TCA Awards More Than $1.1 Million in Annual Grants

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) announced today that grants totaling over $1.1 million were recently awarded to 98 organizations. The organizations approved for a grant include 63 aftercare organizations, 24 backstretch and farm worker programs, seven equine-assisted therapy organizations, three Thoroughbred incentive programs, and one research organization. Grant recipients can be found on TCA.org. Over the last 35 years, TCA has awarded more than $28 million in grants.

With a record number of grant applications this year, the TCA Grants Committee established clear funding priorities with emphasis placed on approved organizations working to serve the backstretch and farm employee communities as well as non-traditional aftercare organizations. The committee defined non-traditional aftercare organizations as organizations that are either working to provide on track placement services to retiring Thoroughbreds or organizations that are working to incentivize equine enthusiasts to choose a Thoroughbred as their next mount.

"Our annual grants reflect both the generosity of our donors and the strength of the organizations we are privileged to support," said Erin Halliwell executive director of TCA. "We take our responsibility as stewards of donor contributions very seriously because it is these donations that allow us to make a real impact via our grants. Every dollar entrusted to TCA helps us invest in organizations that are making an impact on Thoroughbreds and their caretakers."

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 is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA).