The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) recently announced it again will provide funds for Kentucky Horse Organizations and Associations.
KEEP created the local funding program as part of its grassroots efforts to help horse organizations around the state. The grants program includes four categories: 4-H and FFA clubs, horse shows and trail rides, equine breed and color-breed associations and educational activities. Each category has a funding limit and specific criteria applicants must meet to be considered.
“We are honored to be able to again assist these organizations throughout the commonwealth in their efforts,” said Cara Stewart, KEEP’s Field Director. “A portion of monies collected from our donations and membership dues have been set aside for our grassroots committee to use as seed money to help organizations grow their events and programs, and put new programs in place with the common goal of growing Kentucky’s horse industry and the state’s economy.”
For 2012, the KEEP Board of Directors approved grassroots funding in the amount of $20,000. The staff and board are hopeful that future funding will allow enhancement and expansion of KEEP’s support for the many equine activities in Kentucky.
Each year, KEEP’s grassroots committee, composed of 25 or more individuals from various backgrounds of the horse industry, meets and reviews the current funding applications.
“The goal of the funding is to help start programs for children that would not otherwise have been exposed to a horse, to bring together horse enthusiasts for networking and continuing education opportunities, grow local horse shows that are great economic generators for communities and help breed associations grow their organizations,” said Jack Smith, the committee’s chairman. “Therefore we are continuing to review and improve our funding application to ensure these goals are met.”
“All in all, our grassroots funding program has far exceeded what we ever imagined, and we look forward toward the future growth of this program,” Stewart said.
For more information on KEEP’s grassroots program, contact the KEEP staff at 866-771-5337 or e-mail info@horseswork.com
KEEP was formed in May 2004 to promote and protect Kentucky’s horse industry. For more information on KEEP, visit www.horseswork.com.
