‘Here we are, 14 years later’: Event benefits continuing mission of Horses With Hope
Jamie Lynn Davis learns that she has been selected as having the best Belmont Jewel hat.
Founder Anne Davis speaks about Horses With Hope.
Kristin Huibregtse is president of the Horses With Hope board and served on the Belmont Jewel organizing committe.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Lauren Mathews chooses heads for a game during the event.
Horses With Hope board member Anne Wagner and Kristen Culp coordinate a table at the event.
Radio personality and comedian Jim Krenn serves as master of ceremonies.
Rob Shriver uses a novel approach in a golf game featured at the fundraiser.
From left are Betsy Boughner, Rachel Carlson, and Lee and Kim Tilghman. Carlson is president of the Historical Society of Upper St. Clair, which owns Horses With Hope's new home of Gilfillan Farm.
Bill Purse provides musical entertainment.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Reese Wells, left, and Cana Cooper show off their hats.
Showing off their hats are Elizabeth Cooperstein, left, and Diane Page, vice president of the Horses With Hope board.
Jim Krenn congratulates Jamie Lynn Davis for her best hat.
Suzanne and Doug Grimes enjoy the event.
Dean and Kristin Huibregtse enjoy the event.
From left are Erin Pirain, Stacy Hurt, Heidi Colombo and Sarah Emanuel.
From left are Eve-lyn Laboon, Dolores Kara, Nadine Laboon and Denise Bozich.
Jim and Jonelle Cote wait for the results of a flip during a heads-or-tails game at the event.
Harry Funk/The Almanac
Dressed in their finest hats are, from left, Mackenzie Bultman, Dean Huibregtse, Rudy Veltri, Olivia Veltri and Emily Veltri.
Laura Guarino, left, and Becca Ward enjoy the evening.
From left are Peggy Metcalf, Jacob Metcalf, Alicia McGhee, Jeremy Stuck, Electra Janis and state Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-Upper St. Clair.
Sarah Scott anticipates the coin flip during a heads-or-tails game of chance during the event.
From left are Bob, Cana and Mia Cooper.
When fancy hats return to mainstream fashion, a whole lot of local folks are all set.
They showed off their chapeaus during the Belmont Jewel, a fundraising event held at St. Clair Country Club on the day of the Belmont Stakes horse race.
While Essential Quality held off Hot Rod Charlie to win the final leg of racing’s Triple Crown, those in attendance had fun playing games, bidding on auction items and sampling some specialty beverages, all for the benefit of Horses With Hope.
The nonprofit therapeutic riding program is getting ready to start operations at Gilfillan Farm in Upper St. Clair, moving from Bethel Park. Founder Anne Davis’ first Horses With Hope location was on a farm near Washington.
Inspired by daughter Jamie Lynn, who was born with Down Syndrome, Davis left a 20-year career in the airline industry to follow what she considered to be her calling, despite being told by many people close to her the decision would be a mistake.
“‘You can’t just quit your job and go and do this,'” Davis recalled being told. “‘You don’t even really have a plan.’ I did, and here we are, 14 years later.
We have 200 people a week who come through our organization, special-needs kids and adults,” she added. “All of you tonight are a part of that now. You are all helping Horses With Hope to continue to offer the high-quality programs that we do, to have sustainability, to increase the programs that we offer and to build our community.”
Davis evoked the Biblical account of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.
“Nehemiah was told he couldn’t do it. It was way too big of a job that he was crazy for even wanting to try to do it,” she said. “Nehemiah did not say no to God. He went ahead and went forward with it, and he built those walls in 52 days. And this was no small feat.
“The story reminds me of Horses With Hope and how this organization, this ministry, started, as well.”
Accompanying her to the Belmont Jewel was Jamie Lynn, who was selected as having the best hat among those who adorned their heads for the occasion. The event, which returned this year after having to be canceled in 2021, featured entertainment by guitarist Bill Purse, and comedian-radio personality Jim Krenn served as master of ceremonies.
For more information about Horses With Hope, visit www.horseswithhope.org.