Annual Report to Stakeholders - 2019
Summary of Activities 2019
Our Vision:
The Mounted Patrol Foundation believes that horses and equestrian activities have helped create a wonderful, healthy community in and around Woodside, California. The Mounted Patrol Foundation seeks to honor the legacy of this area by continuing to support, maintain, develop and encourage equestrian facilities, activities and heritage in the Town of Woodside, the county of San Mateo and the state of California. Our vision also includes the preservation of horse habitats and trail systems to provide both opportunities and environments conducive to the enjoyment of horses for horse owners and the public at large.
Our Mission and Grant Record:
The Mounted Patrol of San Mateo County Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), charitable organization that works in collaboration with local government, other public agencies, and other nonprofits to support and promote equestrian activities and facilities in the area. The Foundation also serves as the fiscal agent for CHAPS (Community Horse Advocacy Program for San Mateo County) and works closely with them to achieve our mutual grant-making goals. In the 16 years since our founding, the Mounted Patrol Foundation has made grants totaling more than $410,000 to over 40 horse- and equestrian-related organizations, activities, and facilities. CHAPS has made grants exceeding $182,000.
Discretionary grants are made from its Endowment Fund, which began with contributions from the founding Mounted Patrol members back in 2003 and which has grown as Mounted Patrol members and others have made additional contribution. Thanks to prudent investment practices over the years, the Endowment has grown to $402,000. The goal of the Foundation is to make annual discretionary grants totaling 5% of the average principal balance of the Endowment Fund to worthy equestrian causes in the area.
Project-Specific Funds/Donor-Directed Funds: These are funds raised for a specific project, or from a donor for a specified cause (donor directed). We thank the hundreds of individuals and organizations who, over the years, have sent in donations ranging from $25 to $10,000, which has helped to make these projects successful.
$37,000 in Grants Made in 2019
In 2019 the Mounted Patrol Foundation made Discretionary and Donor-Directed grants of over $37,000 to the projects listed below. Nearly 59% ($15,000) of the grants were made possible by the generosity of Project-Specific/Donor-Directed funds in support of these projects. We want to thank the following for their generous support:
Gold Star
WHOA! - Woodside-area Horse Owners Association
The Don and Carole Tanklage Foundation
Willy Johnson
Silver Star
BABT - Bay Area Barns and Trails
SMCPF - San Mateo County Parks Foundation
Los Viajeros Riding Club and its members
Bronze Star
Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich Parks
Monterey Bay Equestrians and its members
San Mateo Horsemen's Association and its members
Mounted Patrol of San Mateo County and its members
Bill Lane Family Fund
And many other individuals and groups
The remaining 41% of the grants were from the Mounted Patrol Foundation Endowment Fund.
Towne Creek Bridge - $20,273
Located in the Pescadero Creek County Park, the West Brook Trail has been a favorite of hikers and equestrians for many years. The trail winds down the beautiful Towne Creek valley among towering redwoods and crosses Towne Creek near the bottom over a bridge that was built many years ago. Over the years, the wood rotted, and an abutment washed out. The MPF led the fundraising to pay for the replacement of this bridge. It was opened on August 31, 2019, just in time for riding on Labor Day weekend.
Center Trail Bridge (pledged $15,000)
Several years ago, there was a washout and slide on Bear Gulch Creek that closed the Woodside Center Trail. This is one of the most important trails in Woodside. The Town has developed a plan to build a new bridge and relocate the trail at an estimated cost of $200,000. The MPF managed the fundraising effort from the equestrian community. The MPF has pledged $15,000 of its own funds, which joins $100,000 pledged from other equestrian community organizations and $50,000 from the Town's Trail Donation Fund, for a total of $165,000 for this project. Design, engineering, bidding and permit tasks are in process, with a goal of beginning construction in the summer of 2020.
The Woodside Equestrian Merit Scholarship (pledged $5,000)
The Mounted Patrol Foundation and WHOA! (Woodside-area Horse Owners Association) are jointly sponsoring and funding a $10,000 scholarship for post-secondary education, to be awarded in 2020. The criteria will be high academic achievement, high community involvement and significant equestrian activity. Application and information will be on the Foundation's and WHOA's websites.
Jasper Ridge Farm - $1,500
Inspired by the comforting power of animals, Jasper Ridge Farm (formerly Riley's Place) provides a special experience for people in need. They help children, adults and veterans in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties who are facing physical and emotional challenges. Their goal is to bring unique experiences to them through therapeutic interaction with horses and gentle farm animals.
San Mateo County Sheriff's Department STAR Camp - $2,000
Each summer the office of the San Mateo County Sheriff sponsors a one-week summer camp program for fifth- through eighth-grade students. Now in its 25th year, the Sheriff's Training and Recreation (STAR) Camp is held at the YMCA Jones Gulch facility, among the majestic oaks and redwoods of the Pescadero Creek watershed.
