Tag Archives: Step by Step Foundation

Auctions, Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Events, Fundraisers, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Kristen VanderVeen Defends Her Title in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Grand Prix

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More Than $6,000 Raised for Wildfire Relief

Kristen VanderVeen defended her title in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix. Photos: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — Six weeks of fantastic competition and wonderful events at the Colorado Horse Park (CHP) were capped off with a weekend to remember. There was truly something for everyone, including pony rides and face painting for military families during the second annual Military Appreciation Day; equestrian safety and the distribution of free helmets during the Parker Adventist Hospital Helmet Fitting; and the Wildfire Relief Fundraising Auction spearheaded by Liliane Stransky and her Step by Step Foundation that raised more than $6,000 for the victims of the Waldo Canyon fire. The day concluded with world-class competition in the $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix.

Kristen VanderVeen, of St. Charles, IL, defended her title as reigning champion of the biggest Grand Prix of the Colorado Summer Circuit. On her horse Bull Run’s Zino Platinum, VanderVeen led the victory gallop for the second year in a row. Bull Run’s Zino Platinum is an 11-year-old Holsteiner (Accorodo) and has been with VanderVeen for about a year and a half.

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Auctions, Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Fundraisers, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping

Colorado Horse Park and Step by Step Foundation Form an Alliance to Relieve Fire Victims

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Benefit Auction to Be Held after $50,000 Parker Adventist Hospital Grand Prix

Daniela Stansky is just 15 years old and already committed to helping others through her work in her mom's charity, the Step by Step Foundation. Photo: Flying Horse Photography

Parker, CO — The Colorado Horse Park (CHP) and the Step by Step Foundation are working together to help support the victims of the Waldo Canyon fire. As an alliance they are assembling a Wildfire Relief Fundraising Auction, and all proceeds will go directly to Colorado Springs Together, which serves as the primary community organization to restore the lives and structures affected by the Waldo Canyon Fire. The benefit auction will take place at CHP (7522 S. Pinery Drive, Parker, CO 80134) on Saturday July 21 in front of the main office beginning at 3:00 p.m.

“We are seeing some amazing outpouring of support for the residents affected by the Waldo Canyon fire.  If everyone will do just one small thing to help, the results can be profound,” the Mayor of Colorado Springs, Steve Bach, told CHP.

Step by Step Foundation and CHP agreed, and are leaping to the aid of fire victims with a fundraiser to be held at the park. “Colorado is our community and in times like this we want to help,” said Kyle Fenner, CEO of CHP Foundation 501 (c) (3). “We are lucky to have the vehicle to do it, so we all jumped on board!”

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Kentucky Horse Shows, Show Jumping, Sydney Masters-Durieux

Teens, Amateurs & Pro Riders Joined Forces to Champion Step by Step Charity

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Hector Florentino pilots Stransky's Mission Ultimo to win $35,000 Welcome at Kentucky Horse Park. Photo by Ingrid Sabater

Grand Prix veteran Hector Florentino was the first member of “team” of international riders who champion the Step by Step Foundation (www.stepbystepfoundation.com) in competition to put in fault-free and fast rounds at the Kentucky Spring Horse Shows. The talented Dominican Rider piloted Stransky’s Mission Farm’s Ultimo to the blue ribbon and trophy in the $35,000 Welcome Open on day one of the two weeks of competitions at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky in the beginning of May.

“It’s great to come back to Kentucky and start off with a win,” said Florentino. “Last year, Ultimo and I put in 8 consecutive clean rounds in 4 grand prixs in Kentucky.   We placed 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th respectively.  Ultimo really likes this weather, this footing, the Kentucky Horse Park as an overall venue and horse show.   It would have been nice to have a little more sunshine the first week, but we will keep coming back to Kentucky.  For me, it is double the honor when I cannot only put in clean, fast rounds, but also represent Step by Step at the same time.   Every time we win, I know we are contributing to those kids with little or nothing, really making a difference in the life of someone who has nothing.”

