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New Health Management App

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New Health Management App

Twenty-Three-Year-Old South Florida Native and Brain Surgery Survivor Seeks to Redefine Modern Health Management with New Startup

Health Management App Enables Large Chronic Illness Community to Become Their Own Health Care Advocate

WELLINGTON, FL — March 1, 2021 — Limitless Medical Logs® CEO Jordan Ray today announces the general availability of a first of its kind health management app that works at your fingertips, across all devices, for patients suffering from a chronic illness who feel out of control managing their own health. According to the Florida State Health Assessment, “chronic diseases, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes as ‘conditions that last one year or more and require ongoing medical attention’ affect more than 13.1 million Floridians.” Due to the impact, our journals have had on the large chronic illness community, we’ve decided to launch the app as a tool to help patients be better prepared for doctor’s visits, offering essential features such as health charts, appointment notes, weekly diaries with human body charts, and more to help individuals describe every facet of their symptoms. 

Young CEO Jordan Ray

Limitless is partnering with one of the leading pediatric healthcare hospitals in Florida and has earned recognition by leading healthcare professionals, including Robert D. Healthcare Executive at John Hopkins Hospital.

“Limitless Medical Logs® is an absolute tool to be utilized with patients who have a chronic disease to help clinicians provide the best care possible,” Robert said. “Furthermore, it can be used for other issues as well. I would highly recommend any organization to partner with her in this endeavor! It is the little things in life that make a big difference and Jordan has the pulse of it!”

 At 17-years-old, Jordan was a Florida local, star high school athlete, days away from receiving multiple athletic scholarships until she suddenly blacked out on the softball field during a routine play at third base- a moment that would change her life forever. After countless doctor’s visits, Jordan was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, a possibly deadly disease where the brain tissue extends into the spinal cord. This led to the abrupt end to her prestigious 13-year career. Overwhelmed by her rare diagnosis and trying to properly manage her symptoms, Ray realized she needed to regain control of her health. This led to the development of Limitless Medical Logs®.

  “As an athlete, I was used to being in command of my body. When I got sick, keeping track of my symptoms, the information I needed to provide each doctor, and the questions I needed to ask at each appointment became overwhelming,” said Jordan Ray. “I created Limitless to help me do a better job of managing my own health, and I quickly realized how much my tool could help others dealing with chronic illnesses.” 

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The first version of the app will be available for download on March 1, 2021, in the Apple App Store and Android Google Play stores. Jordan Ray has generously decided to give the app away for a free extended trial period to ensure that every individual has a chance to positively change the way they live with a chronic illness.

Alexa Infante

954-997-6575

alexai.limitless@gmail.com

Website: limitlessmedicallogs.com

Instagram: @limitlessmedicallogs

Twitter: @LMLbetterhealth 

The Partridge Inn: Your Home During Masters Week in Augusta

Mike May
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The Partridge Inn: Your Home During Masters Week in Augusta

THE PARTRIDGE INN:  YOUR HOME DURING MASTERS WEEK IN AUGUSTA

By Mike May

There are many unique elements of the Masters golf tournament which make it one of the world’s greatest sports events.  When you think about the Masters, you expect to see coverage by CBS, the Par 3 Contest being played on the day before the tournament’s first round, those in attendance enjoying pimento cheese sandwiches, and loud roars emanating from Amen Corner.  This year, spectators, er, patrons, will be allowed to return, but it will be a limited number due to COVID-19 concerns. 

Just because a limited number of patrons are being admitted to the Masters doesn’t mean that Masters enthusiasts should stay away from Augusta.  It’s quite the opposite.  Thankfully, another Masters tradition which will be returning this year is the customer experience for hotel guests staying at The Partridge Inn, widely regarded as the grand dame of Augusta’s hotels.

The magnificent Partridge Inn in Augusta, GA

For decades, the Partridge Inn has established itself as the premier overnight accommodation destination for people who make the trek to Augusta for Masters Week, which returns to its traditional April time frame after being held in November for the first time last fall.  Beginning on Thursday, April 8, the day of the opening round, the Partridge Inn is hosting socially distant gatherings and serving dinners for its guests who want the Masters experience without stepping foot on the grounds of the nearby Augusta National Golf Club.  The Partridge Inn will also be hosting secluded gatherings downstairs in the Cigar Bar.  At the Cigar Bar, guests will enjoy hand-rolled cigars and delicious signature cocktails. Capacity at the Cigar Bar will be limited in adherence to social distancing guidelines.

