On Wednesday, May 25, 2022, the Walking Horse Trainers’ Association presented the Center for Family Development a check in the amount of $7,000. The proceeds were from the National Trainers’ Show held in March. The Center for Family Development is located in Shelbyville and has been serving families since 1995 when the first program of the center was established. Since then, the center has expanded to 20 counties, serving practically all of Middle Tennessee.
The programs of the Center for Family Development will benefit directly from this donation by receiving supply-filled backpacks at the annual Backpack Giveaway that will be held at the H.V. Griffin Park on July 29, 2022. The giveaway is a $15,000 event that the center has been involved with since 2008. This donation will enable the center to purchase school supplies for families that find it difficult to provide for their children. The donation will impact over 1,000 children’s lives by offering the Center for Family Development the ability to purchase backpacks and school supplies.
The Walking Horse industry has continuously been a huge supporter of the Center for Family Development. “We cannot express just how grateful we are for this donation. Fundraising has become more difficult since the pandemic and we must have added income for our programs because our grants will not allow us to spend money that directly benefits the families that we serve,” said Benita Caldwell of the Center for Family Development. “The WHTA is such a blessing to this community and they should be applauded for such a generous donation. How better can they bless children than to give them a head start on their education,” concluded Caldwell.
The WHTA will also partner with the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association, Foundation for the Advancement and Support of the Tennessee Walking Show Horse (FAST) and The Celebration on an end of the year, “United We Stand,” horse show in Tunica, Mississippi, to be held November 10-12, 2022. Proceeds from the show will go directly to the legal fund in the industry to help preserve the show horse.