“Jump for the Children” Benefit Horse Show Celebrates 40 Years & Over $3 Million to Duke Children’s

RALEIGH, North Carolina, October 17, 2023 —  This year will mark the 40th anniversary of the “Jump for the Children” I and II horse shows being held November 8-12 and 15-19 at the State Fairgrounds James B. Hunt Horse Complex.

The horse shows are operated by Triangle Farms Horse Shows.  “At the close of last year’s shows, we had raised just over $3.2 Million for Duke Children’s Hospital since the inaugural year in 1984. We couldn’t be more proud that “Jump for the Children” is being honored as the longest running fundraising event in the history of Duke Children’s with the naming of the ‘Jump for the Children’ Conference Room on the second floor of Duke Central Tower,” says Joan MacNair Petty of Triangle Farms Horse Shows.

The two back-to-back horse shows attract 400-500 elite Hunter Jumper competitors to Raleigh from all around the country each year.  The show classes are open to the public and feature crowd favorites like lead-line class and the stick-horse class, culminating with a $25,000 Grand Prix each Saturday evening, November 11 and 18 at 7:00pm. Other popular featured classes include a $10,000 National Hunter Derby and a $7500 Welcome Stake.

“One of the things that makes this fundraising event so special is that ‘Jump for the Children’ is one of the only charity horse shows where 100% of sponsorships go directly to the beneficiary.  Sponsors checks are not made out to Triangle Farms; they are made out to Duke Children’s so there is no ‘middle man’,” shares Glenn Petty of Triangle Farms Horse Shows.

Glenn and Joan MacNair Petty of Triangle Farms Horse Shows

“Jump for the Children” is a United States Equestrian Federation AA-Rated Hunter Jumper Horse Show founded in 1984 by Pat LaFevers Holsten for the purpose of raising funds to help a young girl being treated for leukemia at Duke Children’s Hospital.  Today “Jump for the Children” and Triangle Farms Horse Shows strive to continue this legacy with their mission to provide the best in equestrian sport and ‘Make a Difference’ in the lives of children.

Duke Children’s is a 501(c)(3) status non-profit organization dedicated to the research and treatment of a wide range of medical conditions, from common childhood illnesses to life-threatening diseases. Duke Children’s is a member of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and is ranked among the top pediatric hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report.  The hospital has a long history of medical breakthroughs and groundbreaking achievements.

To learn more about “Jump for the Children” Horse Shows please visit https://trianglefarms.com/duke-show/

or https://giving.dukechildrens.org/events/jump-for-the-children-horse-shows.

To make a tax deductible donation or to learn more about Duke Children’s, please visit https://giving.dukechildrens.org.

Featured image- Marylisa Leffler aboard Zaza Z in the $25,000 Grand Prix. Photo courtesy of Anne Gittins Photography