When it comes to the sleeping experience at the Partridge Inn, the hotel also has a select number of deluxe rooms available for those who want a true first-class experience during their visit to Augusta.

When you pack your bags for your visit to the Partridge Inn during Masters Week, please bring your golf clubs.  There are many other golf opportunities in the greater Augusta area to play golf during the week of the Masters.

When it comes time to enjoying breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Partridge Inn, Executive Chef Thomas Jacobs will be preparing a rotating menu of delightful and delectable dishes.

One of the many items served to guests at the Partridge Inn every year is pimento cheese.  Here’s the recipe that’s being used by Jacobs:

Combine:

1 pound of cream cheese, softened; 2 cups of shredded sharp Cheddar cheese; 8 ounces of pimentos, well drained; 6 green onions, chopped; 4 tablespoons of finely chopped seeded jalapeño peppers; and add salt & pepper, to taste.  That will provide 16 servings.

Guests can also enjoy a formal, upgraded dining experience by reserving a premium table in the dining room, where the hotel’s award-winning chefs will prepare a diverse menu of delicacies tableside.  As you would expect during Masters Week, bar service will be available all day.  In order to be COVID-19 compliant, all dining experiences and venues at the Partridge Inn will adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Partridge Inn Roof Top Lounge

It’s worth noting that the Partridge Inn has been operating as a hotel since 1910.  In 1923, this property hosted a Presidential Banquet for President Warren G. Harding.  Over the years, the Partridge has hosted musicians such as Bob Dylan, James Brown, Crystal Gayle and Reba McIntyre.  During Masters Week, Hollywood celebrity Ryan Seacrest and baseball legend Alex Rodriguez have stayed at the Partridge Inn.  The golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. has stayed at the Partridge.  And, two-time Masters champion Tom Watson has also been on site in the past to help film promotional materials.

Partridge Inn Poolside

For more information on the Partridge Inn experience during Masters Week, you can visit www.partridgeinn.com/masters or contact sales manager Madalyn Neal via email at mneal@northph.com or by phone at 762-994-0318.  You can follow the Partridge Inn on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ThePartridgeInn and on Instagram at @ThePartridgeInn.

Stabilize Your Core

Cheryl Alker
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Stabilize Your Core

Cheryl Alker walks you through, in her opinion, one of the best core stabilization exercise she knows!

Add my 9Inch Pilates Ball to this exercise and take your core training to another level.

The Masters Tournament: Truly Second-To-None

Mike May
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The Masters Tournament: Truly Second-To-None

The Masters Tournament:  Truly Second-To-None

By Mike May

The great thing about The Masters golf tournament is that you really don’t have to like golf or even understand golf in order to really enjoy The Masters.  Whether you are watching a broadcast or you are walking along the grounds of this historic piece of eastern Georgia real estate, there’s an element of class and prestige that emanates through your television, laptop, tablet or your smart phone about the atmosphere at the Augusta National Golf Club.  That feeling starts as soon as you tune into the broadcast coverage.

There are a number of newsworthy aspects of The Masters, many of which are unknown to some of the tournament’s most loyal patrons.  This confirms that The Masters tournament is ‘a cut above the rest’ and ‘a tradition unlike any other.’  And, it’s a position which Augusta National’s membership relishes and cherishes. 

Listed below are the key facts about The Masters:

