide Oil and Gas Grand Prix.

Having competed in the grand prix events held during the Rocky Mountain Classic I one week earlier, Alfonso was surprised by the size of the course for the $31,000 CSI2* Eunice Krausert Memorial Grand Prix.

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Kyle Is King of the Rockies

Kyle King of Ocala, FL, and Capone I won the $50,000 CSI2* G2 Financial Group Grand Prix on August 20 at the Rocky Mountain Classic I in Calgary, AB. Photo credit - Cansport

Calgary, Alberta – Kyle King of Ocala, FL, kicked off the three-week Rocky Mountain Classic show jumping series by winning the $50,000 CSI2* G2 Financial Group Grand Prix on Saturday, August 20. The Rocky Mountain Classic show jumping tournaments are taking place at Anderson Ranch in Calgary, AB.

Course designer Werner Deeg of Germany ensured a thrilling jump-off when 10 of the 29 starters jumped his first round track clear to advance to the jump-off. King was the first rider through the gate with Capone I, and set a target time of 39.95 seconds that would prove unbeatable. In fact, King proved to be his own toughest competition when his other jump-off mount, Valentino, was clear in a time of 41.10 seconds for second place. Rocky Mountain tournament organizer, John Anderson of Calgary, AB, took third place with a time of 41.61 seconds riding Terrific.

“I went first and was a little conservative, but it turned out to be fine,” said King, who has been based at Anderson Ranch this summer. “They all had to chase me and it worked out. I had the class by a full second.”

For King and Capone I, the $50,000 CSI2* G2 Financial Group Grand Prix marked the pair’s first competition since winning the $125,000 CN World Cup Grand Prix during the Spruce Meadows “Continental” Tournament in June.

“It was great for Capone because it was challenging enough, but it wasn’t so huge and he didn’t have to try too hard,” said King of the 15-year-old Holsteiner stallion by Contender. “He jumped solid and was right on form.”

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Kyle King and Ashley Jerome Tie in $25,000 Full Meal Deal Grand Prix

Ashley Jerome of Calgary, AB, and Santa Cruz tied for the win in the $25,000 Full Meal Deal Grand Prix held during the Mid Summer Classic II in Calgary, AB

Calgary, Alberta – Kyle King of Ocala, FL, and Ashley Jerome of Calgary, AB, tied to win the $25,000 Full Meal Deal Grand Prix held July 17 during the Mid Summer Classic II produced by Rocky Mountain Show Jumping at Anderson Ranch in Calgary, AB.

Run in a unique format, the $25,000 Full Meal Deal Grand Prix sees competitors jumping the exact same course set at four different heights – 1.10m, 1.15m, 1.20m and 1.30m.  All competitors, regardless of the height they were jumping, had the same time allowed to complete the course designed by Eric Hasbrouck.  Of the 67 entries that competed over the four divisions offered, a total of 20 jumped clear.

Working backwards for the jump-off, the 1.30m division went first.  Tami Masters was again clear in the jump-off in a time of 47.24 seconds riding Aurora to move into the lead.  King then jumped clear in the 1.20m division in a time of 47.09 to move to the top of the leader board.

In the 1.15m division, last year’s defending champion, Breanne McAllister of Calgary, AB, set a blistering fast pace with Zorro, stopping the clock in 44.48 seconds.  However, a rail down along the way left the 17-year-old in eighth position overall with the day’s fastest four fault jump-off effort.

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JustWorld International Brings Fun and Fundraising to Bromont

Defending Grand Prix champion Yann Candele competing in the JustWorld Horseless Horse Show at L’International Bromont. Photo credit – Debra Jamroz

July 13, 2011 – Bromont, Quebec – JustWorld International will once again partner with the annual L’International Bromont, bringing fun and fundraising to the two-week show jumping tournament held July 20-24 and July 27-31 in Bromont, Quebec.

The humanitarian organization will kick off its first of three fundraising efforts on Saturday, July 23, with the popular JustWorld International Horseless Horse Show, scheduled to take place at 5 p.m., immediately following the Speed Derby.  Competitors will race around a course of obstacles on foot, trying to leave the jumps in place while finishing in the fastest time.  For a $10 entry fee, participants can choose to compete in the Short Stirrup Jumpers, Children’s Jumpers, Pairs Class, Team Relay Race and Puissance (High Bar) Competition.

On Monday, July 25, the JustWorld International Benefit Golf Tournament will take place at the Chateau Bromont Golf Course.  The tee-off time is 11 a.m. and games will be played in a cross-over format to minimize delays.  The inscription fee for the golf tournament is $200 per person, with a portion going to support JustWorld’s humanitarian projects.  The fee includes a golf cart rental and the JustWorld dinner at Auberge Chateau Bromont.  In addition, all participants will receive a leather golf belt courtesy of Landes Belts.

While the golfers take to the course, other family members are welcome to swim in the pool or play volleyball at Auberge Chateau Bromont.

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Horseware Ireland Partners with JustWorld in Cambodia

Tom MacGuinness of Horseware Ireland visits the JustWorld International project site in Cambodia in April of 2011.

June 3, 2011 – Kinston, North Carolina and Wellington, Florida – Leading horse blanket and equestrian clothing manufacturer Horseware Ireland has reaffirmed its commitment to JustWorld International, partnering with the not-for-profit humanitarian organization to build another school at JustWorld’s project site, Stung Mean Chey, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

An official JustWorld International sponsor since 2005, Horseware Ireland has committed $25,000 to begin construction on the new school.  Equestrian humanitarian Maria Newman has also donated $10,000 towards the new school’s construction.  In March, Horseware Ireland spearheaded the first annual Strut! Fashion Show held at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds in Wellington, FL.  Proceeds from the fashion show bring the total raised to date to $35,000 for construction of the new school, which will be a three-story facility.

JustWorld currently operates two schools in Cambodia, one located in Stung Mean Chey, and the other at the Borey Keila project site, situated in an urban slum of Phnom Penh.  There are currently close to 600 students receiving instruction in English, Khmer, math, and traditional Khmer culture free of charge.  In addition to education, the schools provide clean water and basic nutrition to extremely poor families and children who otherwise have almost no resources.

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