Annual Report to Stakeholders - 2020
Summary of Activities 2020
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 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 18 years since our founding, the Mounted Patrol Foundation has made grants totaling more than $464,000 to over 40 horse- and equestrian-related organizations, activities, and facilities. CHAPS has made grants exceeding $189,000.
There are two sources of donation funds: Board Reserves and Directed Donations.
Discretionary grants are made from its Board Reserves, which was started with $54,000 of contributions from the founding members back in 2003-2004. In the years since, MP members have also contributed $70,000 with their membership dues, resulting in total contributions of $124,000 to the Board Reserve Fund. Thanks to prudent investment practices over the years, the fund has grown to $387,000. A guideline of the Foundation is to make annual discretionary donations of up to 5% of the average principal balance of the 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). Examples include the All-Weather Trails in Huddart and Wunderlich Parks, hitching rails, the Towne Creek Bridge, and the Bill Lane Scholarship Fund. We thank the hundreds of individuals and organizations who, over the years, have sent in donations ranging from $25 to $10,000, which have helped to make these projects successful.
In addition to its own grant-making, the Foundation serves as the fiscal agent for the Community Horse Advocacy Program for San Mateo County (CHAPS). The MPF has partnered with CHAPS in raising funds for public horse trail improvements, horseback trail rides for veterans and for foster (CASA) children. CHAPS also raised money for renovation of the upper barn at Wunderlich Park. In 2020, under the aegis of the MPF, CHAPS has donated a total of $6,980 (details in the attached table).
$53,987 in Grants in 2020
In 2020 the Mounted Patrol Foundation made Discretionary and Donor-Directed grants of $53,987 to the projects listed below. Nearly 45% ($24,265) 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
Over 125 individuals and companies from around the US that supported the San Mateo County Large Animal Evacuation Group
Signe Otsby
Willy Johnson
Tom Shanahan
Silver Star
Suzanne Rowland
IBEW Local Union #617
Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich Parks
Stephan Graham
Jeff & Debbie Hotter
Dick Livermore
Anne Van Camp
Laure Woods
Bronze Star
Bay Area Barns and Trails
Mounted Patrol of San Mateo County and its members
Bill Lane Family Fund
And many other individuals and groups
The remaining 55% of the grants were from the Mounted Patrol Foundation Board Reserves.
Several years ago, there was a washout and slide on Bear Gulch Creek that closed the Woodside Center Trail, one of the most important trails in Woodside. The Town Trails Committee developed a plan to build a new bridge and relocate the trail. The MPF managed the fundraising effort from the equestrian community. The MPF provided $15,000 as a Discretionary grant and $6,000 from supporting donors, which joined $130,000 from other equestrian community organizations, Town CIP of $35,000 and $50,000 from the Town's Trail Donation Fund, for a total of $236,850 for this project. Design, engineering, bidding and permit tasks took several months, construction 2 months, with completion in July 2020. Due to COVID, the grand opening has been postponed.
http://www.mountedpatrolfoundation.org/Center_Trail_Bridge.htm
SMC Large Animal Evacuation Group - $15,265SMC LAEG is an all-volunteer group that activates when called upon by the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services. Its mission is to provide qualified large animal handlers and horse trailers in emergency situations, to evacuate large animals in the face of disaster or emergency. In the first week of the CZU Lightning Complex fire, they transported over 1500 animals out of danger to safety. While they did not have an ability to accept tax-deductible donations, the Mounted Patrol Foundation, as a 501(c)(3) organization, organized fundraising and accepted donations on their behalf. In addition, the MPF added their support of this effort by matching contributions dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000! To date we have received over $41,000 in donations from over 120 different donors. This includes the Mounted Patrol Foundation's matching grant of $10,000. As of year-end $15,265 has been disbursed and the remainder allocated to infrastructure improvements and emergency supplies in 2021. SMC-LAEG has now completed their registration as a 501(c)(3) entity.
http://www.mountedpatrolfoundation.org/Center_Trail_Bridge.htm
The Woodside Equestrian Merit Scholarship $5,000The Mounted Patrol Foundation and WHOA! (Woodside-area Horse Owners Association) jointly sponsored and funded a $10,000 scholarship for post-secondary education for a local high school student with a demonstrated involvement in equestrian activities as well as academic achievement and community service. After consideration of a number of applicants, the 2020 scholarship was awarded to Homestead High School senior Rebecca Refaee, who will be studying physics at Stanford. The 2021 scholarship has just been announced.
http://www.mountedpatrolfoundation.org/Woodside_area_Equestrian_Merit_Scholarship.htm
Jasper Ridge Farm - $3,000Inspired 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.
https://www.jasperridgefarm.org/
Rodeo Scholarship - 2020 - $2,000This year, the Mounted Patrol Foundation funded the $2,000 Rodeo Scholarship that was awarded last year to Makenna Byrne, then a junior, from Gridley, California for outstanding academic achievements, excellent equestrian skills, and public service. Due to COVID, the 4th of July Junior Rodeo was canceled this year, and no scholarship awarded.
One Step Closer Therapeutic Riding - $1,000
One Sept Closer is an adaptive horseback riding program in Morgan Hill, helping 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.
Equi-Ed - $1,000
Equi-Ed offers a variety of year-round programs, from riding, vaulting, and horsemanship to competition opportunities. Each program is specially designed to enhance the therapeutic benefits of equine activities. Students of all ages and backgrounds participate in riding, vaulting, and competing. Equi-Ed offers to students with and without disabilities who participate in therapeutic riding, the opportunity to experience physical, emotional, and mental benefits.
San Mateo County Sheriff's Department STAR Camp - $1,000Each 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. San Mateo County Horsemen's Association - $1,000
The mission of SMCHA is to sponsor, cultivate, and foster an interest in fine horses and fine horsemanship within San Mateo County. They host horse shows, clinics, social events, seminars, play days, rides, fundraisers, & educational activities, and they encourage the acquisition, building, and maintenance of the County's hard-won bridle paths and access to them. Horse Park Polo Field Renovation - $1,000
Horse Park Polo Club has provided an opportunity to learn to ride the polo ponies, hit the ball, learn the rules and play the game. Hundreds of men, women, children and Stanford students have benefited from this over the past 30 years. The Polo Field was built many years ago and is need of repairs to be able to continue this service.
http://www.horseparkpoloclub.com/
Trail Rides for Veterans and CASA children - $1,000Due to COVID, this program has been limited in this year. We hope to expand it in 2021
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, have 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.
http://www.mountedpatrolfoundation.org/TrailRides_Veterans.htm
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.
http://www.mountedpatrolfoundation.org/TrailRides_CASA_Kids.htm
Grants to Other Equestrian Organizations - $1,723
Additional grants have gone to organizations serving children and equestrians. Grantees include San Mateo County 4H Scholarship; children's books on horses - Woodside Elementary school; a documentary on mules riding across America; and Barron Park (Palo Alto) donkeys.
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:
http://www.mountedpatrolfoundation.org/email_signup.htm
Thank you for all the wonderful support and contributions over the years. We could not have achieved these goals without you.
Don Pugh
Chairman, Mounted Patrol Foundation
don@mountedpatrolfoundation.org
Mounted Patrol Foundation Contact Webmaster