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Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, Sydney Masters-Durieux

Teen Champion Emanuel Andrade Dominated Competition at Winter Equestrian Festival

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Photo by Liliane Stransky

Wellington, Florida – April 9, 2012 – 15-year-old Emanuel Andrade of Venezuela, a junior ambassador for the Step by Step Foundation charity, dominated the competition at the 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival held January 11 to April 1 in Wellington, FL.  While winning classes he also raised awareness for the children’s charity Step by Step Foundation during each class!

At the conclusion of the 12-week show jumping circuit, Andrade was presented as the Future Champions Leading Junior Jumper Rider, sponsored by Marley Goodman.  Over the course of the competition, the teen who also champions the charity Step by Step Foundation in competition, claimed six Championship and 12 Reserve Championship titles.  While 17 of those 18 titles were claimed in the Junior Jumper divisions, Andrade also earned the Six-Year-Old Young Jumper Horse Reserve Championship title during week 11 riding Black Pearl.

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Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Sydney Masters-Durieux

Teen Show Jumping Champion Emanuel Andrade Raises Awareness with Every Win at Winter Equestrian Festival

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Emanuel Andrade piloted Oxford to the Medium Junior Jumper Championship title during week eight of the 2012 WEF. Photos – Sportfot

Wellington, Florida – March 6, 2012 – Fifteen-year-old Emanuel Andrade, who champions the charity Step by Step Foundation in competition, continued to excel at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, winning Low, Medium and High Junior Jumper classes all on the same day.

On Friday, March 2, Andrade topped a field of 58 entries to win the Low Junior Jumper class with Casanova Junior, claimed victory in the Medium Junior Jumper class with Oxford, and won the High Junior Jumper class with Tiny Tim.

At the end of week eight, Andrade rode away with the Medium Junior Jumper Championship title with Oxford and the Reserve Championship title with Mississippi L.S.  He also claimed the Reserve Championship title in the Low Junior Jumper division with Casanova Junior, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding.

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*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Show Jumping, Sydney Masters-Durieux

15 Year Old Emanuel Andrade Makes Grand Prix Debut in $25k A-T Grand Children’s Benefit

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Emanuel Andrade makes Grand Prix debut, by Jack Mancini, Mancini Photos.

Emanuel Andrade (15) made his debut in the Open Jumper arena in the $25,000 A-T Children’s Benefit Grand Prix at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida at onset of 2012.  The teen, who champions the children’s charity Step by Step Foundation (www.stepbystepfoundation.com), faced off against stiff competition from a field of top international riders, including Olympic veterans and Debbie Stephens, Pablo Barrios and Step By Step Advisory Board member Margie Engle.

Andrade rode two horses, Oxford and La Fe Florli, in the class. After the 45 rounds had been completed, Andrade took the 11th place with La Fe Florli and the class was won by Catherine Pasmore aboard Van David.  The second place ribbon went to veteran Andrew Bournes and third place went to iconic Olympic rider Rodrigo Pessoa.  The formidable young equestrian took the Championship in the Junior Jumpers Low division riding P.S. I Love You and placed second in the Junior Jumper Highs on Luky Des Roquelines the same week.

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Championships, Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, FEI, FEI, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Sydney Masters-Durieux

Daniela Stransky Takes Gold for Venezuela & Champions Children’s Charity during FEI Americas Jumping Championships

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Daniela Stransky and Ikarus

Florida Teen Wins Best Individual Junior Rider during Final Leg of Competition in Ecuador

Daniela Stransky, the 15 year old equestrian from Stransky’s Mission Farm who champions the children’s charity Step by Step Foundation, piloted her gelding Ikarus to the Junior Jumper Best Individual Rider Medal during the final weekend of the 2011 FEI Americas Jumping Championships held in Guayaquil, Ecuador from July 26 to 31, 2011.

More than 85 top young show jumping riders, ages 12 to 21, came from over a dozen countries including Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Canada and the United States to compete at the prestigious international competition hosted by the Ecuador Equestrian Federation from July 26 to 31, 2011. Representing her native Venezuela for the first time, Stransky competed over double courses designed by Mrs. Marina Acevedo of Brazil on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

The Miami Dade County High School student took top honors aboard her big gray Warm Blood and was the only rider from her country to compete in the high Junior division. She was awarded the individual gold for her efforts.

“It is an honor to have my daughter represent her native country,” stated Daniela’s mother Liliane.  “We are so very proud that she had such success her first time here.”

