2003 MMHBF Gala Event Raises Over $47,000
Monday, June 9, 2003
On Sunday evening March 2, 2003, the Michigan Morgan Breeder’s Futurity (MMHBF) held its second Futurity Gala Event “Ensuring Tomorrow Today” at the Novi Hilton in Novi, Mich. Approximately 135 people gathered for the festive evening. The night began with a cocktail hour. While some guests perused the silent auction items available for bid, others studied the stallion service auction boards. all while being entertained by the music of the Congdon Trio.
The guests of the evening then proceeded into the elegantly decorated ballroom where they enjoyed an outstanding meal and continued to listen to the sounds of the Congdon Trio. A short program followed, led by Leonard Kitchen, president of MMHBF, recognizing Richard “Dick” Benson and Dr. Met Bayrum, co-guests of honor. Partial proceeds of this event were donated to the Krieger Geriatric Center at the Hutron Valley-Mount Sinai Hospital in Commerce, Mich. Ron Skover (Key Morgans) spoke briefly on behalf of Kathryn Schwartz, reflecting on Dick Benson’s involvement in breeding and raising Morgan horses, the most notable of course being Whitaker’s Sensation, who was shown to his world titles by Kathryn Schwartz. Guests in attendance include many Michigan Morgan breeders, their guests, as well as members of Dick and Marlene Benson’s family.
The evening then quickly moved into high gear as guests were busy checking their bids on the many silent and stallion service auction items and the live auction got underway. a wide variety of auction items included horse and non-horse items. Jewelry and sports memorabilia were popular non-horse items and the horse related items were numerous and varied. In the end, over $47,000 was raised with partial proceeds going to the Krieger Geriatric Center and $20,000 pledged to the 2003 MMHBF Futurity Horse Show to be held September 20-21, 2003. This year’s show will also be an USAE, “A” rated show. As a results of the MMHBF Gala Event, the MMHBF Weanling Breeders’ Sweepstakes class will pay out $10,000 this year. The judge for this growing horse show will be Richard Boule.
MMHBF wishes to thank all those who so generously donated to the special evening and those in attendance who helped raise over $47,000. The date for next year’s MMHBF Gala Event is Sunday, February 8, 2004, once again at the Novi Hilton.
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