  1. Dinner Reservations.  Winners of The Masters each year are invited that night to join the members of the Augusta National Golf Club for dinner in the Trophy Room inside the clubhouse.  The meal starts soon after the awarding of the Green Jacket inside Butler Cabin and on the 18th green, upon the conclusion of the tournament.
  2. Sleepover Special.  Amateurs who play in The Masters each year are invited to stay in the Crow’s Nest, which sits at the tip-top of the Augusta National clubhouse.  The Crow’s Nest sleeps five and has 1,200 square feet of living space.
  3. Trophy Time.  The permanent Masters trophy weighs 100 pounds and it features the name of the annual winner of the tournament and the name(s) of the runner-up.  The winner of The Masters receives a replica of the real trophy and a gold medal, both of which he is allowed to keep.  The replica weighs only 20 pounds.  The permanent Masters Trophy, built in England, features 900 separate pieces of silver.
  4. The Clubhouse.  The Augusta National clubhouse predates the building of the golf course as it was originally a private home built in 1854.
  5. Keeping Up with the Jones’.  In the first edition of The Masters (in 1934), then known as the Augusta National Invitation Tournament, Bobby Jones competed in the event, where he finished in a 13th place tie with Denny Shute and Walter Hagen.  Jones’ 72-hole score was +6, which was ten shots behind the winner Horton Smith.
  6. Naming Rights.  The credit for the naming of each hole at the Augusta National Golf Club is given to Louis Alphonse Berckman, Bobby Jones, and Clifford Roberts, who adorned each hole with a plant for which it is named.  The course starts with Tea Olive (1st  hole), though it was originally called Cherokee Rose, and concludes with Holly (18th hole).
  7. Arnie’s Plaque.  On April 4, 1995, a bronze plaque, in honor of Arnold Palmer’s play and contributions as the first four-time winner of The Masters, was unveiled.  The plaque is affixed to the water fountain which sits behind the 16th tee.
  8. Jack’s Plaque.  On April 7, 1998, a plaque, in honor of Jack Nicklaus’ play and contributions as the only six-time Masters champion, was unveiled.  The plaque is affixed to a drinking fountain that sits between the 16th and 17th holes.
  9. By Invitation Only.  There are 19 different criteria which The Masters Committee uses to draft the list of players who are invited to play in The Masters each year.  The Masters Committee, at its discretion, also invites international players not otherwise qualified.  Previous winners of The Masters are automatically invited to return every year.
  10. Who Is Rae?  Rae’s Creek, which appears on the 11th, 12th, and 13th holes at Augusta National, is named after John Rae, who died in 1780.  Rae’s house was the farthest fortress up the Savannah River from Fort Augusta.  His house kept residents safe during Indian attacks when Fort Augusta was out of reach.
  11. The Green Jacket.  The tradition of awarding The Green Jacket to the winner of The Masters started in 1949, when Sam Snead won.  The tradition of the members wearing a green coat started in 1937.  The jackets were purchased from the Brooks Uniform Company in New York City.  Each Green Jacket is adorned with brass buttons.  The logo of the Augusta National GC appears on each button. The green jacket’s color is referred to as the masters green, but in reality, the shade of the terrific rye green used is Pantone 342.
  12. Par 3 Tournament.  The Par 3 Contest at The Masters was first held in 1960.  It was won by Sam Snead.  To date, no player has ever won both the Par 3 Contest and The Masters in the same year.  Jimmy Walker, who recorded an eight-under-par round of 19 in 2016, has the course record.  Because of COVID-19, the Par 3 Contest will not be held this year.
  13. Winner Buys — Next Year.  On the Tuesday night of Masters week, all previous champions of The Masters gather for the Champions Dinner, which is held in the main clubhouse.  The defending champion of The Masters selects the menu and hosts the dinner.  The only non-winner to attend the dinner is the current chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club.  This tradition started in 1952 with Ben Hogan.  The meals have ranged from cheeseburgers, fries and a milkshake by Tiger Woods in 1998 to elk and wild boar by Mike Weir in 2004 to chicken panang curry by Vijah Singh in 2001 to Spanish seafood paella by Phil Mickelson in 2011.  “You’re in a room amongst great players,” said three-time Masters champion Gary Player.  “The ambiance of the whole place is remarkable.  And, you hear so many stories.  It’s something special.”
  14. Dusk-to-Dawn Destination.  For years, the premier accommodation option in Augusta has been the Partridge Inn, the grand dame of Augusta’s hotels. The P.I. Bar and Grill, the hotel’s famous restaurant, is the place to be and to be seen during Masters Week.
  15. The Bridges Over Rae’s Creek.  The Augusta National Golf Club has three named bridges – the Hogan, Nelson, and Sarazen bridges.  The Hogan bridge crosses over Rae’s Creek, allowing players to reach the 12th green.  It was dedicated to two-time Masters champion Ben Hogan.  The Nelson bridge crosses over Rae’s Creek, allowing players to reach the 13th green from the 13th fairway.  It was dedicated to two-time Masters champion Byron Nelson.  Both the Hogan and Nelson bridges were dedicated on the same day — April 2, 1958.  The Sarazen bridge crosses over Rae’s Creek, allowing players to reach the 15th green.  It was the first named bridge at the course, dedicated to former Masters champion Gene Sarazen on April 6, 1955, as a way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Sarazen’s famous double-eagle – the famous Shot Heard Round the World — at the 15th hole during the final round of the 1935 Masters, which he won in a playoff against Craig Wood.
  16. Michelson’s Moment in Time.  While on his way to winning his third Masters title in 2010, Phil Mickelson drove the ball through the 13th fairway and into the trees during the fourth round.  Most players would have laid up short of Rae’s Creek, but Mickelson took his six iron and struck a perfect shot, from the pine straw, onto the green which he converted into a birdie four.  The helped pave the way to his third Green Jacket.  A plaque has been made and placed on the spot on the 13th hole where Michelson struck that shot.

