WELLINGTON, FL – Equestrians from around the world gathered on Friday, January 26, at the beautiful Belle Herbe Farm in Wellington, Florida, for JustWorld International’s most successful fundraiser in its history. The community came together to share their passion for educating children, raise funds for further work, and celebrate their achievements toward building a better humanity. In its 21st year, the JustWorld Gala, the premier social event of the Wellington Equestrian Festival (WEF) season, raised record-breaking proceeds to serve children at JustWorld Global Projects in Cambodia, Guatemala, Honduras, and United States, thanks to the generosity of sponsors like Caryl Philips and Frank Zeiss, the Rein family, Belle Herbe Farm, Voltaire, and hundreds of other equestrians.
The “Night In Paris” theme paid tribute to this year’s upcoming Olympic Games, where JustWorld Ambassadors from dozens of countries will be vying to compete. Guests enjoyed dazzling Parisian dancers, exquisite French culinary delights catered by Palm Beach’s Laura Ashley, and live music transporting them to an enchanting evening among the sparkling avenues of the “City of Light.”
JustWorld Founder Jessica Newman kicked off the evening on stage, honoring Gala Co-Chairs Maria Newman and Denise Fraile, welcoming guests and thanking them for supporting the charity she created in 2003 “to help fracture the cycle of poverty through education, nutrition, vocational and leadership training in all the countries where we have our projects.”
Newman presented the 2024 Gala Honorees, Michael Lawrence, of Campbellville, Ontario, a member of the JustWorld Board of Directors and manager of the Ottawa International CSI; Matt Morrissey, of Wellington, Florida, a member of JustWorld’s Advisory Committee and manager of Traverse City Horse Shows and Major League Show Jumping; Pedro Cebulka, of Invermere, British Columbia, a JustWorld Ambassador and international ringmaster; and Corinne Sweeney, of Oyster Bay, New York, a JustWorld Ambassador and University of Virginia student.
Newman then turned the stage over to equestrian sports commentator, longtime JustWorld supporter and beloved Gala emcee Steven Wilde, who introduced Mark Samuel, Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Vice President, member of JustWorld’s Advisory Committee and an Ambassador.
Samuel was proud to describe the FEI’s partnership with JustWorld, the Honduras Equestrian Federation, and the international equestrian community on a successful matching campaign in 2023 to expand the Education On Wheels program in Honduras, now reaching 20 new communities and more than 5,600 children “to help break the cycle of poverty and allow the children and community to aspire to a better future,” Samuel said.
Samuel shared indelible impressions from his three trips to Guatemala with JustWorld. “It’s amazing to witness firsthand the dire need that’s present there but also the transformative impact of JustWorld on the community, not only on the children themselves but on their entire families and in some cases the entire community,” he said, adding that JustWorld helps the children “not only to survive but to thrive and become leaders in their countries.”
Samuel went on to praise the “community of caring” Newman has created and nurtured. “Great innovation and impacts do not happen without a champion, and Jessica has been exactly that champion, fighting for justice, visibility, and opportunity for so many forgotten children and communities,” he said. “Along the way she has helped to educate a couple of generations of equestrian children to understand the disparities of opportunity in this world and the moral obligation to become educated and to try to make a difference.”
Young Professionals of JustWorld Chair Brianne Link was one of those equestrian children, becoming an Ambassador at the age of 10 and now exemplifying the lasting impact of JustWorld youth philanthropy and leadership programming. Link told the crowd how, at the age of 12, she raised funds for a roof on the school, Los Patojos, JustWorld launched in Guatemala with CNN Hero Juan Pablo Romero Fuentes. Link remains an Ambassador, hosting benefit trunk shows, promoting JustWorld in podcasts and magazine articles, and donating items to the auction. “Ambassadors range in age, level and discipline, but one thing we do all have in common is that together, we all ride for the cause,” she said.
Videos highlighted the work being done on site at the JustWorld Global Projects and the equestrians who make it all possible before the action moved to the amazing experiences and unique items in the live auction. Justin Paul presided over the bidding for one-of-a-kind items like a lesson and lunch with Olympians Laura Kraut and Nick Skelton, a Costa Rica eco-adventure getaway, a luxury experience in France, and a custom jump, depicting a mosaic Eiffel Tower on the standards.
In the middle of the auction, attention shifted to Kevin Babington, one of JustWorld’s original Ambassadors since 2003, who spoke about his visit years ago to JustWorld’s project in Guatemala. “It takes so little to make a change in these kids’ lives,” he said.
Babington said he’s drawn to JustWorld’s effective model of offering opportunity—teaching rather than simply providing. “Education is the key to everything,” he concluded and then announced that he was donating four lessons to the live auction, to great applause. “This is not about the lessons but the big picture of what we can do for these kids,” he said.
The unforgettable evening concluded with dancing, as supporters celebrated the generosity of the equestrian community, uniting to make a difference, raising funds to ensure that children at JustWorld’s Global Projects have the healthcare, shelter and nourishment they need to learn and grow.