Equest announces former Dallas Cowboy football player and 2022 North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame selection Timmy Newsome as the featured speaker for its 2022 Blue Ribbon Ball.
“We are so thrilled to have Timmy Newsome join us for our 41stannual gala as our featured speaker. Timmy will be joined onstage with some of our Equest clients as he shares his inspiring message of achieving ‘Blue Ribbon’ moments in life even in the face of challenges,” said Lili Kellogg, Equest CEO. “We are also honored to be able to recognize Lane Cates and Brad McLain with our Citation Award, which was created to shine a light on individuals and organizations who support us as we reach for the stars and fulfill our mission.”
Newsome was named to the The Dallas Cowboys Weekly Newspaper all-decade team from 1980-1989 and is a 2022 North Carolina Sports Hall Of Fame selection, as well as a member of four other sports hall of fames, one nationally.
Newsome currently serves on the Computer Science Industry Advisory Board for Winston-Salem State University’s (North Carolina) Department of Computer Science; on the board of directors for Children at Risk (Houston, Texas); president of the NAMI North TexasBoard; and serves as a board member of Hugs Café in McKinney, Texas.
In addition to Newsome’s keynote speech, Equest will also recognize this year’s Citation Award recipients, former Equest board chair Lane Cates and her husband Brad McLain, who were instrumental in helping Equest complete the Al Hill, Jr. Arena through fundraising and contract management. Given annually since 2019, the Citation Award is named after the thoroughbred horse Citation (1945-1970), who won 16 consecutive races in major stakes race competitions and is the first horse in history to win $1 million. Past recipients include Connie and Denny Carreker, Junior League of Dallas and Andy Steingasser.
Chaired by Carol and Bill Huckin, Finley and Eric Konrade, and Elsa Norwood with honorary chairs Leslie and Hawkins Golden, the Blue Ribbon Ballwill be held on Saturday, June 4, 2022 in the Al Hill, Jr. Arena at Equest at the Texas Horse Park in Dallas. With the festivities taking place in Equest’s open-air arena, partygoers can leave their stilettos and tuxes at home, and opt for cocktail chic with stylish sandals or boots. Event highlights will include a cocktail reception, a seated dinner, silent and live auctions, live entertainment, photo ops with Equest’s horses, Citation Award presentation and inspirational speaker Timmy Newsome.
Sponsorships and tables are available now. For additional information, visit www.equest.org/galaor contact Jacquie Maddox at jmaddox@equest.orgor 972-412-1099 x205.
About Equest
Founded in 1981, Equest provides equine assisted learning, therapies and counseling to children and adults with physical, cognitive, sensory, coping and learning disabilities, as well as veterans who receive all of Equest’s services at no charge. The services provided include physical and occupational therapy, equine facilitated counseling and equine assisted learning, therapeutic carriage driving, therapeutic horsemanship and competition. With the help of 30 therapy horses, eight instructors, four therapists, three counselors, and 700 volunteers, lives are changed for more than 2,000 served annually. Equest was the first PATH International Premier Accredited Center in Texas and remains one of the largest in the country. Equest offers an engaging volunteer program that provides 30,000 hours of direct program service opportunities each year. www.equest.org