Wellington, FL – The highlight of the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival, the FTI Consulting Great Charity Challenge presented By Fidelity Investments® (FTI GCC), will take place Friday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. The goal of the FTI GCC is to raise over $1 million for 32 Palm Beach County charities.
The night’s excitement includes a thrilling pro-am show jumping relay event where 32 teams, featuring Olympic and world-class riders, will compete for their assigned charities. This is the feel-good event of the season where everyone is a winner – each charity will win at least $10,000. With free parking and general admission, the community-based event welcomes everyone to come and enjoy a family carnival, live band, and numerous food and beverage options.
Since the FTI GCC started two years ago, the event has raised more than $1.5 million for Palm Beach County charities. One hundred percent of the money raised is passed on to the charities, including all ticket table and box seat sales for the night of the event.
“This event allows us to educate [the public about], showcase, and financially support the broad missions of 32 randomly selected charities from Palm Beach County. It is unique to get this many charities involved in a single event, so it is not about a specific charity but the spirit of giving. My family, my fellow Wellington Equestrian Partners, and the equestrian community are very fortunate to enjoy this lifestyle and this is a great opportunity for us to give back to our community,” stated Mark Bellissimo, CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions.
The charities, which were randomly selected at the Holiday HorseFest event on Dec. 11 in downtown West Palm Beach, FL, are randomly paired with a team sponsor. The 32 team sponsors are able to choose their team of riders who will represent the charity with which each has been paired. The charity that is matched with the winning team of riders wins the largest portion of the monies raised.
Wheels for Kids took home the top portion of prize money at last year's FTI GCC
The charities in this year’s FTI GCC are: American Humane Association, American Red Cross, Be a Star Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Inc., Center For Family Services, Big Dog Ranch Rescue, Inc., Caridad Center, Child and Family Connections, Children’s Home Society of Florida, Danny and Ron’s Rescue, Families First of Palm Beach County, Greyhound Pets of America, Gulfstream Goodwill Transition To Life Academy, Hanley Center Foundation, Hospice of Palm Beach County, Inc., JAFCO Jewish Adoption & Foster Care Options, Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast Inc., Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc., Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Literary Coalition of Palm Beach County, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Lupus Foundation of America Southeast Florida Chapter, Inc., Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc., Place Of Hope, South Florida Science Museum, Susan G. Komen For The Cure South Florida, Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center, The Wellington Community Foundation, The Wellington PTO/PTA Group, Wheels For Kids, and one wild card charity that will be drawn to compete the night of the event from those that applied.
Commenting on the FTI GCC and the company’s continued sponsorship of the event, Dennis Shaughnessy, Chairman of FTI Consulting, stated, “We at FTI Consulting are delighted to extend not only our sponsorship of the Winter Equestrian Festival but to become more active with the charities and their supporters through the $50,000 FTI Challenge, which allows fans to vote online at www.ftigreatcharitychallenge.com for their favorite charity. The top three charities selected by fans are awarded a portion of the $50,000.
The FTI GCC not only gives junior and amateur riders the exceptional opportunity of competing side by side grand prix riders and Olympians, it also gives the less experienced the chance to compete under the lights in the International Arena, something many riders do not get the chance to do, all in celebration of the spirit of giving back to our unique community.
The teams, composed of any combination of two junior or amateur riders and one world-class rider, compete in a relay style format. The first rider competes over eight jumps set at 1.10 meters (m) in height, the second rider jumps over seven fences at 1.20m while the world-class rider competes over eight fences set at 1.30m.
Equestrian Sport Productions, which produces the event, wishes to thank all the generous individuals, families and corporate sponsors who donate to what has become one of Palm Beach County’s biggest and broadest-based charity events.
For VIP box seats please contact Annette Goyette at annette@equestriansport.com. For tables in the International Club please contact Anne Caroline Valtin atannecaroline@equestriansport.com.
For media interested in covering the event, please RSVP to Jennifer Wood at jennifer@jenniferwoodmedia.com.
For more information please contact Brooke Bidgood at brooke@equestriansport.comor 561.784.1132.
The address for the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center is 3401 Equestrian Club Road, Wellington, FL 33414. Equestrian Sport Productions can be contacted atwww.equestriansport.com.
About Fidelity Investments
Fidelity Investments is one of the world’s largest providers of financial services, with assets under administration of $3.4 trillion, including managed assets of $1.5 trillion, as of December 31, 2011. Founded in 1946, the firm is a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfolio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing and many other financial products and services to more than 20 million individuals and institutions, as well as through 5,000 financial intermediary firms. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit www.fidelity.com.
About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 3,800 employees located in 23 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.4 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2010. More information can be found atwww.fticonsulting.com.
About the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival
The 2012 FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival has 12 weeks of top competition running from January 11 through April 1. The FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival is run by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC and Wellington Equestrian Partners and held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. All 12 shows are “AA” rated and Jumper Rated 6, and more than $6 million in prize money will be awarded.
Please visit www.equestriansport.com or call 561-793-5867 for more information.
