When Sydney Schmidt took the reins as the 2015 AjPHA President, she quickly set to work with the goal of attracting new members to AjPHA. Her Presidential Project, Paint Strong, aims to raise money to award a scholarship to an AjPHA member in each Zone. That requires fundraising of at least $7,000 to award a $500 scholarship in each of APHA’s 14 Zones.
The inaugural fundraiser for Paint Strong kicked off at the Zone 7 Northeast Connection and Northeast Paint Horse Championship August 8–9 in Logan Township, New Jersey. Sydney teamed up with APHA National Director Ellen Coughlin and Lexie Malone to sell raffle tickets for a custom designed mirror.
Everyone who purchased raffle tickets received a sweet thank you for their contribution to Paint Strong: a bag of treats for their Paints! Randall Roser of Lutz, Florida won the beautiful boot mirror. The fundraising raffle raised $500 for Paint Strong, which aims to create $500 random-draw scholarships for each of APHA’s 14 zones, while also encouraging regional Youth participation and AjPHA membership.
The Garden State Paint Horse Youth Club continued their efforts for Paint Strong at their September to Remember show, raffling a custom pair of Soft Ride boots fitted by a Soft Ride representative. The show took place September 26–27 in Logan Township, New Jersey.
AjPHA National Director Nikayla Hetzell and Zone 7 Representative Anna Lia Sullivan proved to be expert salesmen, selling all 50 raffle tickets and raising $500 for Paint Strong. Kim Sousa of Millstone Township, New Jersey, was the lucky winner. The GSJPHC team is planning another fundraiser for their annual awards banquet.
This year’s APHA World Championship Show will also feature a gift basket raffle to support Paint Strong. APHA members and regional clubs can donate themed baskets for the raffle, which will take place from November 4–8. Ticket holders will be able to select the basket they’re most interested in and enter the raffle for that specific basket. Any member, company or club may donate a basket, and the APHA regional club that entices the most raffle tickets for their basket will receive a free one-day sponsorship of the AjPHA Youth Lounge at the 2016 Youth World Show.
To learn more about Paint Strong and how you can get involved, contact:
Sydney Schmidt
2015–2015 AjPHA President
[email protected]
Donations for Paint Strong can be sent directly to Paint Strong C/O Christine Henry, PO Box 961023, Fort Worth, TX 76161.
##
[Reprinting all or part of this news release is permitted, so long as credit is given to the Paint Horse Journal and a link provided back to apha.com.]
About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded. APHA creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members’ experiences with their horses.