John Evans was presented with the Award of Merit by the Thoroughbred Charities of America. He was recognized for his work helping Thoroughbreds and inmates at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Ocala, Fla. facility. He is pictured with his wife Marsha. Photo by FTBOA
LEXINGTON, Ky.—Thoroughbred Charities of America has named John Evans as its
first TCA Award of Merit recipient of 2016.
Evans was presented with the award in front of 400 guests at the 54th annual Florida
Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association gala held in Ocala, Fla. March 14.
The award honors his work as farm manager at the Thoroughbred Retirement
Foundation’s Second Chance Farm at the Lowell Correctional Institute in Ocala, where inmates are taught equine vocational skills while caring for retired racehorses. Now in its 16th year, over 120 inmates have participated in the program at Lowell Correctional Institute.
Award recipients are nominated by the leadership of various state Thoroughbred owners and breeders associations and are presented at each state association’s annual awards ceremonies.
“Last year, in celebration of our 25th anniversary, we named nearly 20 Award of Merit
recipients,” said Dan Rosenberg, president of TCA. “The response to the award was tremendous
so our board decided to continue it again this year. There are so many people working tirelessly
on behalf of Thoroughbreds and those who care for them in our industry and we feel it is
important to acknowledge their efforts. We are deeply appreciative of John’s work at Second
Chance Farm and are thrilled that he is our first award recipient of the year.”
TCA Award of Merit nominees consist of individuals or organizations working to
provide a better life for Thoroughbreds or the people working with them, either on the
backstretch or on the farm. Both achievements are reflective of TCA’s all-encompassing mission to help Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them. Subsequent award of merit winners will be announced monthly.
TCA’s mission is to provide a better life for Thoroughbreds, both during and after their racing careers, by supporting qualified repurposing and retirement organizations and by helping the people who care for them. TCA distributes grants to several categories of Thoroughbred-related nonprofits including rehabilitation, retraining, rehoming and retirement organizations; backstretch and farm employee programs; equine-assisted therapy programs; and research organizations.
Since its inception in 1990, TCA has granted over $21 million to more than 200 charities that successfully meet the criteria set forth in its annual grant application. From 2000- 2014, more than 95% of TCA’s expenditures were allocated to program services including direct grants. TCA is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA).
I too was one of his students at the trf farm at lowell and i must agree with farah there is no doubt in my mind my life would not be what it is today without the help of mr evans and the program who taught me that hard work and dedication to anything will take me anywhere i want to go in life he is an amazing man and this program changed my life and my outlook on challenges and opportunities in these exciting years to come
I couldn’t think of a more deserving person to receive this award! Mr. Evans is one of the most amazing men I have ever known. I was one of Mr. Evans students at Lowell and I know his heart is dedicated to the students and horses of the TRF Program. He definitely helped change my life! What an amazing honor for an amazing man!!