Virtual event raises more than $140K for Riding to the Top programs

According to Sarah Bronson, Riding To The Top’s Executive Director, the increase in lesson costs and loss of program and event revenue drove her decision to take a leap of faith and turn the organization’s most important fundraiser of the year into a virtual event.

“Honestly, at first I was somewhat concerned because I know how much people love coming to our “Party with a Purpose,” Bronson said.  

An outpouring of community support
helped raise more than $140,000
to support Riding To The Top's
clients, horses and programs during
a Livestream fundraising event
conducted at Headlight AV Studio
on Oct. 17. From left are
Elizabeth Ross Holmstrom, Triple
B Auctioneer, Cookie, an RTT
miniature horse, Sarah Bronson,
RTT Executive Director, and
 Becca Platz, an RTT volunteer.
COURTESY PHOTO, RIDING
TO THE TOP

Last year more than 350 people attended the Annual Triple B ~ Boots, Band & BBQ at the RTT farm in Windham. Bronson said she realized that this event was more than a party to RTT supporters when sponsors, donations and registrations started to pour in this year’s Virtual Triple B.

She said she was especially pleased to welcome back Reserve Grand Champion sponsors, IDEXX, Norway Savings Bank and Portland Volvo.  

Still, that did not mean Bronson was expecting the outpouring of support the organization received during the virtual event on Oct. 17.

“It was a new Triple B experience for all of us and thanks to the generous support of so many, this year due to COVID, community support is more important than ever,” Bronson said. “While RTT's cost to deliver lessons has gone up, we have not passed these costs along to our clients and we remain committed to serving as many clients as possible while keeping everyone safe.”  

In case you missed the LIVESTREAM, you can see a recording by going to the RTT website: ridingtothetop.org/triple-b and click on the View LiveStream Recording button.  Wonderful videos capture all that has been happening at RTT during 2020. In addition, check out the DIY demos for cocktails (thanks to the Falmouth Lions Club) and DennyMike’s special mouthwatering BBQ. 

It is not too late to donate at ridingtothetop.org! All Triple B proceeds support the programs and horses of RTT. 

Founded in 1993, Riding To The Top Therapeutic Riding Center’s mission is enhancing health and wellness through equine assisted activities and therapies. More than 250 clients participate annually and are assisted by certified instructors and/or therapists, volunteers and horses, all specially trained to assist with therapeutic riding, carriage driving, equine assisted learning and hippotherapy. RTT is a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International).   

Just five miles outside of Portland in Windham, Maine, the center is located on a 50-acre farm and is the state’s only year round PATH Intl. accredited program solely dedicated to equine assisted activities and therapies. 

For more information about client services, volunteering, making a referral or a gift, please visit us at www.ridingtothetop.org or call 892-2813. <