CTHF Outlines How San Luis Rey Downs Fire Donations Have Been Distributed
One year after the devastating San Luis Rey Downs fire, California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation executive director Cliff Goodrich sent an update to nearly 6,000 individuals detailing how their donations totaling in excess of $1.1 million have been used in the weeks and months that followed the tragedy.
Following is Goodrich's letter:
"We want to update each of you on the status of how your donations were distributed, whether directed to the GoFundMe campaign, spearheaded by Santa Anita, Del Mar and The Stronach Group, or directly to us. (Some donors specifically indicated horses/workers/hospital victims and we honored those requests to the best of our ability). Your donations greatly assisted both humans and horses to get back on their feet.
"In an amazing display of generosity a total of $1,128,060 was donated from 5,705 donors! The donations ranged from $5 to $90,000! To date, the CTHF has distributed cash/checks in the amount of $976,763. Specifically, your donations have gone to the following recipients:
"--$243,000, including food and beverage vouchers, was distributed to 230 workers whose lives were significantly disrupted by the fire.
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"--$594,000, in differing amounts depending upon their degree of lost supplies and equipment, went to 33 displaced trainers. These donations kept many of these trainers in business, along with the workers they employ.
"--A $100,000 CTHF Grant was issued to CARMA, the non-profit organization that finds homes for retired or injured horses – in this case, the horses injured in the fire.
"--$39,763 has been advanced, or expense reimbursements provided to the three hospital victims of the fire. The amount, thus far, is not prohibitive because of available medical insurance for all three victims. We continue to provide financial aid in this area.
"All of the above does not include the hundreds of individuals and vendors who donated equipment, time, and feed and supplies, directed to the trainers and workers who were temporarily housed at Del Mar, along with local farms that temporarily housed displaced horses. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and their landlord, the 22nd District Agricultural Association, should be particularly saluted for their valiant efforts in providing manpower and the use of the Del Mar facility on such short notice.
"The SLR Training Center reopened on April 15, thanks to the exhaustive efforts of The Stronach Group, owners of the center. It was good for the horses, trainers and workers to be 'back home.'
"The CTHF continues with its core mission, which for nearly 35 years has been “to improve the quality of life for the backstretch workers.” Without all of you, the efforts outlined above would not have been possible. Thank you, again, for your generosity. You can continue to monitor our normal, ongoing activities at cthfcares.org.
"Happy Holidays to such a caring group of people for your generous donations!"
