These are certainly unprecedented times, changing the world as we know it. COVID-19 has hit, and we are all feeling its effects - in the US and across the world. For this reason, we recently launched Brooke USA’s COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund with the intent of providing humanitarian aid during the global fight against this coronavirus.

Brooke USA is committed to helping those affected by the pandemic. Countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and the Caribbean are going to need increased assistance. The current crisis has also impacted the US, leaving horses, donkeys and mules abandoned and local equine organizations in desperate need of financial support. Brooke USA’s COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund positions us – donors and friends - to immediately help where the need is greatest.

In the meantime, our colleagues in remote places across the globe are doing great things and have gone to great lengths to keep working horses, donkeys and mules and the people they serve safe and healthy. Here are a few ways that Brooke USA-funded programs are making a difference today:

  • In India, the brick kiln communities were unable to procure face masks. Brooke India turned to its women’s equine welfare groups, training them on mask-making via video chats and procuring local cloth. These women’s groups have made more than 3,000 masks for those who cannot afford them.

  • In Guatemala, remote villages were left without access to food deliveries for people and their animals due to nation-wide shut down orders. Brooke USA’s partner agency, ESAP, traveled to hard-hit communities to deliver 88-pound bags of animal feed concentrate, ensuring that 275 working animals had enough food.

  • In Ethiopia, animal health workers have made sure that working equines stay healthy—even while social distancing. Vets, vet techs and welfare workers are conducting basic health check appointments via videoconferencing apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp.

  • In India, a brick kiln worker traveled back to his home village on foot with his seven donkeys. Upon arrival, he tested positive for COVID-19. He was taken away for medical care and his family was quarantined, leaving his donkeys without care, shelter, food, or water. Brooke India built an emergency shelter and brought food for the equines, coordinating with two village members to care for the animals.

  • In Nicaragua, Brooke Latin America & Caribbean are teaching rural communities how to plant fodder for their equines via technology (mainly cell phones). Sample plots are being cultivated, and their progress and care are shared through technology. As restrictions lift, the plants from these sample plots will be used to bring fodder around the country.
 
Certainly, we have changed and adapted quickly, providing funds expeditiously as we know that equines and their humans are in distress. After all, the livelihoods of working horses, donkeys and mules and the people who depend on them are intertwined. We know for a fact that when people suffer, so do their working equines.

Supporters like you make our work possible. I hope that you will consider donating to Brooke USA again today – any amount makes a huge difference. Your contribution will ensure that the people and animals that Brooke USA serves—who are vulnerable in the best of times, and even more at risk now—can keep going.

For many of these people and animals, things will get worse before they get better. We will be there to help with response and recovery. And that’s all because of you. Thank you for all you do. You ease the burden on the hardworking animals and the people they serve. Your kindness and generosity truly make a difference.

Please know that we are thinking of you and hoping that you are safe and healthy! While things feel uncertain and scary, we remain grateful for you.

Warmly,
Emily Dulin
Brooke USA
Chief Executive Officer
Amidst COVID-19, Donkey Owners in Kenya Fight the to Protect Their Livelihoods & Their Donkeys
Joseph Maina is 39 years old and lives in Naivasha, Kenya with his wife Tabitha, his three children aged 3 to 15 and their donkey Karethi (means ‘carrot’ in Swahili). His life has consisted of several ups and downs since the slaughter houses in Kenya have led to the theft of donkeys in his village.

Joseph used to earn a living selling firewood in the town center, but he was struggling to earn enough income for his family, so he used what little savings he had to purchase two donkeys and sell water.

“After just six months, my two donkeys were stolen and slaughtered. I searched for them for three days and eventually found their carcasses in the bush. I reported it to the police but nothing ever happened.”

Joseph and his family struggled to make ends meet without the donkeys, but luckily Joseph was able to take out a personal loan from a businessman, and he purchased two more donkeys. He began to make money again and paid his loan back. He also saved enough to by a third donkey.

One day he let the three donkeys graze in a field before heading home, as the weather was dry and there was not enough food near his house. His donkeys were missing when he returned to fetch them from the field.
Slaughterhouses weigh the donkeys to determine how much they are worth, and well-fed donkeys can provide more hide for consumers, therefore thieves can demand a higher price. This often results in owners who take better care of their donkeys being targeted by smugglers. Since Joseph took such good care of his donkeys, and they were healthy, they were a prime target for the thieves.

