An incredible milestone will be reached on Saturday, February 4, 2017: more than $10 million will be raised as a result of the Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments® (GCC), with 100% of the proceeds donated to charities in Palm Beach County, Florida.
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![Riders and kids from the Boys and Girls Club meet, showing the intersection of sport and philanthrop ...](http://mms.businesswire.com/media/20170130005775/en/566937/4/GCC_Riders_Kids_Photo_by_Lexey_Hall_Photography.jpg)
Riders and kids from the Boys and Girls Club meet, showing the intersection of sport and philanthropy at the Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments®. (Photo ©Lexey Hall Photography.)
Founded in 2010 by Equestrian Sport Productions CEO Mark Bellissimo and his daughter Paige, the GCC has helped the equestrian community take charitable giving to a new level through its love of equestrian sport. This event has impacted thousands of lives through its unique equestrian competition. To date, the GCC has distributed more than $9.2 million to over 200 non-profits in Palm Beach County. This year the fundraising goal is a minimum of $1.5 million. Once added to its already incredible fundraising amount, the event will have raised more than $10 million over the past eight years.
On Saturday, February 4, the GCC returns to Wellington during the 2017 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) circuit for eight years in a row. This year’s theme of animated movie characters celebrates those who have dared to imagine a better community, such as the sponsors of the GCC, the riders donating their time, and last but certainly not least, all involved with the charitable organizations.
While most non-profits are supported and funded via the community, the GCC fills a true need to cover operating expenses; expenses that a lot of donors shy away from supporting. A homeless shelter needs new windows, a food pantry needs a vehicle to reach hundreds every week, and a foster organization needs operating costs to help foster children. These are a few examples of the ways that the GCC enables Palm Beach County charities to serve the community to their fullest potential.
A full list of charities that have benefitted from the event since its debut in 2010 can be found on the event website: www.greatcharitychallenge.com.
The GCC has free general admission. Gates open at 6 p.m. at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, FL.
For the latest event information and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.greatcharitychallenge.com and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greatcharitychallenge.
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