Next time you get together with friends to watch The Masters, you should enlighten your colleagues with some interesting facts about this event which is truly second-to-none, ‘a cut above the rest,’ and ‘a tradition unlike any other.’

Inside the Quotation Marks

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Inside the Quotation Marks

“Time Heals All Wounds”…or Does It?

By Bryan Haze

The Square-Foot Method of Gardening

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The Square-Foot Method of Gardening

The Square-Foot Method: How to Fit A Smorgasbord of Herbs and Veggies in Your Backyard

By Tripp and Carmen Eldridge

Home gardening has bloomed around the world since the start of the pandemic. Fruit and vegetable seed sales have skyrocketed over the past year as throngs of people took to backyard gardening as a way to relieve stress during lockdowns and grow their own groceries. Indeed, you can grow almost any vegetable or herb you want in your backyard, but ultimately it comes down to real estate. One of the most common pitfalls new gardeners make is trying to squeeze too many plants into a single garden bed. Plants can easily be overcrowded if not given enough room, which can lead to signs of stress and difficulties harvesting. Additionally, lack of good air flow creates conditions for disease to spread between plants.

The square-foot method is a great way to produce a variety of herbs and veggies while giving them plenty of room to grow and breathe. Popularized back in 1981 by civil engineer Mel Bartholomew, it involves dividing a 4-square foot raised bed into 16 plots, where you can plant different seeds in each space. Not only is this an extremely efficient way of gardening, but it’s also manageable and cost effective – a perfect combination for beginners and experienced gardeners alike!

With the square-foot method, you’ll be amazed at what you can grow in such a small area. Here’s how it works:

  1. Figure Out the Set Up

There are three basic elements to your set up with traditional squarefoot method gardening. First, you’ll need to determine where you’d place your raised bed. Pick a spot where your plants can get at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight. Most areas in your backyard should suffice.

Second, you’ll need to either buy or build your own 4’x4’ raised bed box. Those lined with fabric create a weed barrier, which can be beneficial to fostering a healthy environment for your plants to flourish.

Finally, once you add the soil in, top your bed with a grid of 16-squares for plant spacing. This can be made from metal, bamboo, wood, or string — really anything that can act as a visual tool. This grid’s purpose is simply to help you plant your seeds the right distance apart.

That’s basically everything you need! But before we get too ahead of ourselves, let’s talk about the soil.

2. Choose the Right Soil

Soil is the key to success in your garden: if you don’t have a living soil to support your plants, you’re just wasting your time and money. Good quality, weed-free compost is an absolute must. Look for the OMRI label if you want to stay organic.

For us in South Florida, the majority of our existing soil is a type of fine sand called Myakka. It’s actually our state soil. But because this sand doesn’t carry a lot of nutrition for plants, we need to provide it with extra minerals and fertilizers for our plants to perform well.

To learn more about what kinds of additives you may need for your soil, a great resource is the University of Florida Cooperative Extension. This department can work with your County Extension Agent to perform a soil testing analysis for your garden. From there, you can better determine what minerals and fertilizers you might need to add to your garden.

3. Start Planting

It’s time to exercise that green thumb! Start planting different seeds in each square, in varying numbers, depending on the space required for each plant. For certain vegetables, you can also plant transplants. This blog has a great spacing chart to determine how many seeds or plants you should put in each plot for the kinds of herbs and veggies you may want to grow. Timing and variety selection are key in our tropical climate. Be sure to follow correct planting dates for South Florida. Check out this planting calendar from the University of Florida for details on when to plant and what vegetable varieties do best. After you plant your seeds, cover with about half-an-inch-thin layer of soil, then water.