SMCHA Riding Clinics at the Mounted Patrol - $1,000
San Mateo County Horsemen's Association (SMCHA) has provided, and will continue to offer, free riding clinics for local equestrians at the Mounted Patrol grounds, assisted with a $1,000 donation to help with the costs.
Woodside Town Council Goes Trail Riding
On Saturday, August 24 the Woodside Town Council participated in a beautiful trail ride in Wunderlich Park. The ride was followed by a Town Council meeting and a short presentation from fifteen different equestrian groups from the area. The Mounted Patrol Foundation presented checks of $500 to the eight qualifying equestrian organizations. Afterwards everyone was treated to a fabulous lunch, provided by the Mounted Patrol under the portico of the historic Folger Stable. The event was organized to raise awareness of the equestrian experience and to educate the Town Council on the various clubs, organizations, facilities and activities associated with horses in our community. The horses were provided by Chaparral Ranch, located in Wunderlich Park and they are available to the public for trail rides in the Park. Riding from the Town Council were six Council members, the Town Manager, and the Town Secretary. A good time was had by all, and everyone had a chance to meet and mingle, enjoy the beautiful stable and surrounding environs, and learn about horses.
Rodeo Scholarship - $2,000
The Mounted Patrol Foundation awarded a $ 2,000 scholarship at the 4th of July Junior Rodeo to Makenna Byrne from Gridley, California, a competitor at the Rodeo, for outstanding academic achievements, excellent equestrian skills and public service.
Trail Rides for Veterans and CASA children - $1,500
CHAPS - Community Horse Advocacy Program for San Mateo County, the Mounted Patrol Foundation, along with major support from WHOA! (Woodside-area Horse Owners Association) and from other individual donors, funded horseback riding experiences for veterans and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) foster children.
Horses for Heroes provides free trail rides and lessons for military veterans who have served our country and are referred from the Veterans Administration Recreational Therapy Program. We strive to provide the joy of a horse to these veterans who have given to our country so dearly.
Healing Hearts with Horses provides riding opportunities for disadvantaged and underserved children of our community. We strive to provide the joy of a horse to kids who have so little.
WHOA! Woodside Day of the Horse - $1,500
WHOA! - Woodside-area Horse Owners Association strives to educate and inform the public to share the benefits of horses for people and the landscape and to protect the infrastructure necessary for horses to thrive, the Woodside trail system, and equestrian facilities. Woodside's Day of the Horse is the main fundraiser and celebrates the unique equestrian heritage of the Town and the extraordinary contribution horses make to the quality of life throughout San Mateo County. Festivities are the second weekend in October, with that Saturday proclaimed as The Day of the Horse by the Town of Woodside.
One Step Closer Therapeutic Riding - $1,000
One Step Closer is an adaptive horseback riding program in Morgan Hill, to help the participants achieve full potential – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. They offer adaptive horseback riding and equine-assisted-therapy to individuals with disabilities, and to U.S. military veterans.
NCEFT - $1,000
NCEFT - The National Center for Equine-Facilitated Therapy is dedicated to helping children, adults, and military veterans with special needs through equine-assisted therapies, education, and research. Since 1971, NCEFT has helped thousands of children, adults, veterans, and first responders with neurophysiological, cognitive, sensory processing, and psycho-social challenges with equine-assisted therapy, adaptive riding, summer camp, special education school programs, and a wide range of other equine-assisted activities.
Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich Parks - $1,500
The Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich Parks promote environmental awareness and education through community participation in the preservation and enjoyment of our local parks. They assist the park rangers in maintaining the parks and conduct educational programs through the development, management, and financial support of community volunteer efforts. Friends’ docents lead nature hikes for kindergarten through fifth grade schoolchildren in Huddart Park. The groups walk through the range of our local ecosystems, including chaparral, redwood forest, mixed forest, and riparian zones.
Grants to Other Equestrian Organizations - $4,500
Additional grants have gone to organizations serving children and equestrians which include Woodside Junior Riders, Woodside Pony Club, Horse Park at Woodside, San Mateo County 4H Club, San Mateo County Parks, and the Town of Woodside Trails Committee.
Digital Marketing Program:
The Foundation launched a new digital marketing program early in 2019 with a goal of delivering timely information on its activities and other equestrian endeavors. If you are not receiving this and would like to, please sign up at:
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Thank you for all the wonderful support and contributions over the years. We could not have achieved these goals without your support.
Active Projects for 2020
Center Trail Bridge in Woodside
Hopefully the construction contracts will be issues this spring, when the MP Foundation will be funding this project. The goal is to construct the bridge in the Summer.. For additional information click:
2020 Scholarships for Equestrians
The MP Foundation will continue the tradition of awarding scholarships to college-bound equestrians at the Mounted Patrol 4th of July Junior Rodeo. We are looking for outside help to raise additional funds to expand this scholarship program.
If you would like to support any of these causes, please click on the button below:
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