Wishing You the Happiest of Holidays

Thank you for Cele-bray-ting the Season of Hope with Brooke USA

Dear Friend,

Thanks to our friends and supporters, Brooke USA Foundation has continued to support the important work of Brooke: Action for Working Horses & Donkeys and a myriad of other organizations across the globe and right here in the United States. Whether you have donated, attended an event, or told a friend about us, you have made a huge difference and allowed us to have a major impact on improving the lives of working horses, donkeys, and mules and increasing the economic sustainability of those who depend on them for survival. We have stayed afloat and sustained our small yet mighty organization, contributing over $600,000 in 2023 to impactful causes that are making a difference worldwide and will continue to do so for years to come.

As we look back on the past few years, we realize how difficult the road ahead is for us – we need more help from our current supporters, and we need to make new friends. This is not as easy a task as you would think with 2023 following the last three years of constant political upheaval and economic uncertainty. Every aspect of our lives is affected by a future unknown, and recognizing the work of Brooke USA may be a tall order for many.

This is why it is so important that we rise above all other organizations and remind everyone that we are truly unique because 1) we relieve the suffering of working horses, donkeys, and mules in vulnerable communities, and 2) we create welfare improvements that lead to sustainable economies. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that working equines can labor without pain and distress and support millions of poor people who depend on them. Brooke USA is THE charity that can make a difference, giving people and animals the means to their survival and leading toward lives worth living!

Thank you for all you do for Brooke USA, and all you have done for working equines. Your support helps us continue our work. Remember, what we do is not easy to explain. Dependence (and I mean, 100% reliance) on a working equine is something those of us living in this country cannot fathom, so here are some stories you can share that paint the reality of the 600 million people who depend on 100 million working equines to survive:

• Estrella, Cifuentes’ donkey in Nicaragua, travels down rocky terrain to deliver vegetables for sale at the market. The average $2 that Cifuentes makes that day allows him to purchase basics goods – milk, eggs, butter – for his family. On the way home, Estrella carries firewood on her already tired back so that dinner may be cooked. It’s simple: Without Estrella, there would be no food on the table for Cifuentes and his family.
• Nyala, a donkey in Ethiopia travels long distances with its owner, Alitash, to fill 4 large canisters with water. The water will be used to bathe, clean, cook and drink. It’s simple: Without Nyala there is not enough water to carry out all these chores. Without clean water, disease becomes rampant.
• Pankti, a horse in India takes Devaj (11) and Mahit (9) to school every morning. We all know that literacy is the way out of poverty. It’s simple: Without Pankti, the children will not learn to read or write, and will be required to perform many of the tasks that their equine would normally do. School will no longer be an option.

We are counting on you to be a Brooke USA ambassador and tell the story of Estrella in Nicaragua, Nyala in Ethiopia, and Pankti in India.

Thank you for your support! If you have not yet made your end-of-year gift to Brooke USA, please consider doing so before December 31. We need all the help we can get!

Happy Holidays from YOUR Brooke USA Team.

Warmly,

Emily J. Dulin

Chief Executive Officer

Brooke USA Raises $477,881 Toward Ambitious $1.5 Million Goal

~“The Donkey Project” Seeks to Raise Funds & Awareness for Working Equines~

Brooke USA’s “The Donkey Project” is the organization’s most ambitious campaign to date with a fundraising goal of $1.5 million between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. As of December 10, 2023, $477,881 has been raised toward supporting a broad array of funding priorities through work in Burkina Faso, Cuba, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, and the United States.

To date, 716 donors from all 50 states have made 1,377 gifts to advance the programs Brooke USA is funding and/or executing around the globe. Approximately, 94% of those gifts were less than $1,000, and 64% were less than $250, indicating the broad-based support of Brooke USA’s mission. Brooke USA received philanthropic commitments of more than $5,000 from 16 major donors.

“As we look at our past end-of-year gifts from our generous contributors, we estimate to be at $600,000 by December 31. We know that our friends supported us during Giving Tuesday reaching an overwhelming $55,000 in one day, and as the calendar year-end approaches, we are very optimistic of our success with an additional $125,000 through the end of our fiscal year,” said Emily Dulin, CEO of Brooke USA.

Funds raised through “The Donkey Project” are already making a difference across the globe. Since its launch in July, Brooke USA has already made gifts to its sister organization Brooke: Action for Working Horses & Donkeys to underwrite compassionate handling training, veterinary supplies in remote health posts, women’s and children’s educational groups, balanced feed initiatives and mobile horseshoeing units in West Africa, East Africa, and India respectively. Brooke USA has also made gifts toward improving animal welfare in Cuba and South Africa, through Cuba’s Horses and ARRC - Animal Relief of Rural Communities, respectively. In addition, Brooke USA, in partnership with the EQUUS Foundation, continues to provide Bridge Grants to equine rescue groups in need of emergency assistance.

A portion of the funds raised have been allocated to Brooke USA’s advocacy program which directs efforts at the Federal level in support of the Ejiao Act. US Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) reintroduced the Ejiao Act in the House of Representatives to ban the sale and trade of ejiao (donkey-hide gelatin) products in the United States. Ejiao (pronounced “eh-gee-yow”) is a gelatin made from boiling the hides of donkeys. It is used primarily in cosmetics and traditional Chinese medicines. The growing market for ejiao imperils donkey populations around the world and has spurred a cruel global trade that causes tremendous animal suffering and severely impacts communities that rely on donkeys for survival.

