from the North American Amateur Drivers Assoc.
Aid to the Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA) is coming from the North
American Amateur Drivers Association (NAADA) in the form of a $15,000
contribution. Alan Schwartz and Joe Faraldo conduct these NAADA events at
Monticello and Yonkers, and who on behalf of the members collect entry
fees, which have been used in the past for charitable contributions, recognized
the valuable work that the Standardbred Transition Alliance performs, selected
STA as the recipient of those accumulated entry fees that had not yet been
awarded.
The Standardbred Transition
Alliance has unpaid directors and officers, an unpaid staff with perhaps
one exception, and has developed the accreditation criteria to insure
that contributions are distributed to entities meeting high standards necessary
for the welfare of the horse and the espoused goals of horse rescue
entities. “ Since there are many, many entities administering horse
welfare retirement programs there seemed to be a real need to have a
central clearinghouse to make sure that funding is distributed to entities
meeting established criteria”, said Alan Schwartz. We think STA is such a much
needed clearinghouse.
The USTA provided seed money to help
get STA off the ground and has recently added some additional funding.
Additionally, the USTA will add a check off on many of its forms for
members to aid individuals who want to make individual donations to
this clearinghouse. “The USTA can’t do it all, as this must be an
industry wide effort where costs are shared amongst all of us who
have responsibility for one or more horses and can appreciate the
magnitude of such an undertaking. It is the just too big a for
anyone entity to properly fund” said Joe Faraldo.
So far, the USTA, Russell Williams, Hanover
Farm, Caesar’s Empire of Hope and the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association
have provided the majority of the funding to date and more is
needed. STA should be the vehicle through which contributions flow to those
entities that earn accreditation to best insure that the money is
well spent.
“The NAADA members are very proud of
the work STA is doing as far as that accreditation, and to help in
our small way. We hope others will recognize the importance of STA’s work as
have we in the amateur ranks have done and pitch in” said NAADA member
Joe Pennacchio.
It goes without saying that all horsemen’s associations, racetracks, breeders, veterinarians and everyone engaged in the industry should help STA financially. STA is located at P.O. box 377, Laureville, OH 43135
