Laura Mathy aboard Quandice de Kerglenn at the CSI*** event in her JustWorld show jacket. Photo: Leon M – Equnews.
Liege, Belgium – November 7, 2014 – JustWorld International has had a thrilling year of international recognition from St. Gallen to New York, from the World Equestrian Games (WEG) to the LA Masters. With tremendous efforts from Junior Ambassador Laura Mathy and founder Jessica Newman, JustWorld can now add Liege, Belgium, to its list. JustWorld launched its Belgian presence at the Jumping International de Liege CSI*** this past weekend, October 28 – November 2, with spectacular success. The events concluded with Enda Carrol’s Ashford Farm coming on board as a partner and raising over € 2000 for the organization.
When Laura Mathy, co-captain of Team Cambodia in the Ambassador Team Challenge, realized that she was the only JustWorld Ambassador showing in Liege for their CSI*** event, she took responsibility to cultivate awareness for JustWorld’s mission. JustWorld International (JWI) is a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization that funds life-changing education, nutrition, health and hygiene, and leadership and cultural development programs for impoverished children in Cambodia, Honduras, Guatemala, and Colombia.
“Jessica and I were really surprised that I was the only JustWorld ambassador riding in Liege, and from that moment on, our goal was the same: to increase the number of JustWorld ambassadors here,” Mathy said. “There is a whole community that hasn’t been touched yet, and it is my mission, and our mission, to increase awareness about JustWorld International in Belgium and in Europe,” Mathy said.
Several months prior to the CSI*** show, Mathy came up with the idea of having a JustWorld event and reached out to show organizers, mostly comprised of her family and family friends. You may recognize Mathy’s name, as she comes from a premier equestrian family; she is the youngest sister of international show jumper Francois Mathy Jr.
“One month before the event, Jessica [Newman] said she would come to the event for the weekend, which made me really excited and nervous at the same time, because by then I knew everything had to be perfect so she would be very happy to come and see what we had done,” Mathy said.
Mathy, indeed, impressed Newman by creating an exciting event that featured many engaging activities to spread the word about JustWorld. The JustWorld booth, set up by volunteers Peter Carlsberg and Maaret Auvala from Back on Track, featured an autograph signing with show jumping greats John Whitaker and World Champion Philippe Le Jeune and kids’ face painting that attracted children, riders and spectators alike. In addition, tickets were sold and a total of 24 prizes given out to winners, such as saddle pads from Back-on-Track and WPB Group, books from Pierre Beaupère, vouchers for riding equipment, branded baseball hats and polo shirts, just to name a few.
“I had my first public speaking experience with André Jacques Legoupil in the main ring of the show. It went great and people started hearing about JustWorld and getting interested in our cause,” Mathy said.
Friday’s efforts turned out to be a win-win, as show attendees had the opportunity to make silent offers on an adorable miniature pony, donated to JustWorld by the horse show organization. Although there were numerous bids in the silent auction, the prestigious Ashford Farm made the winning bid to take the mini pony home, making it their official mascot! Ashford Farm was so motivated that owner Enda Carrol committed to jump on board, immediately committing to becoming a long-term JustWorld partner and sponsor. Ashford Farm’s riders Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, Angelica Augustsson and Pieter Clemens are all in the process of becoming JustWorld International Ambassadors as well.
“I think this event in Belgium was a very successful event. It turned out to be a great start for growth in the JustWorld community in Europe and in Belgium,” Mathy concluded.
About JustWorld International
JustWorld International is a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization that funds life-changing education, nutrition, health and hygiene, and leadership and cultural development programs for impoverished children in Cambodia, Honduras, Guatemala, and Colombia.
JustWorld International is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in the United States and a registered Association 1901 in France. Tax-deductible donations are accepted in Switzerland and JustWorld’s supporters may send their donations to Fondation Philanthropia, a Swiss public-benefit umbrella foundation. Tax-deductible donations are also accepted in Canada. Canadian donors please click here. JustWorld International has no political or religious affiliation.
Media Contact: Kendall Bierer
JustWorld International
phone (561) 309-9873 fax (561) 753-3386
jwinfo@justworldinternational.org