The donkeys were never found and Joseph was heartbroken.

Joseph was once again left with no savings or income. He took work at a local construction yard moving heavy bricks, but the dust from the bricks caused him to suffer from regular chest infections.

"I thought ‘what do I do now?’" Joseph said. "I prayed to God to please help me."

He was able to borrow more money to buy his current donkey, but since he could not afford much, he purchased a pregnant donkey and named her Karethi. Joseph does not work much with her because she needs rest, and a foal needs to suckle on their mothers for two years. He hopes to try and buy another one while she is resting with her foal.

“I now lock up my donkey near my house whenever it is not working. The slaughterhouses should be closed all together so that those who steal have nowhere to sell our donkeys to.”

Joseph has worked hard and cleared his loans, but his health has been affected by the prolonged stress, and he worries about the effects of the coronavirus on his impending health, and his ability to make money or afford a second donkey in the future as his country faces a deep economic depression.

Brooke is working with Joseph to loan him money to install an irrigation system on his land so that he can grow crops to sell while his donkey is on maternity leave. Joseph was concerned about how he would make ends meet while his donkey cared for her foal, but now he is excited for the future and the prospect of building his own farm on his land. Brooke has pledged to link him with local markets to ensure he has a constant customer base for his crops. 
Our Goal:
$100,000

Amount Raised:
$33,800
Brooke USA launched a crisis fundraising campaign for friends and supporters to provide humanitarian aid during the growing global fight against COVID-19 . The Board of Directors of Brooke USA manages the COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund which is designed to address the need for humanitarian aid across the globe.

In response to the spread of the coronavirus, Brooke USA is committed to meeting the needs of equine-dependent communities impacted by the pandemic both in the United States and in the developing world. Countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Americas and the Caribbean are going to need increased assistance.

Our COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund positions Brooke USA to immediately help where the need is greatest. Grants issued from the funds raised are made on a rolling first come, first serve basis. As fundraising continues through the outbreak and recovery phases of the crisis, the Fund will adapt to emerging needs as the situation evolves. Your donations ensure that Brooke USA is able to assist as many non-profits as possible. Below are the grant recipients to date.
Brooke USA Announces the Addition
of Five New Board Members
Brooke USA announces the appointment of five new members to its Board of Directors. The elected members are all esteemed leaders with a passion for improving the welfare of horses, donkeys and mules, and have been selected to serve alongside an already impressive list of national equestrian and business influencers who guide Brooke USA’s success.
Lisa Bair
Lisa Bair, a Wellington, Fla. resident is known as a serial healthcare entrepreneur having founded and led service and technology companies supporting the pharmaceutical industry. She enjoys show jumping and is an avid polo enthusiast.
Tami Fratis
Tami Fratis resides in Ocala, Fla. She is an accomplished C-level technology executive and private equity fund manager with more than 30 years of successful investment experience. In her free time, Tami enjoys training at Tamarian Farms Equestrian Center with Roger Van Doreen.
Dwayne Hildreth
Dwayne Hildreth lives in Austin, Tx. He recently retired from a prolific career in sales and supply chain management with Nike North America. Dwayne is a Western-style rider and competitor as well as a quarter horse enthusiast.
Gill Johnston
Gill Johnston, originally from England, now calls McDonald, Tenn. her home. She boasts impressive name recognition in equestrian sports, including thoroughbred racing and polo, as well as horse breeding.
Dr. Julia Wilson
Julia Wilson, DVM resides in Stillwater, Minn. She is the Executive Director of the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine and co-founder of the Equitarian Initiative. Julia is an equine veterinarian.
Brooke USA’s Board of Directors is currently led by Chair John Nicholson, who noted about the recent board appointments that, “reaching all facets of the equestrian community across the country remains a priority for this nonprofit, as we work together to expand geographically, reach more supporters and grow Brooke USA for the benefit of people and animals in need across the globe.”

All five of our newest Board members embody the spirit of Brooke USA and bring talent, expertise and energy to the table,” stated Emily Dulin, Executive Director. “We are very fortunate to have them by our side as we continue to increase brand recognition and build a strong foundation of donors and friend throughout the country.”
One Week Remains!
Between a Walk & a Hard Place
Leave Your Footprint, Help a Hoofprint

On May 5th, along with #GivingTuesdayNow, Brooke USA launched our first Virtual Race! Whether it is walking, running, biking, yoga or horseback riding, 25 incredible supporters joined the race, and together we have raised $3,440.

