An open letter from the Thorncroft Victory Gallop Committee, December 2007 Dear Friends: Please join us as we celebrate and prepare for our Annual Thorncroft Victory Gallop. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, April 5, 2008 at the historic Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue. We are expecting more than 550 guests at our elegant black tie evening of dining, dancing and spectacular silent auction. Thorncroft has earned a world-wide reputation for helping those with special needs: children and adults with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, multiple sclerosis, and other physical and emotional challenges. Not only does the specialized therapeutic instruction strengthen the students’ physical well-being, it exercises their spirit as well. This year, joined by over 350 of our weekly riders, Thorncroft will celebrate its 38th anniversary. On behalf of Thorncroft, I would like to offer you this opportunity to join us as a contributor to our Silent Auction. The Victory Gallop’s Auction presents a fantastic array of items donated from choice restaurants, boutiques, jewelers and art galleries. Vacations from Maine to the Caribbean are yet another major source of excitement for our bidders! Donors of Silent Auction items will receive recognition through media releases and during the evening of the event. Committing now will allow your name and donation to be listed as a part of our invitation which is sent to over 5,500 area residents. I hope you will consider supporting our organization by donating an auction prize for this year’s event. Please be assured that 100% of the proceeds from the auction will go directly to the operation of our extraordinary facility, the care of the horses, and the scholarships for the many students in need. I thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity! Gratefully, Victory Gallop Committee P.S. Remember those making their commitment by January 19th will be included in the dinner invitation which is mailed to over 5,500 of our friends in the metropolitan area! All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Please consult your tax advisor.

We honor and celebrate all those who have given so much of their time, their energy and support.

Riders come with any of over thirty different disabilities such as Spina Bifida, Stroke, Head Trauma or Cerebral Palsy. Research proves that the motion of a horse will teach a disabled person the natural gait of a walk. A non judgmental pony offers a child a safe haven, to relate and gain confidence - lessons that cannot be duplicated on a bolster or a floor mat. Through the kindness of our trained instructors, the Quaker values of the Farm and a firm belief in what we teach on and off of our horses... we know that individuals who participate in our programs develop independence, confidence and self-esteem, not to mention the simple pleasures of being on horseback.

A very special thanks to our staff, volunteers, board members, donors and friends who together contribute to this vital work of therapeutic horseback riding. Thanks to each of you, Thorncroft's future is full of promise and opportunity. As members of the Thorncroft family, we thank you for your participation and encourage you to visit our Farm. Witness first hand the joy of our riders... the tranquility of our grounds... the dreams you have made possible.

A journey of love and compassion.
"Thorncroft will always have a very special place in my heart.
It is more than simply a place to ride and appreciate horses.
Thorncroft is family to me.
The heart and soul of Thorncroft is its founder, Saunders Dixon. Growing up in the Quaker faith,
Mr. Dixon developed enormous respect and love for all living things.
For the past 35 years, he has been the source of hope, inspiration and determination to hundreds of
able-bodied and disabled riders at Thorncroft and beyond.
His dedication to heal and strengthen the human spirit through horseback riding has enriched the lives of many.
Through his selflessness, compassion for others, and deep humility, he serves as a role model
for the countless people whose lives he has forever changed.
Thank you, Mr. Dixon, for your leadership, and encouraging all of us to come
“Along for the Ride”.
It is my privilege to know you and I am proud to be a part of your Thorncroft family."
- Tory Udvarhelyi

The Victory Gallop is one of the most successful annual events of the Philadelphia social season, a black tie evening of dancing and dining at the premier "Hotel Atop the Bellevue". The event includes a Silent Auction offering surprising finds on everything from artwork to getaway stays in vacation settings.

Funds from this year’s event will again support the scholarship program at the farm. Were it not for scholarship assistance, many of our riders with disabilities would be unable to afford the unique therapy we offer at Thorncroft. As our Director, Saunders Dixon reminds us, “We will never turn a student away simply for lack of funds. We must ensure that each individual we serve is offered the same opportunity.” In addition to scholarships, funds from this year’s event will also support the commitment to excellence in education. An accelerated training program for our instructors has been launched. Our staff is attending clinics and seminars on all aspect of horsemanship to learn how people with and without physical and emotional disabilities can best benefit from the many programs Thorncroft offers. We will seek out and employ top clinicians from around the world and we will attend conferences so our instructors will reach their full potential.

 

To offer Silent Auction items, simply submit this form.

 

 Thanks to you, and friends like you, we will continue to be one of the BEST therapeutic riding programs in the country where over 350 students a week will continue to learn and grow with us at the magical Farm we share... Thorncroft.