Now, all you have to do is water regularly, monitor for weeds and any other signs of stress, and watch your plants grow. As a starting gardener, nothing is more satisfying than seeing your creations become fully grown, and with this method, you’re setting yourself up for success. It’s easy to transform a patch of earth into a bountiful garden — and now, you know where to start.

About the authors

Carmen and Tripp Eldridge are small-scale farming experts and the current Farm Directors at Arden, an award-winning residential agrihood in Palm Beach County, FL. Managing the community’s five-acre farm, Tripp and Carmen are pioneering innovative farm-to-table living in South Florida.

6 Travel Inspiring Novels

Terri Marshall
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6 Travel Inspiring Novels

As we approach the one-year anniversary of COVID lockdowns, border closings and more things we’d rather forget, travel continues to beckon us and torture our chronic wanderlust. While we’re still limited on destinations for the moment, consider adding one of these travel inspiring novels to your spring and summer reading list. When the borders reopen, you’ll have all the travel inspiration you need to plan your future travels and adventures!

A Year in Provence
by Peter Mayle

“It is at a time like this, when crisis threatens the stomach, that the French display the most sympathetic side of their nature. Tell them stories of physical injury or financial ruin and they will either laugh or commiserate politely. But tell them you are facing gastronomic hardship, and they will move heaven and earth and even restaurant tables to help you.”

Through witty prose, Peter Mayle shares the story of realizing a long-cherished dream. Moving into a 200-year-old stone farmhouse in Provence, a rural area in Southern France, Mayle and his wife conquer culture shock and language barriers as they re-adjust from life in England.

Along the way there are misadventures, goat races through town, truffle hunting and a series of welcome and unwelcome houseguests. And always there is food, this being France, after all. Beware, the vivid descriptions of the author’s meals throughout the year could lead to a few extra pounds!

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
by Elizabeth Gilbert

“To travel is worth any cost or sacrifice.”

If there were ever a book that inspired women (and men) to leave behind a bad relationship and start over in a foreign land, Eat, Pray, Love is it. In this 2006 memoir, we follow author Elizabeth Gilbert’s journey from divorce to discovery as she travels across three countries: Italy, India and Indonesia. In search of a sense of self and independence, she chooses one country for pleasure of the senses, another for spiritual enlightenment and the third to restore balance in her life. This was a gap year that changed everything.

The Beach
by Alex Garland

“Tourists went on holidays while travellers did something else. They travelled.”

Transporting us to a time before mass tourism reached Thailand, Alex Garland’s prose in The Beach illustrates why true travelers will go off the beaten path in search of a place that represents paradise to them. Arriving at the Khao San Road, Bangkok—the first stop for young Westerners traveling in Southeast Asia—Richard stays in a low-budget guest house. When another traveler tragically slashes his wrists, he bequeaths to Richard a meticulously drawn map to “the Beach.” Setting off with a young French couple, Richard embarks on a journey in search of a hidden archipelago forbidden to tourists.

A Moveable Feast
by Ernest Hemingway

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”

Published posthumously in 1964, this classic memoir by Ernest Hemingway shares the story of his life as a young expat journalist and writer in Paris in the 1920s. Married to his first wife, Hadley Richardson, Hemingway endures writer’s block, poverty and the adjustments required to embrace life in a new city. The City of Lights’ cafés, culture, art and springtime flowers provided the muse Hemingway needed to solidify his status as a beloved literary icon.

Out of Africa
by Karen Blixen

”Up in this air you breathed easily, drawing in a vital assurance and lightness of heart. In the highlands you woke up in the morning and thought: Here I am, where I ought to be.”

As any dutiful wife in 1914 would do, Karen Blixen followed her husband, Baron Bror Blixen-Finecke from Denmark to Kenya to help him run a coffee plantation. Life took a drastic turn for her in Africa. Faced with a failing marriage to an unfaithful husband who was a poor manager of the farm, the couple divorced in 1925 and Baroness Blixen took it over.
Out of Africa shares the story of the strength and determination of Baroness Blixen, during her years on the coffee plantation. Recounting her encounters with the natives and the animals, she paints an Eden-like picture of the land where her love for the people and wildlife is evident.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
by Cheryl Strayed

“I’m a free spirit who never had the balls to be free.”

