International Equestrians Gather to Raise $440,000+ For Impoverished Children in the Developing World

Phelps Media press release by: Kendall Bierer

The energy was electrifying as over 650 guests clad in elegant red and gold arrived at the 11th Annual JustWorld International Gala on Friday, January 17, 2014, at Belle Herbe Farm. The event is the social apex of the season, with attendees traveling from all corners of the globe to celebrate the work of JustWorld International.

The night was charged with Asian ambiance, as human dragons and horses joined in dance, presentations were made that warmed all hearts, and guests enjoyed the priceless items found in both the live and silent auctions. It was a momentous stride for JustWorld International as they raised over $440,000 to continue their mission to act as a catalyst for positive change in the developing world.

With the help of event sponsors Regency Party Rentals & Productions, AFR Event Furnishings and Dazzle Creative Events, Belle Herbe Farm was transformed, with Asian décor bringing the party to life beneath the expanse of the massive tent built atop the grass field. A red carpet welcomed guests to the 11th Annual JustWorld International Gala, where the flash of Jeroboam Media cameras clicked and greetings were given.

The night would not have been possible without the generosity of the presenting sponsors Caryl Philips and Frank Zeiss. Whole Foods Market of Wellington sponsored the food for the evening, which ranged from edamame and spring rolls to the main entrées and rich desserts. The Grille Fashion Cuisine provided the cocktails for the evening while also hosting the JustWorld International After Party following the conclusion of the event. Guests were also each presented with beautiful gift bags from JustWorld’s newest co-branded merchandise sponsor, Masters Equestrian.

Rocco Mangel, owner of local restaurant sensation Rocco’s Tacos, and equestrian commentator Steven Wilde were co-emcees for the event. Their energy was irresistible as guests laughed and joked alongside the two. The night took a more serious tone as the lights dimmed and William Betaille’s beautifully documented video portrayed the good work of JustWorld and the projects they have created across the world.

A vision in red, Jessica Newman, Founder and Executive Director of JustWorld International, stepped forward to speak to the audience and introduce the winners of the inaugural “JustWorld Leg Up Award.” She individually congratulated and presented the awards to Jane Tidball of Thunderbird Show Park, Farah Rizvi, Alexander Zetterman, Caitlin Ziegler, Phillip Rozon, Ali Lieberman, Ashley Holzer and Nic Roldan. The last of the awards was presented to Colombia’s Daniel Bluman. It was clear that his smile showed more than what was obvious. That was when Newman introduced Antorchas de Vida, the newest addition to the JustWorld project partners from Medellin, Colombia. Bluman was so inspired by the work JustWorld had done in Guatemala, Honduras and Cambodia that he pledged to help begin funding the new project in his home country. Others in the audience were equally moved and matched and added to Bluman’s pledge. The applause was resounding; the announcement was the perfect transition into the Live Auction. With Mangel and Wilde’s charisma, the auction was nothing short of a success.

It was a spontaneous auction item that hailed the largest bidding frenzy as Nick Skelton and Laura Kraut announced in the final hour that the Olympic Gold Medalists would auction themselves off for lessons. It was Horseware Ireland’s Tom MacGuinness who pounced at the package. It was the perfect circle, as Kraut had won one of the bids for professional polo players Nic Roldan, Brandon Phillips and Kris Kampsen. The Dutta Corporation and Guido Klatte’s “Transatlantic Single Stall Round Trip Airfare for One Horse” sold in a heartbeat, as the 2014 FEI World Cup Jumping & Dressage Finals and 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games took center stage. Bidders also had the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas, Alberta and Palm Beach. Miami Dolphins fans entered into a heated battle as they scrambled to pick up the VIP NFL Package to enjoy a Miami Dolphins game from the Ford Sidelines Club at Sun Life Stadium during the 2014 season. The final item of the night was the coveted Pierre Costabadie award-winning picture from the finish line of the 2011 Prix d’Amérique.

The 11th Annual JustWorld International Gala commemorated more than a decade of making strides for change to create a just world. The organization thanks all sponsors, supporters and newcomers to the event and organization. It is always so endearing to see the support and passion that allows JustWorld International to accomplish its mission.

The JustWorld International GIVE 4 GOOD Campaign will come to a close at the end of January, and with the money raised during the 11th Annual JustWorld International Gala, JustWorld will be able to provide impoverished children in Cambodia, Guatemala, Honduras and now Colombia with education, daily meals, medical care, and access to leadership and cultural development programs. Mangel donated $1,000 to the GIVE 4 GOOD Campaign, and the hands around the room went up left and right to support the cause. For $500, 400 Cambodian students will be provided with purified drinking water for a year. In Honduras, that $500 is enough to provide 30 children with breakfast every Saturday morning before participating in Compartir’s Youth Journalism Movement. In Guatemala, that same $500 can equip a kitchen with a gas stove and oven to cook daily meals for all of the Patojos. JustWorld’s GIVE 4 GOOD Campaign allows supporters to choose a cause that is close to their heart—a cause that will change the lives of more than 3,500 children by giving them access to the opportunities an­d skills that break the cycle of poverty.

If you were unable to attend the event, please consider making a donation to JustWorld in commemoration of their 11th year of bringing a positive change to children in the developing world. Your donations can be sent to:

JustWorld International

11924 W. Forest Hill Blvd. Suite 10A-396

Wellington, FL, 33414 USA

Founded in 2003 by Jessica Newman, JustWorld International is a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization, which funds life-changing nutrition, health and hygiene, education, as well as leadership and cultural development programs for impoverished children in Cambodia, Honduras and Guatemala. There are currently more than 500 Rider and Technical Official Ambassadors representing 40 different countries, whose efforts to support JustWorld’s projects have raised in excess of $6 million to date. For more information on JustWorld, please visit our website, www.justworldinternational.org, or e-mail us at jwinfo@justworldinternational.org.

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 Canada and Switzerland. JustWorld International has no political or religious affiliation.

Presenting Sponsor

Caryl Philips & Frank Zeiss

Event Partners

Whole Foods Market of Wellington

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/

Regency Party Rentals & Productions

http://www.regencyparty.com/

Belle Herbe Farm

Dazzle Creative Events

http://dazzlevents.com/

AFR Furniture Rental & Event Furnishings

http://www.afrevents.com/

The Grille Fashion Cuisine

http://thegrillefashioncuisine.com

Jeroboam Media

JeroboamMedia.com