Callari Auto Group and Local Businesses Rally to support The EQUUS Foundation Block Party
Equestrian News Release

WESTPORT, CT - May 5, 2009 -- The Callari Auto Group will host the "Blast From The Past" Block Party to benefit The EQUUS Foundation. Local businesses in Darien and the surrounding communities have also rallied support, including the Ox Ridge Hunt Club, Media Sponsor New Canaan-Darien Magazine & Moffly Media, the Darien Sport Shop, Lucky Lawn, Inc., James Daniel Entertainment, Michael Joseph's Catering, O'Neill's Restaurant & Pub, Nielsen's Florist & Garden Shop and the Connecticut Cigar Company.

Chaired by Flavia Callari and Julie Frank, the event will be held on the Ox Ridge show grounds on Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 7 p.m., the weekend preceding the start of the Ox Ridge Horse Show, June 9-14, 2009. Casual chic will be the attire for this fun-filled evening, which will include a reception, dinner, video show, live auction and dancing.

The global economic crisis has resulted in more than just people going hungry. The number of abandoned horses has reached an epidemic level. Beautiful, loyal, courageous, powerful and gentle, to some a horse is a pet; to others a partner in sport; but many others, however, a horse is much more. The benefits of animal therapy are well documented, but there are certain motions and activities that a horse makes that no other animal can duplicate. Therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities are helping individuals with physical, emotional, behavioral, and learning disabilities, life-threatening or other serious illnesses, and underserved, economically-disadvantaged and "at-risk" youth across the United States.

The EQUUS Foundation, a 501(c) (3) national charitable foundation, has awarded over $1.1 million in grants since 2003 to charities that that use the horse to benefit the public, promote horse welfare, and elevate the equestrian sport. This has been accomplished almost entirely from event attendance. Event and auction proceeds from the Block Party will directly benefit EQUUS charities based in Connecticut and Westchester County.

Individual seats for the Block Party are $175 per person. Tables of ten are available to $5,000 Gold Medal Sponsors, $3,500 Silver Medal Sponsors and $2,500 Bronze Medal Sponsors. Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

To R.S.V.P, for the Block Party, please contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., by phone (203) 259-1550, by email at equus@equusfoundation.org, by mail to The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880 or R.S.V.P. online at http://www.equusfoundation.org.

About The EQUUS Foundation, Inc.

The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., established in August 2002, as a 501(c)(3) national charitable foundation, seeks to raise public awareness of the value of the horse in society through education and the award of grants to charities that use the horse to benefit the public, promote the health and welfare of horses, and elevate the equestrian sport as a whole.

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors, which is responsible for the selection of the grant recipients. The Board includes: Jenny Belknap, Chairman, Catherine Herman, Vice Chairman, David T. Goodwin, Secretary/Treasurer, Lynn Coakley, President, Pamela Allardice, Margaret Bondy, Flavia Callari, David Distler, Gray Fadden, Julie Frank, Richard Mitchell DVM, James Newhouse, Clea Newman Soderlund, George N. Venizelos, and Visse Wedell.

Thanks to the generosity of its donors, The EQUUS Foundation helps thousands of people and horses each year. Over $300,000 in grants were awarded to 50 charities in 2008, bringing the total to over $1.1 million in grants since the first awards in 2003. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Contact The EQUUS Foundation, Inc., at 168 Long Lots Road, Westport, CT 06880, Tele: 203-259-1550, equus@equusfoundation.org, http://www.equusfoundation.org.



PHOTO: Left to Right: Flavia Callari, Splashdown and Julie Frank. Photo courtesy of The EQUUS Foundation.