Q3 2023 Highlights for Animals & People
During July-September 2023, the Gregory J. Reiter Memorial Fund made fresh grants to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Equine Matters campaigns and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) Exam Room Podcast; plus I spent time onsite at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Equine Matters
A PETA-backed New York taxpayer lawsuit, filed in late June and still ongoing, has been seeking to block as unconstitutional a $455 million public loan to renovate Belmont Park, one of the deadliest tracks for Thoroughbred race horses in the United States.
Meanwhile back home, I celebrated the 7th anniversary of adopting former race horse Charlie’s Quest — who was once raced at Belmont and eleven other tracks, before PETA rescued him in 2016.
Also during Q3, PETA won a separate campaign for horses: on September 20, Anheuser-Busch announced that it would cease amputating tails of some 250 Clydesdales the company raises to pull its Budweiser beer wagons at events.
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) Exam Room Podcast
In The Life You Save Could Be Your Own, I wrote about the Greg Fund’s latest support of The Exam Room podcast/videocast.
I joined an Exam Room Live event on July 12 in New York City, celebrating 15 million downloads of the podcast.
The Greg Fund continued to sponsor the podcast/videocast biweekly Live Q&A episodes with Physicians Committee president Dr. Neal Barnard. Recent episodes have included Eating to Save Your Life: High-Risk Heart Disease and 5 Foods That Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease.
Woodstock Farm Sanctuary
In September, I returned to this High Falls, New York sanctuary, to which the Greg Fund has been a donor since 2018. More about my time there: A perfect weekend at Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
I encourage anyone living near or passing through the Ulster County area, 90 minutes from New York City, to consider a day visit or overnight stay at this sanctuary. “Healing,” “idyllic,” and “magical” are just a few of the adjectives visitors have used to describe their stays.
This Fund is currently providing support for the sanctuary’s Fair Campaign.
While the Fund is financed primarily through the assets Greg left behind, it has also expanded its reach through donations from friends and family! Thank you to the following generous individuals who have contributed to the Greg Fund in 2023 to date:
- Scott Anderson
- Jeana Curro
- Joni Jablansky
- Keith Kemplin
- Ilona Lantos
- Dana Meeker
- Kelly Molino
- Jim North
- Cynthia Lynn Sampson
- Anonymous (4)