Wellington, FL – October 17, 2024 –
Galloping into its 16th edition, the Great Charity Challenge sponsored by Fidelity Investments® (GCC) movement has left a significant mark on the local nonprofit community. Thanks to the amazing support of its donors, the event has acted as a catalyst for change, blending equestrian sports and philanthropy, having distributed $21.7 million to 339 Palm Beach County charities over the past 15 years.
Originally founded by the father/daughter team of Mark and Paige Bellissimo, the GCC has grown from distributing $500,000 in its inaugural year to raising and distributing over $1 million every edition since. With another ambitious goal of raising and distributing $2 million in 2025, the event will once again return to Wellington International, home of the Winter Equestrian Festival, on Saturday, February 1, 2025. The electrifying evening will feature showjumping and the unstoppable spirit of giving! Participating non-profit organizations are guaranteed to receive a minimum of $15,000 while the winning team will earn $100,000 for their paired organization.
If you know of a deserving Palm Beach County-based charity, please invite them to visit the link below for additional information regarding application requirements and the event’s unique selection process.
The application process for the 2025 GCC is exclusively open from Thursday, October 17, 2024through 5:00 PM on Thursday, October 30, 2024.
“We cannot thank our generous donors enough for making this event continue to grow and thrive” comments Anne Caroline Valtin, Executive Director of the GCC. “Looking back on the last 15 years and the tie this event has created between PBC and the equestrian community, we can’t help but see the growing need to support our local community. We urge organizations to apply and get the chance to access unrestricted funding during these challenging times”.
The most recent impact report following the 2024 edition (published this week), determined that with support from 100+ donors and sponsors, 90 Palm Beach County Non-Profits made a positive impact on the lives of 93,259 people. To view it, we invite you to click here.
Following the application and vetting process, all qualified charities will be assigned a "lottery ball" and selected out of a raffle drum on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. The selection of non-profits will continue to be done on a 100% random basis and be live-streamed via the event’s social media channels.
Additional smaller grants will also be awarded via a random selection process to non-profits who pass the GCC’s vetting. These grants will range between $1,000 and $10,000.
To be eligible to participate, applicants must, at a minimum, demonstrate that they are a 501c3, serve residents of Palm Beach County, have a physical presence, commit to spending a minimum of 75% of funding received in the County, and have a non-discrimination statement and/or policy.
Introducing this year’s theme!
We invite you to get ready for an unforgettable night where riders and their horses will celebrate the magic of Global Music—uniting cultures and bringing people together.
For additional event information, including information about the application process, donations, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.greatcharitychallenge.com. We also invite you to join us onFacebook and Instagram to stay up to date with our latest news and happenings via Facebook and Instagram.
About Fidelity Investments®
Fidelity’s mission is to strengthen the financial well-being of our customers and deliver better outcomes for the clients and businesses we serve. Fidelity’s strength comes from the scale of our diversified, market-leading financial services businesses that serve individuals, families, employers, wealth management firms, and institutions. With assets under administration of $14.1 trillion, including discretionary assets of $5.5 trillion as of June 30, 2024, we focus on meeting the unique needs of a broad and growing customer base. Privately held for 78 years, Fidelity employs more than 75,000 associates across the United States, Ireland, and India. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit https://www.fidelity.com/about-fidelity/our-company.
About the Winter Equestrian Festival
Situated in the heart of Wellington, FL, the iconic "Winter Equestrian Capital of the World", Wellington International is the proud host of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). This internationally recognized 13-week event is the world's largest and longest-running hunter/jumper horse show. Every year, WEF opens its gates to thousands of riders from 50 U.S. states and over 34 countries, cementing its reputation as a global equestrian hub. Spanning more than 111 acres, the Wellington International facility is equipped with 14 competition arenas, over 500 permanent equine stalls, dedicated horse trails, pedestrian paths, and golf cart tracks. Beyond equestrian sports, WEF offers an all-encompassing experience featuring VIP services, unmatched hospitality, versatile event spaces, and world-class shopping opportunities. With an annual contribution of more than $400 million to Palm Beach County's GDP and the creation of over 3,700 jobs, the competition’s impact extends well beyond the facility. The Winter Equestrian Festival is a flagship event operated by Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC. For more information or to experience the equestrian excellence firsthand, visit www.wellingtoninternational.com
