Tag Archives: Driving Challenge

Misdee and James Miller, Steve Wilson, Laura Lee Brown Continue USET Foundation Gift-Matching Initiative

Dr. Jennifer Thompson is one driving athlete who has seen the benefits of the Developing Athlete Program. Photo by Pics of You.

Gladstone, NJ – Misdee and James Miller, Steve Wilson, and Laura Lee Brown initiated the United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation Driving Challenge in 2017 with a goal of raising $1,200,000 for the U.S. Equestrian High Performance Driving program, and today, the loyal supporters and active drivers remain committed to closing in on that goal.

Through the Driving Challenge, multi-year gift commitments of $20,000 or more are matched dollar for dollar, up to $500,000, by the Millers, Wilson, and Brown, who encourage fellow drivers, owners, and enthusiasts to help create a legacy for the High Performance Driving program by rising to the Driving Challenge.

“We created the Challenge because driving, historically, is such a small discipline, and it hasn’t been able to be very well-funded,” said Misdee Miller. “Early on, we recognized that we not only needed to raise funds for our athletes traveling abroad, but most importantly, fund programs and drivers at home.”

The Driving Challenge created a source of funding that can be drawn upon each year and has provided increased support for the Developing Athlete Program (DAP), which has been instrumental in the careers of up-and-coming drivers. A large percentage of the funds are allocated to hiring coaches running educational clinics across the country. There are also plans to develop an international working student program so that drivers can gain valuable first-hand experience competing in Europe.

“So far, the program has thrived and blossomed and has helped a lot of drivers,” continued Misdee Miller. “We’ve taken them from Preliminary all the way to becoming national champions. That’s the best way to recognize if a program has been successful or not.”

Dr. Jennifer Thompson is one such athlete who has seen the benefits of the program first-hand, after coming up through ranks from the Preliminary level all the way to being named the 2019 USEF Advanced Single Horse Combined Driving National Champion.

“I look back to where my horse and I were and to where we are now, and I just think, ‘Wow, we’ve come a long way!’ I have to attribute the vast majority of my success to the opportunities I’ve gotten through the DAP,” said Thompson, who works as a full-time equine veterinarian in Wisconsin. “I’m so thankful to those who have contributed to this program because it has helped me get to where I am today.”

Nifty Hamilton, who was the highest placed U.S. Combined Driver at 2018 FEI World Driving Championships for Singles, also credits the program with her success.

“The High Performance Program has been the cornerstone to my development as a driver and the training of [my horse] Makari Design up through the levels,” said Hamilton. “The quality and variety of the clinicians, in both training and lectures, that the USEF has offered, continue to move me forward toward my goals.”

“We’re really hoping we can get people excited about funding new drivers,” concluded Misdee Miller. “It’s training and developing and supporting drivers on their pathways from the grassroots all the way to ‘pre-podium.’ If we realize our goals, we would raise over a million dollars for driving. That would be quite historic.”

Learn more about being a part of history and making a donation to the Driving Challenge by contacting Bonnie B. Jenkins at bjenkins@uset.org or by phone at 908-234-1251.

For more information on the USET Foundation, visit www.uset.org.

USET Foundation Announces Launch of the Driving Challenge

Gladstone, N.J. – June 20, 2017 – The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of a transformational fundraising initiative, the Driving Challenge, made possible through the generosity of Misdee and James Miller, Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown.

As active drivers and loyal supporters of equestrian sport, these competitors have come together to lead in their support for the US Equestrian High Performance Driving program.  The goal of the initiative is to raise $1,200,000 for the driving discipline, through multi-year gift commitments of $20,000 or more, made by December 31, 2017. These gift commitments will be matched dollar for dollar up to $500,000. Misdee and James Miller, Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown invite fellow drivers, owners and enthusiasts to help create a legacy for the United States High Performance Driving program by contributing to the Driving Challenge.

The United States High Performance Driving program is ready to advance to the next level. To achieve this, continued effort needs to be made in identifying and preparing U.S. drivers through the developing program, and to provide international competition opportunities for success at the elite level. Securing the services of world-class coaches, as well providing grants for European competitions are central to achieving success. In order to accomplish this and close the gap between nations currently winning international medals, an investment in the programs and the drivers must be made to establish a pathway to the podium.

The Driving Challenge will create a source of funding that can be drawn upon each year and provide increased support for the high performance programs. It will establish a meaningful base of annual support for all the driving disciplines including singles, pairs, ponies and four-in-hand. The challenge will also create momentum and provide an incentive for others to contribute, knowing their gifts will be matched.

Ensuring U.S. drivers have the opportunity and sufficient financial resources to train and compete in international championships depends on a commitment from all those passionate about the discipline of driving and from those that want to see our U.S. driving teams achieve excellence in international championships. Today we call on you to consider our U.S equestrian team’s path forward. Your leadership and participation in this exciting challenge will define the future of our nation’s equestrian sporting tradition in driving and underscore the importance of this incredible opportunity.

For more information about making a donation to the Driving Challenge, please contact Bonnie B. Jenkins at bjenkins@uset.org or call 908-234-1251.

For more information on the USET Foundation, visit www.uset.org.

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