When local AHYA youth member Katherine-Mary Laczkowski learned that Exceptional Equestrians Unlimited (a local therapeutic riding center) was struggling to make ends meet due to COVID-19, she sprang into action.
Katherine-Mary quickly collaborated with a local photographer, David Centifanto, to create a Christmas themed Equine photoshoot, gathering participants from her barn and utilizing help from her local AHA club, The Dunes Arabian Horse Alliance. In addition to the photoshoot, participants brought canned food items to donate to the community’s local food pantry, Hebron Food Pantry.
The event was successful, as Katherine-Mary was able to present a check of $1,000 to Exceptional Equestrians Unlimited and boxes of food to the Hebron Food Pantry. The success of the event inspired another youth member, Brianna Jacobs, to start a fundraiser for Exceptional Equestrians Unlimited via Facebook to continue the work that Katherine-Mary started. Brianna has been able to raise $350.00 for Exceptional Equestrians Unlimited so far.
Katherine-Mary’s mom, Karen Cardinale, an AHYA Youth Director, stated that she is “very proud and blown away that in two hours, $1,000 was raised by this amazing event. It created a spotlight within our Arabian club that we need to come together to help those in need.” Katherine-Mary along with members of the Dunes Arabian Horse Alliance club plan to host another fundraising event to assist their local equine community. Katherine-Mary and her local AHA club proved that with a little help, an idea can become reality, proving yet again how significant our youth members are.
For more information about Exceptional Equestrians Unlimited click here.
Special thanks to Karen Cardinale, David Centifanto, Duneland Arabian Horse Alliance members, Jarod Oliver, Jackie Peck, Shilo Ranch, and Sue Half.
