LEXINGTON, Ky. – Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) has received a generous grant from an anonymous donor to provide backpacks and school supplies for children of backstretch workers across the country. More than 2,500 backpacks filled with essential school supplies will be distributed to school-aged children.
“A generous donor approached TCA with the goal of directly supporting the educational needs of children of backstretch workers,” said Erin Halliwell, Executive Director of TCA. “We were excited to bring this idea to life and partnered with our long-time grant recipients, the Race Track Chaplaincy of America and the New York Race Track Chaplaincy, who helped identify the number of children in need through their network of chaplaincies. We are incredibly grateful to this donor for making this initiative possible.”
“Providing backpacks and school supplies to children in the backstretch community is more than simply preparing them for the school year, it is an investment in their future,” said Humberto Chavez Executive Director and Lead Track Chaplain, New York Race Track Chaplaincy.
“When we support the education and well-being of our backstretch families, we strengthen the entire community. Efforts like this remind us that caring for one another locally can have a ripple effect that reaches far beyond the racetrack and ultimately impacts communities across our nation.”
TCA will distribute the backpacks and supplies to 33 race track chaplaincies, where chaplains will deliver them directly to families over the summer ensuring children feel ready and supported for the next school year.
To learn more about TCA and support our work please visit TCA.org.
TCA’s mission is to fund and facilitate the support of Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them. TCA distributes grants to several categories of Thoroughbred-related nonprofits including rehabilitation, retraining, rehoming and retirement organizations; backstretch and farm employee programs; equine-assisted therapy programs; and research organizations. Since its inception in 1990, TCA has granted over $28 million to more than 200 charities. TCA also administers the Horses First Fund, founded by LNJ Foxwoods in 2016, to assist Thoroughbreds and their caretakers in need of emergency aid. TCA is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA).
