March 17, 2008
The Texas A&M equestrian team earned victories both in and out of the ring during its March 8 showdown with rival Oklahoma State.
While the Aggies took care of business with a 13-11 win to complete a perfect 6-0 home record for the 2007-08 season, they also had a major hand in helping raise more than $9,000 for the residents of the Still Creek Boys and Girls Ranch.
Texas A&M head coach Tana Rawson presented owners Danny and Margaret O?â„¢Quinn with a check for $9,180.20 on Monday afternoon on the grounds of Still Creek Ranch.
?We get a lot of support from the community so we are excited to be in a position to give back,? A&M head coach Tana Rawson said. ?It was refreshing being at/hosting a show that had part of the focal point in being there not be about winning and losing but about what kind of people we want our student athletes to be ?- involved and socially responsible people that invest their time and effort in their community.?
The Aggie women spent time each week during the school year with the kids at the ranch and also elected to hold a fund-raiser for the non-profit home on Senior Day.
?It?â„¢s been great for our kids having the girls around, teaching them how to ride and showing them things about horses that some of us that work at the ranch don?â„¢t have as much knowledge about,? Danny O?â„¢Quinn said. ?The individual attention that all the Aggies give our kids is just remarkable. I can?â„¢t say enough about them. They serve as great role models for some of our girls that would like to someday follow in their footsteps not only as Aggies, but as members of the equestrian team. The Aggie girls are a visible goal that is something our kids can shoot for.?
Several local eateries and businesses contributed their services and wares to a very successful cookout to which all proceeds directly benefited the Still Creek Ranch. Those restaurants were Abuelo?â„¢s, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Kristian Distributing Co., Kroger?â„¢s, Maria?â„¢s Taqueria, Part Time Rentals, Rainbo Bread Co., Rudy?â„¢s B-B-Que, Scarmardo?â„¢s Produce, Shipley?â„¢s Donuts, Slovacek Sausage Co., and Twin-City Coffee.
?What the equestrian team did with our fund raiser was an absolute blessing for all of us,? Margaret O?â„¢Quinn said. ?We invest a tremendous amount of time and energy in doing everything we can to make our spring fundraiser work but the Aggies stepped in did such a fantastic job of planning, advertising, and taking it over that we felt like guests instead of workers. This has helped us so much. We will use a lot of this money to help fund our educational programs and summer school expenses for our kids.?
A silent auction was also held thanks to contributions from Benjamin Knox, area 4-H groups and several very generous donations from parents of Aggie riders. Approximately one-quarter of the items were handmade contributions from the boys and girls at Still Creek Ranch among which included furniture and decor.
The Ranch, located close to Kurten, has been a children's home since 1988 where kids can be raised and educated in a loving Christian environment. The Ranch does not receive support from the state or federal government nor the United Way and its charities. It is funded strictly based on donations. Currently 28 children that have come from less than ideal family situations everywhere from the Brazos Valley to Russia are residents of the Still Creek Boys and Girls Ranch.
?It?â„¢s meant a lot to the girls who have been able to go out and work with the kids,? Rawson said. ?Often times our student athletes are getting more out of their experiences by helping these kids and sharing their passion for horses with them than the kids do. The Still Creek kids have been wonderfully receptive to what the girls have been teaching them. This partnership has been a win-win for everyone.?