Thoroughbred Charities of America recently received a generous bequest from the Cathy D. Perry Trust. The $163,077 gift was presented to TCA board members and staff by Cathy’s son Brandon Perry and daughter-in-law Diannah Perry in the winner’s circle at Saratoga Race Course earlier in August.
Perry was a successful entrepreneur and businesswoman and an engaged resident of Ocala, Fla. She and her former husband Roger founded Weisheimer Cos., which operated the Petzazz pet superstore chain that was later sold to PetSmart in the early ’90s. Upon her passing, Perry stipulated in her will that a portion of her estate be given to charity, however, she did not cite specific entities.
Brandon and Diannah Perry, who are active in Thoroughbred racing, identified 29 charitable beneficiaries, including several Thoroughbred industry-related organizations, other animal welfare organizations, and many Ocala community organizations. TCA will use the bequest to support the grants it makes to approved organizations during its 2023 cycle.
“The Perrys’ support of TCA speaks to their commitment to Thoroughbred aftercare and to the well-being of backstretch and farm workers,” said Mike McMahon, president of TCA. “They believe in leading by example and encourage others to support the charitable needs of our industry.”
“Diannah and I have been supporters of the TCA, through the purchase of seasons at the annual Stallion Season Auction for years and are extremely proud to donate to them now and help make a scalable difference,” said Brandon Perry.
TCA was formed in 1990 to raise and distribute funds to charities in the Thoroughbred industry that provide a better life for Thoroughbreds, both during and after their racing careers, by supporting qualified repurposing and retirement organizations and by helping the people who care for them.
In 2022, TCA awarded more than $783,000 in grants to 74 approved charities working within Thoroughbred retraining, rehoming, and retirement; backstretch and farm worker services, research, and equine-assisted therapy. During the last three decades, TCA has awarded more than $26 million to more than 200 charities that meet its criteria. TCA administers the Horses First Fund, founded by LNJ Foxwoods in 2016, to assist Thoroughbreds in need of emergency aid. It also manages Cómo, a mobile app founded by Godolphin, that connects racing industry employees to the vital services they need through a network of racetrack chaplains and Thoroughbred industry organizations. TCA is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