This powerful and brutally honest memoir tells the story of an 1100-mile solo hike that was more than a physical journey. Reeling from the loss of her mother, the break-up of her family and a quickly eroding marriage, Cheryl Strayed thought her life was over. In an impulsive decision, she decided to hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington state … alone. Lacking experience as a long-distance hiker, Cheryl faced bears, reptiles, extreme weather and intense loneliness. Through a journey that was oddly terrifying and exhilarating, a young woman finds the strength to rebuild her broken life.

What adventures will these novels inspire for you?

Strawberry Shortcake with Bisquick

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Strawberry Shortcake with Bisquick

Who doesn’t love strawberry shortcake? And this recipe, using Bisquick, makes it easy and makes it come out perfectly every time.

Ingredients

1 quart (4 cups) strawberries, sliced 

¼ cup sugar

2 1/3 cups Original Bisquick™ mix

½ cup milk

3 tablespoons sugar

3 tablespoons butter, melted

½ cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

  • 1

Heat oven to 425°F. In large bowl, mix strawberries and 1/4 cup sugar; set aside.

  • 2

In medium bowl, stir Bisquick™ mix, milk, 3 tablespoons sugar and the butter until soft dough forms. On ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by 6 spoonfuls.

  • 3

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, in small bowl, beat whipping cream with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form.

  • 4

Split warm shortcakes; fill and top with strawberries and whipped cream.

A Year of Covid-19

Summer Wadleigh
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A Year of Covid-19

A Year of Covid-19

Summer Wadleigh

Covid-19 has provided the world with a very different way to measure time. Since its origin, people have been counting the days in which one could return to in person schooling or see a long distance family member again without the potential health risk. More than anything, Coronavirus has acted as a dangerous halt both physically and emotionally, evoking a vast array of change. Varying in intensity, everybody has had something taken from them within the last 365 days in the process of adjusting to a world where Coronavirus exists.

Since the virus first came to America, the most heavy loss has been seen in that of human life. In the last year, the United States has had over 500,000 Coronavirus related deaths, and that number only continues to increase with each passing day. Especially here in Florida, where we have the third highest case number in the country. While people are mourning experiences and memories that never got to exist outside of their imagination, other people have spent the last year in immense grief over someone close to them. Every loss is entirely valid and comes with a very specific set of emotions, though more than anything, Coronavirus has robbed the world of something irreplaceable: the human experience.

Aside from human life itself, Coronavirus has immensely affected those in transitional phases of their lives, such as students. I fall into this category myself, as I am senior in high school and have done the entirety of this year from my bedroom. Class of 2020 and class of 2021 have lost a lot of very valuable experiences due to Coronavirus, including things like graduation and senior prom. While these thing seem incredibly mundane in comparison to people who tested positive or those working on the frontlines to keep everyone safe, these are still important experiences that are being missed. It is such a specific and almost indescribable grief, and it’s hard to let yourself feel those things without simultaneously feeling selfish in knowing that other people are facing more important hardships. No matter how seemingly small, Coronavirus has inflicted change onto everybody this year in some way. It’s important to give yourself time to feel everything out and adjust to an entirely different reality while existing in such a transitional time in life.

Photo Credit: Burst

Ultimately, any type of impactful loss occurring during this past year of Coronavirus falls into the grandness of the human experience. Whether it’s the loss of physical life or the loss of events that you had been looking forward to since you were a child, it is all so heavily reliant on human connection. Through the virus, we have lost so much of our usual opportunities to connect with one another. A decrease in morning commutes or hugging a friend while walking to your fourth period are so much more impactful than even I had initially thought. This past year has made me appreciate the reality of being human and desiring those seemingly regular interactions that are no longer so regular. While I know that there is a light waiting at the end of all of this, I hope that people can take at least one good thing from the tragedies of the last 365 days.

The 12th Annual Great Charity Challenge

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The 12th Annual Great Charity Challenge

The 12th Annual Great Charity Challenge

By Krista Martinelli of AroundWellington.com.  Photos by Lois Spatz of LS Photos.

