Wellspring

2005 Derby Preview Party

Derby Preview Party Brings Much Success in Its Seventh Year

Wellspring hosted its seventh Derby Preview Party on Thursday, April 28 2005 at the Kentucky Derby Museum. The benefit was again a great success grossing over $89,000 for Wellspring.

It was a wonderful evening for 367 guests as they enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, music, a silent auction, great celebrity speakers, and a live auction of premiere items. Some of the exciting live auction items included a party of four hosted by Ken and Sarah Ramsey for a day at the races and the saddling of their horse Nolen’s Cat, and Secretariat memorabilia consisting of a rare, authenticated nail from shoes worn in his first race and his maiden race victory in 1972. Plus, two lucky guests walked away from the party with relaxing vacation packages consisting of a week at an exclusive residence club with spectacular desert views in Arizona donated by Martin and Maribeth Rahe, and a stay at a lovely cabin located on the King Family Vineyards in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Most of all, the guests enjoyed being together for one common cause…. raising money for Wellspring!

Eclipse Award winners for Owners of the Year and 2005 Dubai World Cup victors Ken and Sarah Ramsey served as honorary hosts. As a last minute surprise, they brought along their stunning solid gold trophy won at the Dubai World Cup for display at the event. Mr. Ramsey presented personal anecdotes telling about the fabulous experience when their horse Roses In May won $3.6 million, and partying with Dubai’s ruling sheiks. Owners of Ramsey Farm in Nicholasville, with over 250 thoroughbreds and more than 100 thoroughbreds in training, the Ramseys have won several honors, including being named the 2000 Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners of the Year.

After the live auction was completed for the evening, guests had an opportunity to donate money towards a Bid for Recovery. Jackie Swigart, board member and chair of the Development committee, introduced an exciting way to be involved with Wellspring by providing a gift directed towards a client’s recovery. Recovery does not mean cure; it means developing a satisfying and contributing life despite the presence of mental illness. Wellspring and your gift provide hope for the future.

Thanks to the generosity of our guests, the “Bid for Recovery” resulted in spirited bidding, and 60 of our guests quickly raised their hands and pledged $16,000 on this item alone. We were thrilled with this response, and that our event as a whole netted over $63,000 for Wellspring.

The financial goal for this year’s fundraiser was to match and/or beat the $60,000 raised in 2004; happily we did so by grossing approximately $89,000! Our heartfelt thanks to all who assisted with this year’s benefit…it was a great success due to your support!

To see photos of this year's event click on link below and then click on "2005 Derby Preview Party" in the menu.

Links

Wellspring