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USET Foundation “Soirée du Cheval” Gala Launches $35 Million Campaign to Achieve Competitive Excellence

Wellington, FL – January 27, 2014 – The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation launched its $35 million Campaign to Achieve Competitive Excellence at its Gala in Wellington, Florida, on Friday evening, January 24. The benefit event was held at the International Polo Club in a beautifully designed and decorated dinner tent that radiated with French elegance in celebration of “Soirée du Cheval.” The guests included athletes, coaches, U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation friends and supporters.

The event, co-chaired by R. Bruce Duchossois, S. Tucker S. Johnson, and Robin Parsky, helped to raise funds for the USET Foundation to further support the United States Equestrian Team athletes as they prepare to compete at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France. The exciting live auction featured eight luxury items, which helped to raise over $700,000 for the U.S. Teams.

USET Foundation President S. Tucker S. Johnson delivered the keynote address, announcing the $35 Million Campaign to Achieve Competitive Excellence. Johnson stressed the importance of the USET Foundation’s contributions in assisting the U.S. Teams as they prepare for the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

“Each year, the USET Foundation provides a grant to the USEF for this country’s High Performance programs, which represents approximately 55% of the revenue that supports the international competition and training of our United States Equestrian Teams,” explained Johnson. “While we are proud of our accomplishments, we also recognize that for this country to be even more competitive at all international championships, we want to continue to increase our support to further expand the programs across the board: from the young and developing riders to the elite, providing for a strong and healthy pipeline while making sure seasoned teams have the backing necessary to succeed.”

Johnson continued, “I am thrilled to let you know that as we launch this campaign we have already received in cash and pledges $25,000,000 towards our $35,000,000 goal. This major gifts fundraising effort is directly benefiting the athletes and our United States Equestrian Teams in all eight international disciplines.”

Johnson thanked all the donors to the Campaign and recognized those individuals that have truly provided early philanthropic leadership, through their gift pledges of one half million dollars and above with a champagne toast. Over the next two years, the USET Foundation will work to raise the remaining $10 million.

The USET Foundation also presented its two most prestigious and coveted awards to riders: Katie Dinan the Lionel Guerrand-Hermes Trophy and Beezie Madden with the Whitney Stone Cup for the third year. Both athletes delivered outstanding speeches recognizing and thanking their fellow teammates and the USET Foundation.

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation (www.uset.org) is the non-profit organization that supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international, high-performance horses and athletes in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation.

For more information on the USET Foundation, please call (908) 234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org.

Rebecca Walton for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

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