“We are confident that if everyone does their part, we will meet our mid-campaign goal. We are especially grateful to our donors in this tough philanthropic landscape where animal welfare continues to take a back seat. We just want everyone to know that we are not only committed to improving the lives of working equines but also to increasing the economic wellbeing of those who depend on them. In the developing world, the lives of humans and animals are intertwined. I don’t know of another organization that focuses on the betterment of people and animals at the same time,” added Dulin.

Project Health Post – East Gojam, Ethiopia 

When Brooke USA Young Professionals' Co-Chair and university student, Robert Reyers visited our work sites in Ethiopia, one impression really stood out--that donkeys were the cars of this community.

Donkeys carry goods, transport people, farm the land, and take products to market. They are the backbone of these communities. But where do the donkeys sleep at night if their owners have no home?  Where do they shelter from the sweltering sun once they’ve reached the market town?  Where do they get medical attention when there are no veterinarians?

In Brooke USA funded market health posts – that’s where!   

Read more about Robert’s travels and find out how you can help over 11,000 working donkeys and horses get medical care, shelter, water and safety this holiday season.  

We are still in need of over $18,000 to fully supply three newly built health posts   Please can you help us fully fund this small but mighty project with your end-of-year gift? 

Brooke USA Foundation returns this winter season with three events to enjoy in Wellington, FL. Please join us as we Paint Wellington Orange in 2024.

Ponies & Pearls

February 18, 2024 @ National Polo Center

Sunset Watering Hole

February 19, 2024 (President's Day) @ National Polo Center

Divertimentos & Dressage

March 21, 2024 @ Vinceremos Therapeutic Horsemanship Center

Tickets available now, in time for holiday giving! 

(Get your 2023 tax-deduction now.)

We are seeking sponsors and auction items for all events.

For more information contact:

Kendall Bierer, Donor Relations Officer

Kendall.Bierer@BrookeUSA.org  |  859.296.0037

Ponies & Pearls - Sunday, February 18th

Ponies & Pearls returns to The Pavilion at the National Polo Center in Wellington, Florida, on February 18th. This VIP event is held during the U.S. Open Women's Polo Championship Final and is chaired by Gill Johnston and Aimee Waters. Ponies & Pearls celebrates women and their accomplishments. Wear your pearls, and a pop of orange. Gentlemen are welcome, too! 

Sunset Watering Hole: A Pool Party with a Purpose

President's Day - Monday, February 19th

Join Brooke USA’s Young Professionals Committee, chaired by Morgan Measey and Robert Reyers, for an exciting Sunset Pool Party. After a successful inaugural event in 2023, The Watering Hole Pool Party is now The Sunset Watering Hole. Come out on February 19 (President’s Day) to party for a purpose. Following the success of Brooke USA’s inaugural pool party, where close to 300 equestrians celebrated the beginning of the Winter Season, this year DJ Adam Lipson will join the event, there will be expanded activities, new entertainment and auctions! Tickets are $100 until January 30, don't wait to buy yours!

Divertimentos & Dressage - Thursday, March 21st

Divertimentos & Dressage, presented by Lugano Diamonds, offers a dressage musical freestyle to a live symphonic orchestra. On Thursday, March 21 from 6-9 p.m. at Vinceremos Therapeutic Horsemanship Center, spectators will be overwhelmed by the beauty of this event when horses, orchestra and guests literally share the arena. The inaugural event in Wellington in March 2023 was touted as the event of the season, and the 2024 edition is sure to impress with an expanded program led by Co-Chairs Jennifer Burger, Selma Garber and Candace Platz. The Palm Beach Symphony will return to the 2024 event, once again led by the conductor, Kyle Elgarten.

For the First Time in Texas...

Barbecue, Burros & Brews - Aubrey, Texas

February 8, 2024

Brooke USA's Dallas Regional Advisory Council invites you to the enchanting town of Aubrey, Texas, set to host the much-anticipated event, "Barbecue, Burros & Brews," at the Cardinal Ranch, a state-of-the-art reining facility. The venue itself promises a rustic yet sophisticated ambiance, providing the perfect backdrop for an evening of festivities. Attendees will be treated to the authentic flavors of Texas with a delectable spread of Texas Barbecue and locally crafted brews.

The entertainment lineup boasts the talents of local favorite Zach Page, delivering live music that is sure to set the mood. In addition to the musical delights, guests will be treated to a mesmerizing reining demonstration by local professionals, showcasing the artistry and skill of the equestrian world. The event will also feature a silent auction, offering a unique opportunity for attendees to bid on exceptional items. To add a touch of inspiration, Para-Equestrian and Brooke USA Ambassador Katie Jackson, alongside Dwayne Hildreth, will present an engaging talk, adding depth and meaning to the evening. "Barbecue, Burros & Brews" promises to be a memorable gathering, bringing together the community in celebration of culture, cuisine, and equestrian excellence.

RSVP to Madeleine Davidovits at info@brookeusa.org.

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