Wellington is the winter capital of the equestrian world.  And when it comes to the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), the biggest and most anticipated event of the 12-week series is the Great Charity Challenge presented by Fidelity Investments® (GCC).  On February 6th at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, over one million dollars were distributed to local non-profit organizations. 

The Great Charity Challenge (GCC) combines an exciting show jumping event with an evening of philanthropy, where 23 pro-am equestrian teams represent each of 23 randomly picked charities.  This year’s first place team represented the YWCA of Palm Beach County, bringing a grand prize of $100,000 to the organization.  The second place team was Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches (receiving $90,000).  Third place was the Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County (receiving $80,000). But let me add that coming in last place in such a grand event is not a bad situation either, as this non-profit organization receives $15,000.  Everyone is a winner.

“It’s corporate social responsibility at its finest,” says Executive Director Anne Caroline Valtin. A masterful and gracious liaison to corporate sponsors, non-profit organizations and equestrians, Valtin explains that this job is her “golden calling.”  But she adds humbly, “I’m a link – nothing more, nothing less.”  With a business background as a sales rep for equestrian brands, Valtin came to Wellington, FL in 2011.  “I was 24 when I met Mark and Paige Bellissimo (the father/daughter team who founded the GCC) and I saw the Great Charity Challenge.  My blessing is that I grew into this role,” she says. And what she’s not saying but seems quite evident is that she has helped the event grow tremendously.  Over the past few years, Valtin also got her Master’s degree in International Human Rights Law. 

The winning team of riders – Lindsey Tomeu riding Bonapart, Ashley Vogel on Lucy in the Sky, and Shane Sweetnam riding Heart on Fire – sponsored by team sponsor Spy Coast and Preston and corporate sponsor Diamante Dressage, represented the US Army as their heroes. 

Of course, this year was a bit different with COVID-19 impacting the event.  The public, which usually provides a lot of loud cheering from the stands, was not allowed on site, but encouraged to watch the event virtually.  The theme of the event was “We Can Be Heroes, Just for One Day” as a tribute to healthcare and essential workers during the pandemic. 

While there was talk of not having the GCC this year, the founders and Anne Caroline Valtin knew that this year, when people are so impacted by the effects of COVID, it was more important than ever before, and the non-profits desperately needed the funds.  “There was a spiritual element to this year’s event,” says photographer Lois Spatz. “With no real crowd, the equestrians were truly riding for their charity – it was powerful.” 

“We are elated,” said Shea Spencer, Executive Director of YWCA of Palm Beach County, the 1st place non-profit of the evening. “We do have some very specific plans for the $100,000,” said Spencer. “We have an amazing new initiative called the Women’s Health Institute, which helps to target the disparities that women face in the health industry, being both women and women of color. We have our child development center which helps to provide free, quality childcare for low-income families. We are going to use the funds to continue our mission, to empower women, to eliminate racism, and to promote peace, freedom, and justice for all. It’s been an amazing night.”

There are many elements to the GCC, some which couldn’t happen this year due to COVID-19 restrictions (like a local, juried art show inside one of the many tents of the sprawling, beautiful Palm Beach International Equestrian Center).  But one tradition was carried on and with a great sense of humor.  The equestrians usually dress up in colorful costumes to match the theme of the evening.  This year we saw equestrians and their horses, dressed up as rolls of TP, the Notorious RBG, The Incredibles, the virus itself and, as a real tribute, as Executive Director Anne Caroline. 

One team of equestrians dressed up as Anne Caroline Valtin to honor her contributions to the community. Here’s Anne Caroline Valtin with one of those riders.

The winning team of riders – Lindsey Tomeu riding Bonapart, Ashley Vogel on Lucy in the Sky, and Shane Sweetnam riding Heart on Fire – sponsored by team sponsor Spy Coast and Preston and corporate sponsor Diamante Dressage, represented the US Army as their heroes.  Shane Sweetnam of Ireland, since the time of the GCC, won the CSI*5 Grand Prix on February 13th.  

Since Equestrian Sport Productions takes on all of the costs of the event, 100% of the funds raised go to the charities.  It’s truly a win/win/win event!  For a full listing of sponsors, charities and equestrian teams, visit https://gcc.coth.com/  For a brief interview with Anne Caroline Valtin of the GCC, visit AroundWellington.com, see below. 

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