Midwest Charity Horse Show Association donates $8,000 to SIU School of Medicine’s Camp COCO
Monday, November 21, 2005
The Midwest Charity Horse Show Association has donated $8,000 from its record breaking 2005 multi-breed show to Southern Illinois University School of Medicine’s Camp COCO.
The Midwest Charity Horse Show held in June 2005, wrapped-up another successful edition. According to Midwest President, Judy Kjellander, “Midwest Charity 2005 was a fabulous show. With mild and pleasant temperatures, world-class competition and well-filled classes, it was a show to remember. Even though the show has more than doubled since the mid 1990s, our hard working group of dedicated board members was still able to offer a first class multi-breed horse show for our trainers, exhibitors, and sponsors. We are grateful to the Department of Agriculture, their grounds crew, and their affiliates for the clean and beautifully maintained fairgrounds that trainers and exhibitors have come to love.”
This year Midwest added a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday morning to kick-off the show with an array of special guests. Kjellander said, “With our widespread community support this year, from the mayor and other officials attending the ribbon cutting to the extensive media coverage, and generous in-kind local donations, we were able to provide our exhibitors with even more spectators and community outreach as well as more funds to our wonderful Charity.”
Since its inception, the Midwest Charity Horse Show, an all volunteer organization, has donated its annual proceeds to a Springfield area charity and has selected Camp COCO as the beneficiary since 1988, creating an endowment fund that is now valued at $124,000.
Camp COCO is a free, week-long summer camp for children suffering from cancer, leukemia and other blood disorders. Camp is staffed by volunteer medical personnel from the SIU School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics who work with the children all year and enjoy giving their patients a pleasurable break from the daily rigors of hospital medical treatments.
In 2006, Midwest will be held June 13-17 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. For more information about the Midwest Charity Horse Show go to www.midwestcharity.com and for more information about SIU School of Medicine¹s Camp COCO call (217) 545-2955.
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