Dear Friends,
Our 18th annual brunch at Saratoga National Golf Club was truly a day to remember.
On Wednesday, August 13th, a capacity crowd gathered at Saratoga National Golf Club to celebrate and to honor Johnny and Leona Velazquez with the Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson Award for their many years of dedication to the backstretch community.
The program was filled with special moments. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher introduced the honorees, who were then joined by Heather Mabee, daughter of Marylou Whitney, for the presentation.
Donna Barton Brothers, former top jockey and now a nationally recognized racing analyst, guided the afternoon as our emcee.
The lively auction was led by Jon Green and Joe Bianca, hosts of the Rail Talk podcast, helping us reach a new fundraising record.
Johnny and Leona graciously accepted the award, sharing how deeply they value the men and women who care for the horses each day. We were proud to recognize them with a custom artwork by Tom Chapman, continuing our tradition of celebrating those who give so generously to our community.
Thank you to all who attended, sponsored, and supported this year’s brunch.
Your generosity makes possible the NY Chaplaincy’s year-round programs for children, teens, women, men and families on the backstretch and in the farming community.
With gratitude,
Chaplain Humberto Chavez
