$180,000
We did it! Thanks to a huge outpouring of support, NCEFT raised $180,000 at this year’s Gala. NCEFT would like to congratulate Gala committee members Nicole Buttitta, Betsy Glikbarg, Sarah Bryan Maroney, Susan Martin, and Suzanne Rischman for planning such a wonderful night. The staff and volunteers deserve a huge round of applause for making sure the event ran smoothly, and of course, we couldn’t have done it without the guests and sponsors who’s donations make our work possible!
“I wonder if the catering staff feels like part of something special?” It’s the same question that pops into my head every year at NCEFT’s gala. These people arrive expecting to pass around platters of mini lobster rolls and seared ahi, and instead find themselves cheering on Fund-A-Need bidders and tearing up while watching the story of a little boy who’s beating the odds. I guess this question comes unbidden into my mind because I can’t help but feel like part of something special. Though the name of our non-profit may incite thoughts of grandeur, when it comes down to it we’re more like a family than a titan of industry. So, to see a fundraiser so enormously successful, so flawlessly executed, it’s enough to give anyone a serious case of the warm fuzzies.
The whole night is almost like a dream sequence; lights dimming as the camera pans past tables covered with checkered cloths to land on a set of chestnut horses standing motionless at the end of the arena. The riders hold American Flags that stir faintly with the evening breeze as the sound of the National Anthem fills the air. Fade out to the clinking of silverware and murmur of conversation as guests begin dinner. As dusk turns to twilight, the energy changes. Bidder cards are waved in the air, laughter competing with the frenetic pace of the auctioneer’s calls. 
Before you know it, tables are emptying and the wooden dance floor rings with the sound of heeled boots beating time to Willie Nelson. As the crowds begin to thin, a little boy heads back to the barn to say goodbye to his friends. Wobbling down the aisle in a too big cowboy hat, he carries a bucket of hay, pulling small handfuls out for each of the horses.
What the catering staff feels I’ll never know. But I can say with 
certainty that every guest in attendance must have felt the magic that was created in that arena on Runnymede Road last Saturday. To attend the Gala is to change lives, to help children and adults who turn to NCEFT for horses, hope, and healing.
Americana is defined as objects–such as papers, books, or crafts–relating to America, specifically to its geography, history, and culture. In turn, the definition of “Flag” is a piece of cloth used as a symbol. The combination of red, white, and blue will forever be a symbol not only of the United States of America, but of the rich experiences, both bygone and current, of the people upon which our nation is built. For over 200 years the stars and stripes have represented a set of ideals, ones often worth fighting for.
This Saturday, NCEFT will offer Gala guests the opportunity to own a true piece of Americana. Flown in Afghanistan by the 2nd Platoon, India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, this Flag has an amazing provenance. Attendees can look forward to learning the flag’s story, and those of the marines who stand behind it, during the Fund-A-Need program following dinner. Everyone here at NCEFT looks forward to sharing this amazing piece of history with you!
When Maxine Doss started volunteering with NCEFT in 2009, she had no idea she’d end up as a costume designer to the stars (Willy and Wonka that is). Her friend, Kathy Dugan, was an enthusiastic caretaker for NCEFT’s donkeys and goats, and spoke passionately about her time at the facility, encouraging Max to come out and see for herself. It wasn’t long before she was helping clean out the goat pen and dressing the “Three Amigos” up for their social events.
It wasn’t just the prospect of putting legwarmers on a miniature horse that had Max interested, her love for children played a huge part in her decision to join the NCEFT team. Over time she’s gotten to know many of the kids who make the trek out to NCEFT once a week. “I know that when I make a contribution, be it large or small, it just makes me feel good,” Max says, “To me volunteering is a win-win situation.”
Though she’d gone on the occasional trail ride at a dude ranch, it was during her time at NCEFT that Max came to understand just how unique each horse is. She tells this great story about helping out with the horses’ lunches. “One horse, upon receiving his lunch, would pick up the container and spin it completely around. Some of the lunch would spin out, ending up on the stall floor.” But Max’s favorite story isn’t about a horse at all; it’s about a little boy who’s made weekly visits to NCEFT for most of his life. She’s watched him go from a quiet toddler who struggled to walk, to a charming 5 year old who can barely stand still.
When she’s not sidewalking or helping out with the donkeys, Max can be found manning “Bits and Pieces.” Open monthly, the little tack store helps raise funds for NCEFT by reselling gently used tack donations. From day one, Max has played a strong role in getting the store going and has faithfully attended nearly every sale. Though we’d love to have Max all to ourselves, we try to give a little bit of free time to enjoy her other hobbies. Max keeps her tennis bag next to her barn bag, and hopes to soon add a third to the mix: line dancing!
Horses. Hope. Healing. Three simple words that when combined have the power to transform lives. NCEFT is centered around helping people. We are about compassion, inclusiveness, and offering the highest level of service to those in need. We do this by harnessing the unique connection between horses and humans. NCEFT is also about community. Many of our clients and families describe NCEFT as a place that feels like home with people who feel like family.