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Community/Charity, Competitions, Events, Hunter/Equitation, Show Jumping, Sydney Masters-Durieux

Stransky Mission Farm’s Team Step by Step Riders Top Competition at Kentucky Spring Horse Shows

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Trainer & Teens Champion Children’s Charity & Take Lead in $30k Challenge & Junior Competitions

Hector Florentino piloting Ultimo to victory in the $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic. Photo by Rebecca Walton, Phelps Media

Lexington KY – May 15, 2011 – The Kentucky Spring Horse Shows, held May 11-15, featured the exciting debut of the 2011 Hagyard Challenge Series, consisting of seven grand prix classes to be held during the 2011 show series at the Kentucky Horse Park. Following the final event, a cash prize of $45,000 will be awarded to the rider accumulating the most points throughout the series. The top riders from across the nation gathered to compete over a challenging course during the lead off event on Thursday night’s $30,000 Hagyard Lexington Classic, CSI 2*. At the end of the two round competition, it was Hector Florentino aboard Stransky Mission Farm’s Ultimo in the winner’s circle.

Florentino, the head trainer and rider at Stransky Mission Farm in Wellington, Florida, now leads in the standings. The talented rider from the Dominican Republic is not only riding for owner Liliane Stransky but is a member of “Team Step by Step,” a group of riders of different levels, ages, and countries, who compete on the Hunter & Jumper A-Circuit to help raise awareness and funds for her international children’s charity, Step by Step Foundation (www.stepbystepfoundation.com).

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Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Events, Fundraisers, Sydney Masters-Durieux

Brazilian Grand Prix Icon Paulo Santana Wins Step by Step Foundation’s All In for Charity Poker Tournament Championship

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Step by Step Founder Liliane Stransky & Grand Prix rider Paulo Santana, who was the evening's Poker Champion, by Mancini Photos

International Equestrians Unite to Raise Funds & Awareness for Children in Need at Dinner Benefit at Winter Equestrian Festival

Wellington, FL – Olympic show jumping legend Margie Engle and international children’s charity founder Liliane Stransky joined forces for the Step by Step Foundation’s second annual All In for Charity Poker Tournament and dinner benefit on Sunday, March 13 in Wellington, FL.  After Richard Spooner rode to victory in the $25,000 Suncast Jumper Classic, the action shifted to the tents for some fast paced, high stakes gaming in the Grand Prix Pavilion at the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Engle, who was the Event Chair, was on hand with Stransky to welcome guests to the fun filled evening that featured fine food and good times for a great cause. Guests enjoyed a lovely buffet dinner as DJ Mario kept the music pumping, but it was the poker action that drew in the serious players and international teams.  Stransky had assembled a strong lineup of lovely ladies on her team including Engle, event organizer Kathy Andersen, Junior Jumper champion Daniela Stransky, and grand prix veteran Hillary Dobbs.  After donning their bright orange team Polos, the girls sat down to take on all challengers and raise funds for the children.

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Community/Charity, Competitions, Contributors/Press, Equestrian Aid Found., Events, Fundraisers, Show Jumping

ESP Announces Fundraising Goal of $1 Million for the 2011 FTI Great Charity Challenge

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Wellington, FL – January 15, 2011 – The first annual FTI Great Charity Challenge galloped out of the gates in 2010 with huge momentum, raising over $560,000 for 24 non-profit charities. The success of the inaugural event inspired Equestrian Sport Productions to set a fundraising goal of $1 million for the 2011 FTI Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments, which is a featured event of the 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival.

The Great Charity Challenge (GCC) is a relay style jumping competition that is scheduled to take place at 6:00 p.m. on February 19, 2011 in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. Thirty relay teams will be formed, consisting of two junior/amateur riders and one professional rider. Each equestrian team is assigned a charity to represent, and the charity matched with the winning team will win over $100,000!

The event will also host the Equestrian Aid Foundation Carnival, where children can enjoy carnival games, a dunk tank, a moon bounce, and more. In the true spirit of giving, the EAF will contribute half of the proceeds received from the Carnival to the total prize money awarded to the 30 charities participating in the GCC. The other half of the proceeds will be contributed to the Equestrian Aid Foundation.

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