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BHW Fund Raising Efforts
Last update: 11/26/07

Katrina:
The idea of a "Relief Fund" was suggested even before Hurricane Katrina.  Ideas became a reality with the formation of the fund in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.  It did take a couple of months to research and gather the information before the formal fund application was submitted in December of 2005; neither the forms or the process are simple.

Update 11/23/07  The not-for-profit BHW Relief Fund with it's "almost" 5013c approval was too expensive and time consuming to pursue. That is closed to new funds. We have reported on some of the relief stories but I am sure you understand that most recipients do not want to be made public. The program was very successful.  Our account's summary for the Katrina Fund was $19,404 taken in and $16,192 disbursed directly.  Overhead included but not limited to:  Accounting, non-profit applications, legal fees & consulting, Paypal charges, CC processing charges, and bank account set up.  There was also a Grant & Contract Expense for $1500 for setting up a non-profit corporation seperately from BHW.   A complete spreadsheet from our account is available if an audit is required, or you can be directed to a board member volunteer(s) who has been entrusted with the individual giving records.


Lea's Saddle:
The auction and fund raising of late are the result of the organization of BHW board members initiated by some to buy a special saddle. BHW helped run the auction and helped collect only the credit card portion of the funds. BHW also provided the money to pay the taxes on the funds run through our account. The distribution and management of the funds are outside the scope of BHW and are managed by all of you.  Dave Mattern, as a fellow board member, is the correct contact person for that program and can be reached:  dave@barrelhorseworld.com

Since Dave is also an owner of BHW, he contracted with Robin Morris, (Moderator: Crossspur) to help collect, contact and verify each auction item as it was paid, released and shipped.  The auction winners were also  posted publicly, along with the winning amounts on Oct. 24, 2007.  Over $8,000 in items were bid and as of 11/24/07  seven items for over $700 remain unpaid.   Costs include saddle for $2500 (paid & sent to Lea) $250 for clerical help and $100 in credit card processing fees leave a balance of approximately $4450 in which a decision for disbursement is forthcoming - and will be updated here shortly.
 

 

 

The Story at the left about Debbie Littleton was just a beginning.  The company with the helicopter never charged our credit card for the rescue tab.  Many other stories followed and our own board members rallied on many fronts to help those from Katrina.  

Many of our board members help people every day with little or no recognition.  We admire you.  If we can help consult or use our board for communicating where to send specific funds for someone in need let us know.