Critical Funds, Awareness Raised for Horses at Gulfstream Park

(HALLANDALE BEACH, FL) It was a fantastic day for South Florida SPCA’s rescued horses on Saturday, March 5, with over 300 attendees at our annual fundraising luncheon! We thank our guests, sponsors, donors, emcee, committee and volunteers, along with Gulfstream Park for making this event a tremendous success.

While guests enjoyed a delicious buffet and an exciting silent auction, critical funds were raised to help save the lives of abused and abandoned horses in Miami-Dade.

L to R: Alon Ossip, The Stronach Group CEO, Kathleen Monahan, South Florida SPCA president, and Tim Ritvo, Gulfstream Park president and general manager.

Daniela Diego (left) and Daniella Levine Cava (right).

L to R: Univision 23 News Reporter and Event Emcee Daniela Diego, SFSPCA President Kathleen Monahan, and Miami-Dade Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava.

L to R: SFSPCA Founder and Director of Ranch Operations with Sergeant Deborah Puentes, recipient of the 2016 South Florida SPCA Excellence in Equine Protection Award.

SFSPCA Vice President Kim Rodstein (center), guests Evie Fortney (left) and Elisa Gaudet (right), presented a $2,500 donation to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). A portion of race sponsorship donations made this gift possible, and we thank those sponsors for supporting this worthy cause.

Daniela Diego interviews Mario Arroyave, SFSPCA
trainer and Paso Fino specialist, for Univision 23.

Awareness of horse welfare issues, especially horse slaughter, was also raised at the luncheon. The proactive efforts of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Gulfstream Park, The Stronach Group, Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, and our Legal Task Force, were highlighted as well.

We were honored to have Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava as our special guest, who announced that despite budget cuts, more officers have been added to the Agricultural Patrol Division. The increase results in 24 hour service, vital for the welfare of horses and livestock animals in our county. Commissioner Cava also said efforts are underway to add signage and improve roads for the safety of horses and riders.

South Florida SPCA extends its sincere thanks to:

SPONSORS
Center for Social Change & Stonegate Bank
Florida Power and Light (FPL)
Focus Title Group
Granby Ranch in Granby, CO
Julie Shelton for South Florida SPCA Horse Rescue
Kathleen Monahan & Alvin Davis for Friends of Humanity 4 Haiti
Law Firm of Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Mario Baro & Eugene Montoya
Sandra and Victor Fuller for The Miami Cancer Institute
Serendip-A-Tea… A Tea House Restaurant
Norma Jean Abraham & Iliana Garcia, proprietors
T. Kimberly Rodstein, Keller Williams Realty
Teigland, Franklin & Brokken, DVMs, P.A.
Tonkinson Financial

EMCEE
Daniela Diego, Univision 23 News Reporter

HONORED GUESTS
Sgt. Deborah Puentes, Miami Dade Agricultural Patrol
Daniella Levine Cava, Miami Dade County Commissioner

COMMITTEE
Nancy Piacentino, Chair
Kathleen Monahan, Sponsors
Julie Shelton, Sponsors
Kim Rodstein, Auction
Lisa Gunther, Auction
Carolina Lanauze, Auction
Grace Delanoy, Media & PR
Lorraine Leal, Accounting
Ellyn Robinson, Decorations
Laurie Waggoner

CONTRIBUTORS
Tim Ritvo and Jennifer Vitrella Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino
The Stronach Group
Chris Clements, Southern Display Printers, Inc.
Grace Delanoy Creative Communications
Lorraine Leal, Leal Financial Resource Management Services, LLC

VIEW ALL EVENT PHOTOS:

South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization located in Miami, Florida. Founded in 1992, it is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of abused, neglected and abandoned horses. The organization also educates the community about responsible horse care and ownership, and promotes the welfare of equines through local and national advocacy. Operating funds come from the donations of money, services and personal efforts of private individuals and companies.