Recent News

January 25, 2008

The Dressage Foundation Awards More Than $112,000 In Scholarships and Grants in 2007

Planned Charitable Gifts Continue to Help Fortify Foundation's Financial Future

More than $112,000 in scholarships and grants were awarded by The Dressage Foundation during 2007 to benefit hundreds of young dressage riders, adult amateurs, instructors, judges, and freestyle.

All of the funding for the grants and scholarships was provided by significant contributions from donors. The funding provided monetary assistance to advance their knowledge and experience in the sport of dressage.

"Our work would be impossible without donors," said John Boomer, president and CEO of The Dressage Foundation. "In 2007, The Dressage Foundation added a number of important estate plan gifts to our growing inventory of charitable planned gifts. These gifts have helped to fortify the Foundation's financial future and will directly help riders of all ages.

Over the past 10 years, under the management of John and Lynn Boomer, The Dressage Foundation has awarded more than $782,000 in scholarships and grants to help support riders of all ages and levels to further the sport of dressage.

The Dressage Foundation was founded by Lowell Boomer, John Boomer's father, in 1989 to help cultivate and provide financial support for the advancement of dressage. Lowell Boomer was also a founding organizer of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) in 1973.

"Unlike other equestrian organizations, we have no dues-paying members so the support from our donors is vital to our organization," said John Boomer.

The Dressage Foundation administers funding and helps coordinate programs to help those involved with the sport. Several significant contributions were made to the Foundation during 2007, making many of the programs possible and honoring several key individuals. Major contributions and accomplishments throughout the year included:

• The Foundation secured several major estate plan arrangements which added to the growing inventory of planned charitable gifts, helping to secure the Foundation's financial future.
• The Foundation sent four young American dressage riders to Europe to visit Europe's top dressage riders and trainers as part of the Olympic Dream program. Riders also had the opportunity to see the European Junior and Young Rider Dressage Championships.
• The Dressage Foundation Century Club, which honors horse and rider teams whose combined ages total 100 years, reached the 50 team member mark.
• Maryal Barnett gave the Foundation a horse head carved from a tree trunk, which is now permanently placed in the USDF Hall of Fame in honor of Lowell Boomer and USDF's founding organizers.
• The Foundation provided funding to help produce a historic documentary on the equestrian life of Major General Jonathan R. Burton.

All applications for grants and scholarships are reviewed and approved by a governing board of directors. Three members of the board, General Burton, Jack Fritz and Lowell Boomer, were named among the 'Fifty Most Influential Horsemen of the 20th Century' by The Chronicle of the Horse. The Dressage Foundation also has a cadre of experienced dressage leaders who voluntarily serve on the selection committees.

For more information, to make a contribution or to apply for a grant or scholarship, download the Dressage Foundation's informational brochure at www.dressagefoundation.org.