Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Association

Pin Oak Charity Horse Show is one of Houston’s most treasured and distinguished annual events. Without the show, there might not be the internationally recognized Texas Children’s Hospital we know today. And today, Pin Oak is helping launch the Texas Children’s of tomorrow by supporting Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus.
Together, The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show and Texas Children’s Hospital helped shape the landscape of the Medical Center, and thus the city of Houston, more than 50 years ago. The event that became known as The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show got its start and its name in 1945 when legendary businessman-philanthropist Jim Abercrombie agreed to underwrite and host a charitable fundraising horse show at the Pin Oak Stables he had built for his daughter, award-winning equestrienne Josephine Abercrombie. The 1947 show provided a significant portion of the initial backing that established Texas Children’s in the Texas Medical Center, the first hospital in Houston dedicated to children. Continuing financial support from this distinguished event truly helped sustain Texas Children’s as it grew to become one of the nation’s top-ranked, full-care pediatric hospitals.
In the midst of the show’s international reputation and growing success, Pin Oak’s board and volunteers never lose sight of the cause at its heart: to raise philanthropic funds for Houston’s children. Every email, every news release, every web page, every letter and flyer the organization distributes refers to the show’s charitable purpose, and everyone involved knows exactly what their work supports. Since the first show 66 years ago, the organization has contributed in excess of $5.5 million to charities, including well over $4 million to Texas Children’s Hospital, and aims at making a six-figure gift each year to its charities.
Knowing the value of putting the face on the charity that the sponsors and competitors are helping support, Pin Oak volunteers bring them together with Texas Children’s patients and families in a number of ways. For Pin Oak’s “Art Reach” projects, volunteers from the organization visit Texas Children’s Cancer Center and work with children who are in the clinic to create art pieces that are auctioned at various Pin Oak functions during the year. One such piece was donated back to the hospital by the successful bidder and now hangs in the West Campus hematology/oncology clinic waiting room where Pin Oak’s generosity to the new hospital is recognized. During the show, riders visit patients in the hospital, and patients and their families are hosted for tours of the grounds and honored at one of the Grand Prix galas.
In addition, ticket holders often donate their tickets back so that Texas Children’s patients and families at Ronald McDonald House can attend the show. This year, Channel 13 purchased two gala tables and set them aside for Pin Oak’s Honor Heroes—two young patients selected by Texas Children’s social workers to represent the hospital. The little Heroes and their families rode in the Pin Oak carriage for the evening’s opening ceremonies and had the unique opportunity of experiencing the full effect of the show while serving as captivating reminders of the event’s ultimate purpose.
The energy, the vision, the commitment and the sheer hard work it takes to present The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show year after year, along with the true spirit of philanthropy of everyone connected with the show, makes this phenomenal endeavor unquestionably an outstanding fundraising event that Houston is proud to call its own.

Pin Oak Charity Horse Show provides world class equestrian competition matched by world class hospitality. There is entertainment value for families as well as an emphasis on educational programs for horse enthusiasts. By far the most rewarding factor for me as a horse show mom and volunteer is the contribution that is made to Texas Children's Hospital and The Ronald McDonald House of Houston. Not only does a check get presented but there are interactions between the riders, volunteers and patients during the show and throughout the months leading up to it. I choose to be a sponsor of Pin Oak Charity Horse Show because I see first hand a successful and well run show.

Pin Oak Charity Horse Show has long been one of my favorite charities in Houston. I remember loving this "event" as a child growing up here. As luck and love would have it I came to be a volunteer with the charity. After volunteering with them for a year, they asked that I stepped up to be a Board member and I was thrilled. Over the past couple of years I have seen what Pin Oak does for the community in its own special way. People come from all over the nation to ride at this charity horse show and all the while all proceeds benefit Texas Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald House. The children from local schools come out and tour the horse show and get to see all the actions. Pin Oak volunteers and Board Members plan art days and visits to the hospital during the year. Sometimes we even bring a long a miniature horse for their enjoyment. Having my own small children, I realize what kind of impact Pin Oak has on my medical community. Having a horse show which so many people have as their passion be beneficial to our children's well-being is wonderful. Pin Oak has been a pleasure to support and volunteer for over the past years. I am personally looking forward to watching it continue to grow and strengthen with time.

I came to volunteer for Pin Oak because of my daughters' love of horses and one who needs the care of Texas Children's Hospital - one of Pin Oak Charity Horse Show's benefactors. It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of this organization with such a long and rich history of helping children.

The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show has a helped thousands of children and families who need the expert medical care of Texas Children's Hospital and the comfort of Houston's Ronald McDonald House Family Rooms located in TCH with our support of those two charities. We do more than provide financial support we seek to make a visible difference in the lives of these children with hospital visits, ArtReach days, book drives for both organization's libraries, games for their play areas and more.

Pin Oak Charity Horse Show also gives back to the community by supporting education of children by hosting hundreds of school children annually for a behind the scenes look at a horse show, learn about equestrian sports, and the care involved for horses.

The commitment is deep, the show itself is world-class, and the PIn Oak "family" is a wonderful group of people who are passionate about horses and passionate about bringing healing through our support.

Pin Oak Charity is a wonderful organization. I have been volunteering for Pin Oak for the past few years. This orgranization has given tremendous support to Texas Children's and Ronald McDonald House.

The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show combines two of my passions: horses and children's healthcare. Pin Oak was instrumental in funding Texas Children's hospital over 60 years ago. We continue to support the hospital along with Ronald McDonald House and Candlelighter which both assist families during treatment at Texas Children's Hospital. I've been riding and showing horses most of my life. Pin Oak is great family entertainment for a great cause.

I have been involved with the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show Association as a volunteer, Board Member and horse show exhibitor for more than 20 years. i also have had opportunities to interact with many charitable horse show organizations around the country. Pin Oak is, by far, one of the most effective volunteer organizations nationally in terms of the quality of its fund-raising events (especially the horse show) and its management.

Pin Oak Charity Horse Show is probably the most well-run, professional, detailed event I have ever associated with. The volunteer leaders have true interest and emotional investment in the organization. All guest and exhibitors are treated with friendly respect and no question is too small.
Helpful, friendly, professional, FUN are words that I can attribute to Pin Oak! I highly recommend atttending this event whose proceeds go to such a worthy cause! I will attend again!

Pin Oak Charity Horse Show is unique in the fact that raising money for our Charities is the main focus. We put on a terrific, fun, fabulous horse show so that we are able to raise more money. The show is also unique in the fact that anything that is underwritten, that money goes to the charity, we do not decide to do something else with that money. We are an all volunteer organization, with one full-time paid employee. Volunteers from Pin Oak work with the charities all year with visits, art projects, dedications - anything that the Charities ask us to do, we try to accommodate. This year we will give $125,000 to the Charities.

As well as working with the Charities, pin Oak has two Education Days where area Elementary Children come to the show and are taken to different stations - farrier, vet, massuse, etc. and then fed lunch before returning to school.