AHJF EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND

THE AHJF'S EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND IS ALL ABOUT
COMPASSION, HOPE AND SUPPORT

Karen Golding finds a way to give back to the AHJF Emergency Relief Fund by spending time explaining the rules and regulation of the FEI tent with the two regional winners of the AHJF/Dover Saddlery Junior Hunter Challenge Program Photo © Diana DeRosa

In 2007 Charles Johnson died of lung cancer but while he was going through the struggle the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation's Emergency Relief Fund was there to help lighten some of the burden. "We had been helping with his monthly expenses," explained AHJF Executive Director Michele Perla.

While that may seem like a small thing, to someone who has suddenly had their world changed in an instant, monetary support can be a huge boost. AHJF President Geoff Teall has seen the good that the ERF has done. "I think the AHJF Emergency Relief Fund is one of the most important programs in our industry today. We have been able to make a significant difference in the lives of many people at just the moment when they need it the most. Although there are other programs out there, we seem to be able to give a more substantial amount of help, in an unusually timely manner."

After Charles passed his wife Mary sent a note saying, "Charles wanted everyone to know that he was grateful for the monetary support. The Foundation's support gave Charles a sense of being. He was able to contribute to the household bills during his battle with cancer."
It is for that exact reason that the ERF was established in 1995 to provide emergency financial support to individuals and families involved in the hunter and jumper sport. Since its inception over $225,000 has been distributed.

Jeff Wirthman, an "R" judge and long-time trainer, recently wrote to the AHJF Board saying, "I want to thank each and everyone for helping me in this terrible time. I could not have survived without your help and am looking forward to getting back to work." At the time of his letter Jeff had undergone multiple surgeries for his hip and back followed by rehabilitation. He was unable to work during that time.

Gail Knieriem was one of the most recent people that the ERF helped. Even though on September 27th, 2007, like Charles, she lost her battle with cancer, she and her family were thrilled that the AHJF was there to help Gail with her living expenses from March through June because she had been so sick that she was unable to work. Afterwards Gail's friend Parker Minchin wrote, "… thank you all for the efforts that the AHJF made for Gail. We have asked that … people make donations to the AHJF emergency fund in Gail's memory. I hope your Foundation can get enough donations to pay back the money for some other person needing help. Please know that your help was very much needed and … Gail was a wonderful person and a great friend and horsewoman and she touched a lot of lives just as your association and Foundation have done,"

Charles, Jeff and Gail are only three examples of many of the worthy people who have benefitted from the ERF. Some of the early recipients include Annie Casey, a Pennsylvania girl confined to a wheelchair as a result of injuries sustained in a riding accident and Gretchen Tank, a California trainer who shattered her knee and had no insurance or family. The Emergency Relief Fund came to the aid of a Frank and Candie Owens whose Texas farm sustained major flood damage; Tarah Toler, a 17-year-old Montana girl who suffered severe head injuries when her horse fell and rolled on her; Moira Caffarey, a top-notch groom battling advanced lung and liver cancer; and Larry Larson a California rider and trainer who suffered from a rare and extremely disabling genetic disease known as adrenaleukodystrophy (ALD).

Also receiving assistance was Karen Golding, a USET stable manager, who suffered a badly broken and separated ankle complicated by the fact that she is diabetic; Margie McDonald, a trainer at Creekside Ranch in Woodacre, CA who was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Jack Miller, a highly respected farrier who had no health insurance when he suffered a heart attack and underwent emergency angioplasty; and Dennis Wilk, a well-respected farrier, who was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, an extremely rare form of bone marrow cancer. Chip Leonard and Morgan Taylor, well-known hunter/jumper professionals in Alpharetta, GA benefited from the fund when they lost their stable, all its contents and eight horses in a fire.

Louise Serio, one of the founders of the AHJF, was the inspiration behind the Emergency Relief Fund. "The ERF was one of the first things we wanted to do with the Foundation after the World Championship Hunter Rider concept was established. We wanted to broaden our scope. It has been one of the most rewarding things that we have done."

The Board looks at emergency situations, (medical emergency, accident disability or death in the family, drug or alcohol abuse, fire or a disaster) and makes a determination in accordance with the need. The monies come from the AHJF, private gifts and from other donations such as The Capital Challenge Horse Show and each WCHR horse show member event. All donations are tax deductible as charitable contributions.

The ERF Program is only part of what the AHJF offers. The organization was formed in 1992 to further the development of the equestrian sport of show hunter rider and show jumping competition by providing a national office to organize, coordinate and support hunter rider and show jumping equestrian competition. Other programs of the AHJF include the World Championship Hunter Rider Awards, AHJF Educational Programs, the AHJF BSA Inc. 401k and Profit Sharing Plan. The AHJF also hosts the Monarch International's Show Circuit Magazine Professional WCHR Finals on October 5, 2007 (October 3, 2008), the AHJF Hunter Classic Spectacular in Florida (February 24, 2008) and the Legacy Cup (May 7-11 & May 14-18, 2008 in Kentucky).

Tax donations can be sent to the AHJF Emergency Relief Fund to help fellow horsemen by calling 508-835-8813, e-mailing AHJF@earthlink.net or mailing to: AHJF Relief Fund, PO Box 369, West Boylston, MA 01583.