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Reining Horse Foundation Receives $50,000 Gift From the Teton Ridge Foundation

Newly formed brand’s contribution will help improve programs which support and honor the reining community, while celebrating the sport’s history

(August 20, 2021) OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – The Reining Horse Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the National Reining Horse Association, recently received a generous gift of $50,000 from the Teton Ridge Foundation. The donation will help fund programs designed to support youth leadership development, members who are enduring hardships, and both individuals and horses who have made valuable contributions to the sport of reining.

The Teton Ridge Foundation serves as the philanthropic wing of the newly created western brand, Teton Ridge.

The brainchild of visionary entrepreneur Thomas Tull, Teton Ridge was formed to help preserve the values and traditions of America’s iconic western culture, by investing in western performance sports, sponsoring riders, trainers, and events, strategically breeding Quarter Horses, and focusing on long-term land conservation.

Thomas Tull’s appreciation for western culture’s core values — integrity, hard work, and respect, inspired his support of the Reining Horse Foundation, an organization dedicated to hard-working individuals whose livelihoods depend on the western way of life.

According to RHF President Tim Anderson, “The mission of Teton Ridge aligns with ours in many important ways. Certainly, the Reining Horse Foundation shares an interest in preserving the history of reining, which is widely recognized as one of the most exciting disciplines in all of western performance sports.”

The contribution will strengthen multiple programs, including the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund, which provides relief to NRHA Members experiencing hardships caused by injury, illness, and even natural disaster.

Additionally, Teton Ridge’s donation will support youth leadership development programs and educational scholarships for members of the National Reining Horse Youth Association.

Contacts:
Leslie Baker
Reining Horse Foundation
(405) 946-7400 x 106
rhf@nrha.com

Katie Harvey                          
KGBTexas Communications             
(210) 410-1139                                              
katie@kgbtexas.com 

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Generous Donors Pledge Match for RHF Raise A Million Auctions at TRFAM

If you’re in Vegas for TRFAM, stop by the RHF booth to bid in the Silent Auction. The proceeds from the Silent and Live Run For A Million Auctions will benefit the Reining Horse Foundation.

Excitement for The Run For A Million presented by Teton Ridge is growing, and while the high-stakes event is drawing reining enthusiasts from around the globe to Las Vegas, it’s also sparked a philanthropic push.

Recently the Reining Horse Foundation, the charitable arm of the National Reining Horse Association, and TRFAM event management announced the creation of the Raise A Million Auctions to Benefit the Reining Community. Donations for incredible items – ranging from a breeding to 2019 TRFAM Co-Champion No Smoking Required to awe-inspiring jewelry – flowed in, and expectations are high for the event, which will feature live and silent auctions.

Then a generous group of donors elected to up the ante even more.

“A group of donors stepped forward to contribute funds to match the first $15,000 raised through the auctions, and gifts were pledged from $500 to $2,500,” noted RHF Executive Director Leslie Baker. “We have the best odds in Vegas because the auction is already a winner from the start.”

Baker added that, as more RHF supporters heard of the pledge, more donations rolled in, and currently there is $16,500 pledged.

“These are unrestricted gifts, and all will be accordingly recognized through the RHF Reiners Club. If someone wants to contribute to growing the match even more, that’s possible,” Baker said, noting that the best way to reach her during the event is by calling 405-946-7400 ext. 106, or e-mailing rhf@nrha.com.

Current Donors Include:  
$2,500
Tim Anderson & Kim Niven
Rick Clark
Jennifer Greenleaf
John & Nancy Tague
Jamie Walters

$500
Gary & Marian Carpenter
John & Dawn Foy
John & Terri Mainey
Santa Hill Ranch
Andrea & Mirjam Stillo
Frank & Susan Costantini
Pro Management Inc./Cheryl Cody
Joe & Emmy Wolfe

While both the Live and Silent Raise A Million Auctions will be open to in-person bidding only, Baker and the RHF team offer a proxy bid service. That way, even if a person is unable to travel to Las Vegas, they can still participate from afar. A link to the proxy bid form can be found here.

The Live Auction will be held Friday, August 20, at 3 p.m. at the start of the Million Dollar Draw Party.

The Silent Auction, featuring approximately three dozen quality items, will be set up near the VIP Pavilion inside the South Point Arena, beginning Wednesday, August 18. It will wrap up at 4 p.m. Saturday, August 21, just prior to the million-dollar competition.

For the most up-to-date list of donated items, visit ReiningFoundation.com/auctions.

“Thank you to TRFAM Show Manager Amanda Brumley for facilitating The Run For A Million Auctions, which sparked the idea for donor matching from some incredible benefactors,” Baker said. “We look forward to the auctions and are excited about the positive impact the funds raised will have on our reining community.” 

The mission of the Reining Horse Foundation is to care for and honor the reining community. Core programs include the Dale Wilkinson Memorial Crisis Fund to benefit reiners enduring hardships such as major illness, accidents and disasters; youth leadership development and scholarships for members of the National Reining Horse Youth Association; and perpetuation of the sport’s history through the NRHA Hall of Fame. For more information about the Reining Horse Foundation, visit ReiningFoundation.com.

Hosted by the prestigious South Point Arena and Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, the 2021 The Run For A Million presented by Teton Ridge takes place August 18 through 21. Fifteen riders, including some of the most accomplished NRHA Professionals in the history of reining, will compete for a purse of $1,000,000. In addition to the Million Dollar Competition, The Run For A Million event also includes the $150,000 Teton Ridge Invitational Fence Work Challenge; $100,000 Platinum Performance Open Shoot Out; $50,000 Farnam Invitational Freestyle; $50,000 Non Pro Championships; and Bloomer Trailers Rookie Championships.

Performances can be watched live at horseshowglobal.com. For more information, go to the event’s website or contact brumleyevents@gmail.com.