McMinnville Breakfast Rotary Club is putting hoofs to the trail in an effort to raise funds for McMinnville Special Games and start a new equestrian program for men, women and children with special needs.
On Saturday, April 2, at 10 a.m. there will be a fundraiser with trail ride, lunch and auction held at Kylemore Farms at 500 Kylemore Lane in McMinnville, which is off Viola Road. All proceeds will benefit “Horsin’ Around,” the name of the new equestrian program for people with special needs.
“Saturday is a fundraiser as well as a fun day for kids and adults and anyone who wishes to come and spend a wonderful, family oriented day of games, horseback riding, lunch and music,” said Breakfast Rotary member Rachel Killebrew. “We hope everyone comes out and joins us for a great day.”
Breakfast Rotary members pick a project each year to emphasize and for the last two years it has been Kids of the Community.
“The last two years we have implemented two projects for Kids of the Community to buy them a 15-passenger van with the help of Terry Kidd from Kidd Ford and then the next year we brought them a walk-in refrigerator/ freezer,” said Killebrew.
The refrigerator is part of a healthy eating program started by KOC to teach the children how to raise a garden and how to prepare healthy options.
Club members have turned their focus to lending a helping hand to McMinnville Special Games, a local nonprofit organization that seeks to better the lives of disabled children that is organized by Holly McBride.
“Holly brought this need to our attention in a presentation format and everyone immediately agreed this would be our next project,” said Killebrew.
Breakfast Rotary member Neal Cox added, “McMinnville Breakfast Rotary is all about helping children in our community and we truly love every minute of it. This year we get to help the special needs children and they are all gifts from God.”
Along with helping to provide the many items needed for McMinnville Special Games held at Warren County Middle School on May 14, group members have set three fundraisers in 2016 to help make Horsin’ Around a reality.
McMinnville Special Games was founded in March 2013. It is a day devoted to the children in McMinnville and Warren County with special needs. There are Olympic-style games and fun and prizes for participants.
The club is also applying to Rotary District for a $10,000 matching grant, meaning the club would have to match $5,000 to the grant’s $5,000, to help purchase the items that will be needed for Horsin’ Around including saddles, saddle pads, a modified horse saddle, helmets, quick-release stirrups, walkie-talkie radios, lumber to build a ramp, and a 16-foot enclosed trailer. It is unknown at this time if the grant will be awarded.
Saturday’s trail ride fundraiser for Horsin’ Around begins at 10 a.m. Entry fee is $25 and includes trail ride, meal and entertainment. The event is $15 for those who choose not to ride. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Participants should be ready to ride by 10 a.m. and return at 12:30 p.m. for lunch, entertainment and an auction.

For more information, contact Holly McBride at 808-8816 or Neal Cox at 235-5660.