Our goal is $5,000.

Will you help us with our final footprints?

Join the race or make a donation and help us reach our goal of walking to India, right now we are heading to Cuba together!
#GIVINGTUESDAYNOW

#GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of giving and unity, which took place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. The day was designed to drive an influx of generosity, citizen engagement, business and philanthropy activation, and support for communities and nonprofits around the world.

Thank you to all of our amazing supporters who participated in this day of giving! We reached our goal of the first $25,000 raised for our COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund!
COFFEE & CHAT

Are you interested in speaking with the Brooke USA staff about the projects we are currently working on? Schedule a personal Zoom call with Emily, Amanda or Kendall to have a coffee (or tea if you prefer) and an exclusive chat to answer all of your questions in a candid conversation.
ONLINE AUCTION COMING THIS LATE SUMMER

Due to the postponement of our largest fundraising event of the year, Brooke USA's Sunset Polo & White Party, we are working hard to design an online auction. It will feature an array of items, from exclusive trips to equestrian gear, to lessons with Olympians and beautiful jewelry that is sure to dazzle.

Stay updated by following our social media and reading our emails.
BROOKE USA WEBINARS

In May, we hosted four webinars as part of our Project Insight Series. We chatted with country leaders in Kenya, Guatemala and India, sharing insights of the projects and the affect of COVID-19 on the developing nations.

In June, we hosted our fifth Zoom webinar with Dr. Klara Saville, Head of Animal Health, Welfare and Community Development at Brooke, moderated by Dr. David Jones, founding chair of Brooke USA.

Look for our next webinar in the series, and if you are interested in seeing any of the webinars, please contact Amanda Miller Kelley.
Brooke USA Takes on a New Challenge: Advocacy

Brooke USA is getting ready to launch advocacy initiatives as part of its mission implementation strategy. The plan is to mobilize friends and supporters to build awareness of critical issues that impact the lives of working horses, donkeys and mules, and the people they serve in the development world.

Board members and staff are preparing to set advocacy priorities through white papers and briefs directed at corporations and legislators, and informational materials that encourage constituents to talk about what their passion for the cause. The campaign will be designed to provoke conversation about the vital role of working equines to those living in the developing world who represent some of the poorest people across the globe.

At present, much of what is being prepared is related to the sale of “Ejiao” in the United States, which is used in traditional Chinese medicine and beauty products. Ejiao is made from the gelatin produced from donkey hides. The treatment of donkeys in this process is often gruesome and has a huge impact on the livelihoods of people in the geographic areas funded by Brooke USA. Donkeys are being stolen, horrifically mistreated and cruelly slaughtered.

This advocacy campaign hopes to start a conversation about the sale of Ejiao and other issues of importance, to inspire more people to take personal pride in the role of Brooke USA as it funds projects that alleviate the suffering of working equines. Stay tuned for more information or if you would like to volunteer on the Advocacy Committee, please contact Brooke USA’s CEO at Emily.Dulin@BrookeUSA.org or 305-505-6170.

Amidst COVID-19, Brooke USA rallied Board members and friends to approach legislators for inclusion of nonprofits in the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the loan initiative aimed at helping charities and small businesses weather the economic fallout from the pandemic. Kudos to Brooke USA.
Brooke USA Dot, Cathy Moss Dattel is a life-long equestrian and long-ear lover. During a conversation with Brooke USA Donor Relations Officer Kendall Bierer, Cathy realized that Brooke USA is facing a hard future due to the unforeseen circumstances of COVID-19 and its effect on the nonprofit world. In an effort to take her role as a Dot even further than her annual donation, Cathy envisioned a marketplace that could help Brooke USA year-round.

Paint Hope Orange was born.

Using the images of her two donkeys, Charlotte and Isabella, and incorporating Brooke USA's third-party programming, Paint America Orange, Cathy began to undergo the building of a website and a beautiful logo. The logo depicts her beloved donkeys and their hope for a future for their equine friends in the developing world (watch the video below).
Paint Hope Orange is an online marketplace that features items from Cathy, as well as other donors' items--from Hermes scarves to priceless photographs, and equestrian themed plates to décor, 100% of the proceeds from the sales of the items benefit Brooke USA.

If you are looking for the perfect present or would like to donate to the online marketplace with your own Paint Hope Orange donation, please visit www.PaintHopeOrange.com.
Stay Updated With Brooke USA!